If you’re looking for some Spotify playlist inspiration for your next road trip/hike/adventure, this isn’t it. 

 

I asked around for the tracks that would be most likely to put a dampener on an adventure, and these are the not-so-lucky winners. 

So, to keep your fellow campers happy keep these off your playlist. Or, crank it up and you might just get that campsite to yourself. You’re welcome.

1. Happy – Pharrell Williams

There’s nothing like the screech of Pharrell’s ‘Happy, happy, happy, happpppyyy. Happy, Happy, HAPPY, Haaapppppppppyyyyyyy’, to make me anything but.

2. Get Lucky – Daft Punk

Daft Punk’s Get Lucky can get f*cked.

3. Uptown Funk – Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson 

This overplayed monstrosity belongs only on post-midnight, drunken wedding dancefloors when enough booze has been drunk that everyone instantly forgets it exists the next day.

4. Don’t Stop Believing – Journey

Please. Please. Stop believing. And please, please stop playing. In fact, maybe just start your ‘journey’ home instead. Thanks.

5. Bubble Butt – Major Lazer ft. Bruno Mars, 2 Chainz, Tyga, Mystic

This one is from WAE’s editor Tim. I decided to watch the video to educate myself on why he’d suggested it for this giant list of shitty songs. Now my eyes and my ears are bleeding.

6. Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen

If this hell hole of a track sneaks onto your playlist, it’s suggested you retreat to the nearest cave and think about what you’ve done.

7. ‘Doof, doof’ music – Insert whatever excuse for an artist you can think of here

When I asked around for the most annoying songs, a few people simply said ‘doof doof’ music.

According to Wikipedia, ‘Doof doof’ is an Australian term for loud electronic music centred on a heavy bass drum kick. 

I don’t care what you call it. Turn. It. Off.

8. Wonderwall – Oasis

NO. NO. Leave it to the British to yell during karaoke. Private karaoke rooms only, obviously. Preferably ones experiencing technical difficulties.

9. Any Jon Bon Jovi

Who are you, your mum?

10. Dance Monkey – Tones and I

Unless you actually have a dancing monkey then I don’t want to hear it. And if you do have a dancing monkey, shame on you.

11. You’re Beautiful – James Blunt

Was Mr Blunt big over here too? Back in the UK, he was. And to be blunt (sorry, not sorry), his sad warbling is enough to make you never want to hear music ever again.

12. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers

You’re walking! And this song is about walking. Must be played then, right? Said no one ever.

13. (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes

This is not an early 2000s nightclub at closing time. And please, please do not try to recreate ‘that’ scene. PLBs are for genuine emergencies only, not dance lifts gone wrong.

14. Bad Guy – Billie Eilish 

Maybe it’s just overplayed. Or maybe Bad Guy is just a bad song.

15. All I Want For Christmas – Mariah Carey

All I want for Christmas (or any time of the year) is for you to turn off this godforsaken track, pack up your tent and head home to 1994 where this song should’ve stayed.

16. Hello – Adele

Or indeed, anything by Adele. She may be talented, but listening to Adele is more depressing than realising you packed a corked wine instead of a screw top.

17. Shallow – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

Tell me somethin’, girl. Are you happy in this modern world? Or do you need more? Is there somethin’ else you’re searchin’ for? Yes, yes there is. For you to never play this song again.

18. Blinding Lights – The Weeknd

If you missed this playing incessantly after going viral on Tiktok, then I am truly envious. Once in your head, it’ll stay there forever, no matter how far you retreat into the bush to try and make it stop.

19. Laxed (Siren Beat) – Jawsh 685

Hats off to this 17-year-old Aucklander who went viral on TikTok with his Polynesian beat. But after 90 trillion-bazillion-gazillion plays, it’s probably time to say ‘yeah nah’.

20. Anything Played by a Guy With a Guitar

If you’re the guy who brings a guitar to a campsite, you’re instantly the most irritating guy at said campsite. Also, see number 8.

 

What’s your most annoying song in the outdoors (or indoors?). Let us know in the comments!

Looking for some quality tunes to play on your adventures instead? We’ve got a whole bunch of them over on the We Are Explorers Spotify. And for that, you are very welcome.

 

Feature photo thanks to @hannahbusing