When an artist has one hit that outshines all the others, it can quickly become old for them. Fans are going to expect it to be played at every gig, and that's never going to be fun for the band or musician that plays it. Because of this, a few musicians have come out and said they hate their biggest songs.
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I have to admit, I am guilty of it too. I have been to some gigs and been a little put out when the musicians don't play my favorite song. But, that isn't the only reason an artist goes off their music either.
Sometimes a musician develops as an artist and their sound changes. Anyone looking back on old work can cringe at their naivety. Here is a whole group of musicians who now hate their biggest songs.
4. "Pinball Wizard" - The Who
I mean, it's one of their biggest tracks of all time and remained on their setlist forever, thankfully. However, Pete Townshend labeled it as "the most clumsy piece of writing I've ever done." His fans don't agree though and it still stands as one of their most loved and famous songs.
3. "Wonderwall" - Oasis
With the upcoming tour of Oasis, you have to wonder if they're going to play the one song that the whole world knows. If you have tickets, don't hold your breath. Liam Gallager, one-half of the band, hates one of their biggest songs.
"I can't f**king stand that f**king song," he says. "Every time I have to sing it I want to gag. You go to America and they're like, 'Are you Mr. Wonderwall?' You want to chin someone." I would watch what you say around the Brit Pop superstar, too; he might just do it.
2. "Shiny Happy People" - R.E.M
Have you ever wondered why 'Shiny Happy People' isn't on the R.E.M best-of album? Well, it's because the musicians hate one of their biggest tracks of all time. Despite having over 300 million streams on Spotify, Michael Stipe labeled it as "a fruity pop song written for children."
1. "Stairway To Heaven" - Led Zeppelin
For a band like Led Zeppelin, it's easy to see how they would eventually begin to hate their biggest songs. They toured for long enough and had an incredible run spanning tens of years. Over this time they must have played 'Stairway To Heaven' a million times. But, it isn't this that puts Robert Plant off the absolute classic.
"I'd break out in hives if I had to sing that song in every show," he told Rolling Stone back in 1988. "I wrote those lyrics and found that song to be of some importance and consequence in 1971, but 17 years later, I don't know. It's just not for me." He had just grown out of it, and I think that's understandable.
