syntheticgerbil Posted February 12, 2009 I may be really late and this could be complete old news, but I just found out about this experiment to create the most annoying song ever based on polls done in the 90s. I still can't stop laughing thinking about kids yelling every holiday at me and telling me to take my shopping to Walmart. http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/04/a-scientific-at.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Posted February 12, 2009 This is hilarious and awesome. I lost it at "Hey everybody, it's Christmas Time!!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Posted February 13, 2009 (edited) I'm only about 7 minutes in...I love how it keeps going back to weird hop-a-long cowboy music. Ramadan, Ramadan / lots of praying / with no breakfast! Edited February 13, 2009 by Metallus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
syntheticgerbil Posted February 13, 2009 On one of the links in the Wired article, I found this quote about the original research: "The most unwanted music is over 25 minutes long, veers wildly between loud and quiet sections, between fast and slow tempos, and features timbres of extremely high and low pitch, with each dichotomy presented in abrupt transition. The most unwanted orchestra was determined to be large, and features the accordion and bagpipe (which tie at 13% as the most unwanted instrument), banjo, flute, tuba, harp, organ, synthesizer (the only instrument that appears in both the most wanted and most unwanted ensembles). An operatic soprano raps and sings atonal music, advertising jingles, political slogans, and "elevator" music, and a children's choir sings jingles and holiday songs. The most unwanted subjects for lyrics are cowboys and holidays, and the most unwanted listening circumstances are involuntary exposure to commercials and elevator music. Therefore, it can be shown that if there is no covariance—someone who dislikes bagpipes is as likely to hate elevator music as someone who despises the organ, for example—fewer than 200 individuals of the world's total population would enjoy this piece. " Also this page shows the paintings they made for various countries based on opinion polls: http://www.diacenter.org/km/painting.html Denmark's least wanted painting is my favorite. Who wouldn't want to own a blown up print of that painting hanging above your bed every night as you have a threesome with two incredibly hot women? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Noyb Posted February 13, 2009 A 1998 episode of This American Life had an interview with the creators about it: http://thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=88 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
syntheticgerbil Posted February 13, 2009 A 1998 episode of This American Life had an interview with the creators about it: http://thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=88 Hahah that's where I found out about it. I suddenly got really interested hearing the Labor Day part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lama Himself Posted February 13, 2009 I also listened the podcast this week. I love also when they said that most people prefer the "least wanted" song to the "Most wanted". Wired also have the most wanted if you want to compare: http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/05/survey-produced.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thyroid Posted February 13, 2009 This is hilarious and awesome. I lost it at "Hey everybody, it's Christmas Time!!" "At Walmart!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SignorSuperdouche Posted February 13, 2009 Italy's least wanted painting is my favourite. It's got Elvis and a motherfucking power ranger! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lama Himself Posted February 13, 2009 My girlfriend also noticed an impressive penis in the picture, but it's quite a gender specific detail... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nachimir Posted February 13, 2009 I made it to 7.34 before the opera singer and high pitched synth viscerally forced me away. Also, this thread as well as fullbright on Twitter prompted me to start this one. I reckon I've heard worse than the song at that Wired article. We did this once at Nalicity, it was both horrible and excellent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
syntheticgerbil Posted February 13, 2009 My girlfriend also noticed an impressive penis in the picture, but it's quite a gender specific detail... I was busy looking at the power ranger, but now that you mention it... Although, the penis really has no weight compared to the rest of the picture. Italy as a collective population sure has a specific taste about what they don't want in a painting. I reckon I've heard worse than the song at that Wired article. We did this once at Nalicity, it was both horrible and excellent. Well it's kind of odd, but from what I understand, they weren't really trying to create a purposefully bad song, but to use all of the elements the US didn't want in a song the most based on their polling. Maybe a more proficient musician would do a better job, I have no idea, but it would be an awesome trend if many musicians got together and all made their own version of most annoying song using all of the same type of elements. AT WALMART! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
James Posted February 18, 2009 I could have sworn I already posted about this thing. Anyway, I've encountered this thing a few times, and absolutely love it. In a not-entirely-ironic fashion, even. It's so endearingly demented. The Most Wanted Music counterpart, on the other hand, is plain boring. Anyway, I take it as an amusing satire on creation-by-focus group. THANKS FOR THE INSIGHT, JAMES. Moron. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lechimp Posted February 24, 2009 Yeah, I enjoy the most annoying song over the most wanted song too. The most annoying song almost sounds like a Fantomas album or something, I love how ridiculous it is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
