Even the most criticized bands can create something special! Join us as we highlight those rare moments when controversial or heavily criticized musical acts managed to strike gold. From pop to rock, these tracks prove that sometimes lightning can strike in unexpected places.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the best songs created
00:09by groups that are often criticised by fans and experts alike.
00:26Hitting the modern rock scene in the late 2000s, they immediately made a name for themselves
00:29for better or for worse.
00:31Debuting fresh off of lead singer Ronnie Radke's incarceration and split from his previous
00:36group, Falling In Reverse became synonymous with his own drama.
00:42Their lyrics often coming across as juvenile didn't help their case, causing them to
00:46become lumped in with other emo bands at the time.
00:49However, things began to take a turn when Popular Monster was released.
01:03Taking inspiration from his own inner thoughts and real-life experiences, it was a refreshingly
01:07mature and self-reflective piece.
01:09They also took more risks musically, even managing to weave rock and rap together into
01:14one explosive song.
01:28Not every group is meant for mass success, even those that have been together for decades.
01:32Formed in 1995, WETA's didn't release their first work until the beginning of the
01:3621st century, and struggled to find their footing even after achieving international
01:40success with Teenage Dirtbag.
01:52The lead singer's unique style of singing translated perfectly to the themes of the
01:55song, matching the confrontational energy of the lyrics.
01:58While it worked well on that track, it didn't have the same effect on the rest of their
02:02discography, as the majority of their follow-up releases failed to chart worldwide.
02:14However, their one-hit wonder continues to find new success with younger generations,
02:21proving its timelessness.
02:29The uptick in grunge and nu-metals popularity
02:39throughout the 90s and early 2000s led to a sea of bands attempting to emulate the sound.
02:44As such, groups like Trapped ended up getting lost in the fray, often compared to the greats
02:48that came before them.
02:56That coupled with the lead singer's controversial views on statutory assault has left them with
03:01a less-than-savoury reputation.
03:03Their debut, Headstrong, is their diamond in the rough though.
03:06With an addicting opening riff and cathartically angry lyrics, it was a strong start to their
03:11discography.
03:17It was a glimpse of what they could've been, had they not been clouded by one member's
03:21digital footprint.
03:25They're proof that having multiple hits doesn't always equate to widespread love
03:41and acclaim.
03:42While Train has had several songs reach varying levels of mainstream success, they've also
03:46been met with plenty of backlash.
03:49Some of their later hits in particular have been met with utter ridicule due to a perceived
03:53lack of soul, a far cry from the praise they received for Drops of Jupiter.
03:57Inspired by the passing of the lead singer's mother, the track is genuinely heartfelt,
04:01both in lyrical and musical content.
04:08It's a tribute that can be applied to both his and others' lives, ensuring that it
04:19will always be beloved.
04:31Though it may be a novelty song, its impact has lasted much longer than anyone could've
04:36anticipated.
04:37Fountains of Wayne was never able to find true mainstream success beyond their one-hit
04:41wonder, and their singer going through health issues didn't help matters.
04:53Despite not managing to build off their initial achievements, Stacey's Mom remains part
04:57of the zeitgeist today.
04:58Centred around having a less-than-innocent crush on a friend's mom, it manages to walk
05:02the line between cheeky and juvenile.
05:04Rather, it ended up being the perfect combination of catchy and campy, with slightly raunchy
05:09themes that manage to resonate with many people.
05:28Despite Maroon 5 achieving incredible success on the charts, it came at the price of mass
05:32criticism from listeners.
05:34Their constant drama combined with their ever-changing sound has caused them to receive flack, and
05:39from even their most loyal fans.
05:41Many enjoy the overall sound of their early work, and She Will Be Loved is symbolic of
05:45that.
05:46Its mellow production and sincere, heartfelt lyrics create a genuinely beautiful ballad
05:50that holds up today.
06:00It still stands out today as one of their best, giving supporters hope that they'll
06:04someday return to the genre that awarded them fame in the first place.
06:20Some groups fall victim to music purists, like Crazy Town.
06:23Through incorporating both rap and rock into their music, Crazy Town has given themselves
06:27a less-than-favourable name with fans of metal.
