10 Musicians Pick The One Song They Hate To Play

10 Musicians Pick the One Song They Hate to Play

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at songs that artists have publicly admitted to being reluctant to perform, or purged from setlists entirely.

Brian Johnson, “It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)” (1975)

It seemed unthinkable to top the Bon Scott era of AC/DC until Brian Johnson came wailing in. And yet, he didn’t even think he should touch “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll).” In the years since Scott’s untimely death in 1980, Johnson has forbidden the band from performing what was widely recognized as his predecessor’s signature song. It was Scott’s autobiography about the music industry hustle, complete with a tribute to his Scottish musical heritage. There’s also the headache of getting another bagpipe player. “It’s a Long Way to the Top” assuredly lives on as Scott’s great classic, with AC/DC respecting Johnson’s moratorium even with other vocalists.

Liam and Noel Gallagher, “Wonderwall” (1995)

Oasis fans may find it ironic that the ballad “Wonderwall” is the rock revivalists’ biggest international hit. It’s definitely ironic as far as the Gallagher brothers are concerned. In 2008, the always candid Liam flat-out said that the song makes him want to gag. He resents being widely known in America as “Mr. Wonderwall.” Even Noel, who wrote one of the defining classics of the ‘90s, claims that it has always felt “unfinished” to him. For better or worse, it's just something else for the notoriously dysfunctional brothers to power through at concerts for love of the fans. Maybe the least we could do to repay them is not pick “Wonderwall” on karaoke night.

Pat Benatar, “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” (1980)

Classic rock radio would have you believe that “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” is an empowering staple of its era. Pat Benatar herself believes otherwise, and not just for the song’s quality. In a 1984 interview with Songwriter Connection, she claimed to have “outgrown” Eddie Schwartz’s lightweight lyrics. Benatar still accepted it as a live centerpiece until 2022, when she formally retired the lyrics for the weight they suddenly held. She told USA Today that she couldn't bring herself to belt out playfully violent allusions amid the rise in mass shootings in the U.S. Benatar encourages people to enjoy “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” on their own, though her heart hasn't really been in it for a while.

Charli XCX, “Break the Rules” (2014)

At just 22 years old, Charli XCX was already breaking the rules of pop music with her sophomore album “Sucker.” But in a 2017 Q interview, she admitted to finding “Break the Rules” more just sophomoric. She reluctantly recorded the teen rebel lyric she threw together at a writing camp, expecting it would become someone else’s filler track. It instead became a gold single, boxing the singer into a “bratty” image she’d later disavow as phony. A more mature and personally authentic Charli XCX mentioned in 2020 that she regrets recording the career-defining hit in the first place. Her biggest fight since then has been to keep “Break the Rules” off the setlist.

Michael Stipe, “Shiny Happy People” (1991)

Mystery and melancholy defined R.E.M. as college rock royalty. And yet, the mainstream didn’t seem to get the joke behind “Shiny Happy People.” The bubblegum tone superseded the loopy lyrics and titular reference to Chinese propaganda’s misrepresentation of the Tiananmen Square protests. Frontman Michael Stipe has repeatedly expressed hatred for the song, or at least resentment about its commercial success. The band tried to get around it on setlists and even compilation albums. Bassist Mike Mills says that “Shiny Happy People” is perfectly enjoyable when taken the way it was written: as a cynical children’s song. For Stipe, though, being rid of the accidental hit was a major upside to R.E.M.’s split in 2011.

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Radiohead, “Creep” (1992)

Radiohead owes global fame to their multi-platinum grunge debut “Creep.” Being art rockers at heart, though, they quickly grew tired of the demand for it during early tours. Frontman Thom Yorke told Rolling Stone in 1993 that this was not only tedious, but made the song feel owned by the public. Whatever Radiohead thinks of the song itself, the fatigue facilitated the pivot toward avant-garde that made them one of the most acclaimed acts in modern rock. “Creep” is still in their live rotation, but has been an extreme rarity since the ‘90s. And Yorke doesn’t mind telling audiences exactly what he thinks if they have the nerve to request his star-maker.

Hayley Williams, “Misery Business” (2007)

An anthem about high school jealousy exploded Paramore into a pop-punk powerhouse. It was never Hayley Williams’s intention to be defined for over a decade by the breakout she wrote when she was 17. Finally, in 2018, she announced the retirement of “Misery Business,” believing that it promoted a regressive image of competition for male attention. She couldn’t relate to that even on an ironic level after publicly dedicating herself to feminism. But four years later, Coachella attendees were thrilled when Williams crashed a Billie Eilish set for an acoustic duet of “Misery Business.” The song has since returned to Paramore’s setlist, though Williams is careful to emphasize her change in perspective with age.

Kurt Cobain, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)

Nirvana announced the ‘90s grunge era with a tirade against conformity. For Kurt Cobain, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” turning into a pop culture sensation wasn't just the ultimate irony. He grew weary of incessant MTV rotations and obligatory live performances. Cobain lamented to Rolling Stone that he couldn't tell if audiences were cheering because of the song’s message or because they were programmed to. Plus, he thought Nirvana had much better songs. The band played on, with perhaps the most legendary performance being a surreally botched take on “Top of the Pops” to protest the show’s miming policy. That was much truer to Cobain than the fame that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” burdened him with.

Beastie Boys, “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” (1986)

Fresh out of the Brooklyn punk scene, the Beastie Boys spoofed the party anthems that were dominating to the 1980s. Unfortunately, they accidentally made the ultimate one. “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” became a career-making hit through the very frat house culture it was satirizing. The band embraced the rap rock rebrand to the extent of promoting more serious hip-hop to the mainstream. Otherwise, they've been vocal about their disappointment in how they got there through listeners’ ignorance of irony. Whether that's an indictment of pop music’s quality at the time or the Beastie Boys’ ability to craft a classic even as a joke, they retired “Fight for Your Right” after first touring it.

Billy Joel, “We Didn’t Start the Fire” (1989)

A crash course in the Baby Boomer generation was one of Billy Joel’s biggest commercial hits, and one of his most polarizing. He himself hasn't minced words about his thoughts on “We Didn't Start the Fire.” Joel revealed in the 1993 documentary “Shades of Grey” that he hates the song, believing it to be his worst melody ever. He does like the rapid-fire lyric, though it's always been a pain to keep up with. That's actually the real reason why Joel has performed “We Didn't Start the Fire” sparingly. The fans love it, and he loves them enough to keep the fire burning in his live rotation. He just won't pretend that he's happy about it.

What are some other songs that you’re unlikely to hear your favorite artists perform? We’re taking requests in the comments below.