Top 10 Song Titles People Always Get Wrong

Top 10 Song Titles People Always Get Wrong

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You love the song? Really? Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Song Titles People Always Get Wrong. For this list, we’re focusing on popular songs that are perpetually wrongly identified in conversation by well-intentioned but misinformed individuals.

#10: “Train in Vain” (1980) The Clash

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Oh hey, remember that punk song called “Stand By Me”? No, because The Clash never covered Ben E. King’s soul classic of the same name, however they did release a radio-friendly hit entitled “Train in Vain.” In fact, the band specifically came up with their title to avoid any confusion, but with such a prominent emphasis on the lyrics “stand by me,” nobody really seems to care about the actual title. Well, unless you’re a die-hard Clash fan.

#9: “For What It’s Worth” (1967) Buffalo Springfield

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Sometimes people rely on the last line of a chorus to explain their new favorite song in conversation. For example, have you ever heard: “Oh my God, I LOVE that ‘what’s going down’ song!” Of course, any self-respecting rock fan will reply “Are you talking about ‘For What It’s Worth' by Buffalo Springfield?” to which they will undoubtedly reply “uh, maybe?”. Even Public Enemy put their own twist on the classic, but they managed to convey the same type of sentiment as Buffalo Springfield, given both songs' focus on societal observations.

#8: “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” (1979) Rupert Holmes

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Now here’s a scientific fact known by all musicians: if you include a type of alcohol in a song title, people will, in fact, lose their damn minds. At this very moment, there’s a pack of boozed-up vacationers raising their glasses in the air and screaming out “The Piña Colada song!!!” But hold up, Mojoholics (and alcoholics) – Rupert Holmes’ party classic was composed with a personal escape in mind, thus explaining the title of the song…”Escape.” But hey – you can’t blame the guy for paying respect to pina coladas in the parentheses, because it’s the equivalent of easy money. Sing about booze, and you can’t lose.

#7: “Le Freak” (1978) Chic

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Here’s a reasonable question: what kind of musical sadists would begin a song with “freak out” and then have the audacity to call their song “Le Freak?” Well, blame Nile Rodgers and his band mates from Chic who went all “artsy” on consumers by putting a foreign twist on the title of their disco classic. While most associate the song with maniacal dancing, the famous chant was inspired by the phrase “F**K off” based on the concept of night clubbers being shunned from Studio 54 in the late '70s.

The Numa Numa song! Everybody loves the Numa Numa song. And despite the worldwide popularity of the O-zone hit, nobody can seem to properly identify the title, which by the way, is “Dragostea Din Tei.” Of course, it’s much easier – and certainly more enjoyable - to say “Mai Ya HEE!” Just ask Gary Brolsma, the viral phenomenon who was obviously having the time of his life and caught up in the power of “Numa Numa,” regardless of the song’s actual title.

#5: “What’s Up” (1992) 4 Non Blondes

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Today, Linda Perry is known for producing and writing some of pop music’s biggest hits, most notably Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful,” but in the early '90s, she was asking a timeless, existential question about the world we live in. Similar to the case of The Clash, the band used the title “What’s Up” to avoid confusion with Marvin Gaye’s 1971 classic, “What’s Going On”. Given Perry’s powerhouse vocals and the intensity of the chorus, we can’t necessarily blame society for consistently misidentifying the title.

Even though Bob Dylan has established himself as arguably one of the most innovative and important figures in the history of popular music, the lead track from his iconic 1966 album Blonde on Blonde will forever be misinterpreted, simply because of the refrain “Everybody must get stoned.” Like songs dealing with alcohol, a track that alludes to Mary Jane will often cloud the thoughts of spaced-out listeners. After all, who's ever heard a stoner say “Man, I dig that Dylan song, you know ‘Rainy Day Women #12 & #35?” No one, that's who.

#3: “Three Little Birds” (1977) Bob Marley and the Wailers

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Speaking of stoners and other self-medicaters, Bob Marley and the Wailers were on to something when they released a song about little birds and nature, even if the subtext was draped in Jamaican sweet leaf. With such a positive message like “everything little thing gonna be alright,” people of all backgrounds can associate with that particular lyrics, thus effectively squashing the titular three little birds pitched by the doorstep. And that’s just what happens when you bring up this song in conversation but with the wrong name – you kill the three little birds. Think of the birds, won't you?

#2: “Space Oddity” (1969) David Bowie

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There’s a litmus test to distinguish casual rock fans from legitimate rockers – just sing the lyrics of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” and ask someone to identify the song. If they say “Oh, that’s Major Tom”, back away slowly. Seriously, ground control to everybody, because while Bowie does reference a Major Tom over and over, we’ve had decades and decades to get this song right. “Space Oddity” was actually released the week of the Apollo 11 moon landing and it even references one of the greatest films of all time, “2001: A Space Odyssey” yet many still can't differentiate the title from the character. Pity. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “The Way We Were” (1973) Barbra Streisand “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” (1997) Green Day “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” (1988) The Proclaimers “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” (1984) Phil Collins “Big Yellow Taxi” (1970) Joni Mitchell

It’s a song that glorifies drugs and the ecstasy of the teenage experience. Well, actually, no. And it’s not called “Teenage Wasteland” either. Written about tripped out Woodstock hippies, “Baba O’Riley” tends to confuse listeners into believing they’re supposed to celebrate a “teenage wasteland”. In reality, the song’s message was quite the opposite while the title was derived from spiritualist Meher Baba and composer Terry Riley, both key influences in Pete Townshend’s musical education. So, the next time you hear “Baba O’Riley,” take a minute to put down your party water and figure our just where your life is heading. So, do you agree with our selections? What song do you think people always get wrong? For more mind-blowing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.