06:35Their negative reputation soon spiralled beyond the sub-genre, and they were even accused
06:39of targeting their music toward poses attempting to look tough.
06:42The insults they received still had no bearing on the success of Butterfly, a raunchy yet
06:47undeniably romantic track that appealed to people well outside their base.
07:01They seamlessly blended elements of hip-hop and rock together, creating a mainstream hit
07:05that topped the charts.
07:06Despite their success there, they were never able to get respect from metalheads, dooming
07:10them to be a one-hit wonder.
07:26Success comes and goes, even for bands with plenty of technical skill.
07:30Though they aren't necessarily criticised for their talent, Hinder still struggle to
07:33find a broader audience.
07:35Their sparse releases haven't done much to improve their popularity.
07:38They've even admitted to still chasing the high that Lips of an Angel provided them back
07:42in 2006.
07:48The candid track resonated with listeners worldwide, with lyrics that offered a different perspective
07:53on emotionally cheating with an ex-partner.
08:01The instrumentals slowly building up throughout the verses pairs perfectly with the teeming
08:05emotion found in the song.
08:07And once that chorus hits, it's nearly impossible not to sing along.
08:26Although they were at the forefront of R&B groups in the early 1990s, they haven't
08:30been afforded the same legacy as their contemporaries.
08:33Colour Me Bad easily faded into the background among titans like Boyz II Men, with their
08:38peak popularity occurring in their first year together.
08:48While they had a couple of songs hit that number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100,
08:52most of their work is often disregarded, save for Awful Love.
08:56The track is cheesy, in the best way possible, with lyrics professing their love for their
09:00partner.
09:02It's unapologetically bright and cheery, with the ability to make even the most staunch
09:09critics bop along.
09:26Finding success with a novelty song makes it hard to be taken seriously afterwards.
09:30That's the case with the duo Right Said Fred, whose middling outputs in the 21st century
09:35has caused their fanbase to grow stagnant.
09:43Their attempts to regain their success, including an attempt at appealing to a more controversial
09:47crowd, have been met with hardly any reaction whatsoever.
09:51Their attempts are even more disappointing when comparing them to the effortless campiness
09:55of I'm Too Sexy, which easily took off due to its ridiculous nature.
10:06It's addictive and practically impossible not to dance along to, even if you're doing
10:10it ironically.
10:23Being initially marketed to children can make it hard to find success subsequently with
10:27an adult audience.
10:28S Club 7 knew this well, as they found success by appearing on a television show aimed at
10:33a younger audience.
10:34While this allowed them to have multiple charting songs and albums, it also meant they weren't
10:39taken very seriously.
10:47Despite that, it's impossible to deny how fun some of their work is, particularly their
10:52introductory single, S Club Party.
11:02Each line is about the various members of the band, giving listeners a glimpse into
11:05their personalities.
11:07The production elevates the piece even further, turning what could have been a flop into pop
11:11perfection.
11:20The reason, Hooverstank.
11:27All it takes is one rumour to derail any chances of permanent success.
11:31Although Hooverstank was able to find a loyal fanbase early on, their reputation soured
11:36following claims of a feud between their lead singer, Doug Robb, and Velvet Revolver's
11:40Scott Wieland.
11:46It was enough to make some turn their backs on the band, and their subsequent releases
11:50were affected.
11:51Despite the sudden turn in reception, nothing could take away from the love the mainstream
11:55had for their biggest single to date, The Reason.
12:06The first line alone has been seared into the brains of millions, and even became a
12:10trending sound on TikTok.
12:12The self-reflective nature of the song's message has caused it to resonate with people
12:16for over two decades.
12:33Spin Doctors are known for being one-hit wonders, and there's a very good reason for that.
12:37This song.
12:47Although their career continued, nothing else ever quite caught on like Two Princes.
12:51Point in case, did you know that they actually made music as recently as 2013?
12:57Two Princes is justifiably popular.
12:59The guitar riff throughout instantly catches your attention, and the bass and tight snare
13:04It's generally considered to be a 90s classic, and is still played on rock stations everywhere.
13:14Nothing gets your nostalgia on like this bad boy.
