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It's there, waiting to be discovered when a friend peruses your iPod playlists. It might be “Save Tonight” by Eagle Eye Cherry, “Tubthumping” by Chumbawumba or “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus.
It's that guilty-pleasure song, that cringe-worthy one-hit wonder or annoyingly cheerful pop tune you secretly love.
From music fans to those who work full-time in the music scene, folks around town chimed in with their favorite — and most embarrassing — musical gems.
“My guilty pleasures are many! There is a song on a Kelly Clarkson album called ‘I Want You' that is like a fun '50s doo-wop thing with modern beats that always puts me in a good mood. Also, anything from Paramore. Sure, it's music intended for teenage girls, but I like what I like!”
Nick Hexum of 311
“‘MMMBop' by Hanson. We used to karaoke to this song all the time, and it always gets a double-take. It brings me back to the junior high years!”
Chris Knutson, Omaha
“‘Jessie's Girl' by Rick Springfield. I blame ‘General Hospital' and MTV. They made me do it, and he was really hot!”
Sophia John, general manager for 89.7 The River
“Sappy Carpenters songs, hits from 1990s Disney musicals, ‘We Built This City' by Starship and more Britney Spears than I care to admit. Need I go on?”
Sarah Brownlee, Omaha
“I like George Michael a lot, but I'm not too embarrassed by that. He's an amazing songwriter. ‘Father Figure' is a really good tune, and ‘One More Try,' that's a really great song. The whole ‘Faith' album is pretty solid. But you won't find any Justin Timberlake in my record collection.”
Matt Whipkey, songwriter
“‘I Love a Rainy Night' by Eddie Rabbitt. Cheesy? Yes. Great song to run to? Absolutely!”
Julie Gould, Council Bluffs
“‘Do the Flux Dance.' It's the music they play at the dance club in the video game Mass Effect. Although I'm not too terribly embarrassed over the fact, it is rather ‘geeky.'”
Jared Cvetas, Omaha
“‘U + Me = Us (I Know My Calculus)' by 2ge+her. It's that band MTV created as a fictional show (in 2000). Solid gold.”
Kailey Dwyer, Omaha
“Embarrassing but not particularly bad music: soundtrack from ‘Phantom of the Opera.' Embarrassing and particularly bad music: ‘Hero' by Enrique Iglesias.”
Carl Weiland, Omaha
Contact the writer:
444-1557, kevin.coffey@owh.com
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