13:29Some members' antics can cause an entire group's downfall, whereas Scantland's
13:33many controversies, including charges of lip syncing and mistreatment of audience members,
13:38have ensured that Puddle of Mud will never be looked upon with widespread acclaim.
13:51Their remaining fans still turn to Blurry as proof of their potential, and it's clear
13:55to see why.
13:56The song's lyrical content came from a place of genuine loneliness following Scantland's
14:01initial move to Los Angeles.
14:02That emotion resonated with people across the nation, and was enhanced by the track's
14:06melancholy instrumental and tempo.
14:16When listening to it, it becomes increasingly obvious as to why it was the most popular
14:20rock song in 2002, and why their supporters are still holding out hope that they'll
14:25return to form.
14:40There's no denying that Limp Bizkit is a less-than-stellar band.
14:43The music is faux-badass, the lyrics are typically nonsense, and Fred Durst is one of the most
14:49widely hated men in the music industry.
14:52With that said, Rollin' is actually a pretty cool song.
14:58Sure, the lyrics are dumb and meaningless, but they're sung in such an energetic way
15:03that we can't help ourselves from singing along, despite our best interests.
15:07It may not be essential nu-metal listening, but it's a fun song, and that's all that
15:14matters.
15:15And it will now be stuck in your head for the rest of the day, sorry.
15:21My own prison, Creed.
15:30On the critical chopping block since their inception, they're certainly no stranger
15:34to constant derision.
15:35Their comments about beloved bands like Pearl Jam alongside The Noncommittal, constant references
15:40to religion in their music, have caused many rock fans to be leery of them.
15:51There was a time when those themes were met with praise instead, specifically in the first
15:55single, My Own Prison.
15:56Based on lead singer Scott Stapp's own experiences with self-hatred and accountability, it serves
16:01as a perfect form of catharsis for those going through the same issues.
16:09There's a sense of genuine authenticity to the piece that many believe to have been
16:20lost in their later work, which is probably why it remains their most performed song to
16:24date.
16:38Nickelback is without doubt one of the most hated bands in music today, with most pointing
16:42a finger at their overexposure and Chad Kroger's ramen noodle hair.
16:50With that said, How You Remind Me is their signature song for a very good reason.
16:55It was the most played track on American radio throughout the entire 2000s, proving that,
16:59yes, some people actually enjoy Nickelback.
17:08The band takes on a more grunge sound for this tune, and it undoubtedly helps.
17:12Even the most adamant Nickelback haters have to admit that this song isn't terrible.
17:16Overplayed, yes, but not terrible.
17:30The Black Eyed Peas might as well ask themselves that question, as they can't seem to find
17:34love anywhere these days, except maybe teenagers at a high school dance.
17:42Regardless, the band is infamous for their typically asinine lyrics and bland production,
17:49but buried deep amongst all that lays Where Is The Love?
17:52A surprisingly good and tender track.
17:59The beat is fun, the rapping is solid and the message is clear and well-intentioned.
18:03Do you see what happens when you actually put some effort into your music, Pease?
18:19Fly is notable for not sounding like anything Sugar Ray had done before, or since for that
18:24matter.
18:25They were known as a new metal band before Fly shot them into the stratosphere, and it
18:28didn't sound like anything on the radio at the time, thanks to its unique reggae fusion
18:33sound.
18:39Guest vocalist Supercat helps elevate the song and give it a fresh voice, and Rodney
18:44Shepard's guitar riff is both distinctive and amusing.
18:51Fly saw enormous success, and started Sugar Ray on their path to both radio-friendly hits,
18:56and D-List celebrity.
19:26When a band consists of teenage boys, you know you're probably not in for a particularly
19:31complex or thematically rich time.
19:34Umbop provides the exact opposite with an extremely light song that provides nothing
19:38but unadulterated fun.
19:45It may reek of 90s cheese, but what glorious cheese it is.
19:49The song is made even better knowing that the Hanson Brothers actually wrote it themselves,
19:53which is a rarity in the pop industry, especially among kids.
20:01Surely they knew their success wasn't going to last, but Umbop provided a wave of popularity
20:06that they certainly rode for a long, long time.
20:14So which of these bands do you think is redeemed by their best song?
20:17Let us know in the comments below.