Riffs That Annoy You.

[Architeuthis]

I'm talking guitar, bass, or piano riffs that annoy you. Even if they don't necessarily suck, maybe it's the melody, tone, or what it's associated with..

 I'm gonna start with "Seven Nation Army".  Not because it's simple, but because that melody line annoys me to no end and repeats itself so much. I think the Baltimore Ravens crowd ruined for me even more.  I also was in a cover band at one time and I was forced to learn the song, which I boycotted later because I hated playing that riff..

 Any thoughts?

[Adami]

Smells Like Teen Spirit riff.

Something about it. Dunno.

[bosk1]

Can't think of any.  And I don't think I've ever heard Seven Nation Army.

[Ruba]

The main riff of Symphony of Destruction. I love Megadeth and rest of that song is very good, but to me it seems like Mustaine attempted to write his own Enter Sandman (I almost hate that riff too, but purely because I've heard it too many times. When I was 12 years old it was the best thing ever).

Smells Like Teen Spirit riff.

Something about it. Dunno.

Yes. I dislike that song and it pretty much has put me off for Nirvana. I don't really find anything remotely interesting about that song and it always raises my blood pressure to see it on "best rock songs of all time"-lists.

[nattmorker]

Should I stay or should I go! I hate that riff! it really annoys me for some reason.

[Zantera]

Smells Like Teen Spirit riff.

Something about it. Dunno.

Agreed on this.

[Adami]

Ohh, most of the riffs from Angels of Broken Things by PoS.

Just the most meh feeling use of an odd time signature.

[Architeuthis]

Should I stay or should I go! I hate that riff! it really annoys me for some reason.

Agreed!

[Snow Dog]

Joe Walsh's "Life's Been Good".

Of course, nearly everything about that song annoys me.  The verse riff.  The synthy interlude.  The inane lyrics.  The awful singing and vocal melody.  Really, the guitar solo is just about the only slightly redemptive thing about that song.

Good call on "Should I Stay..."  Hardly even a riff.  Two chords strummed with straight eighths for a measure.  Woo.

[Elite]

Eye of the Tiger

The Final Countdown

boy, I hate both of these songs

[KevShmev]

Joe Walsh's "Life's Been Good".

Of course, nearly everything about that song annoys me.  The verse riff.  The synthy interlude.  The inane lyrics.  The awful singing and vocal melody.  Really, the guitar solo is just about the only slightly redemptive thing about that song.

Totally agree!! I like a lot of Joe Walsh songs, but that song has always kind of annoyed me. I do like the acoustic sections before each verse, but that is one song where Walsh's quirky voice is a major detriment.

[Adami]

The Final Countdown

That's my alarm. Perfect alarm really. Wakes you the hell up and you are in a rush to turn it off.

[DTA]

Not "riffs" as in guitar riffs, but I've always despised the main theme in Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty and the organ part in Light My Fire by The Doors.

[T-ski]

Not "riffs" as in guitar riffs, but I've always despised the main theme in Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty.

we can't be friends.

[Architeuthis]

I'm not a fan of heavy riffs saturated with a lot of chorus,  the tone of it doesn't sound right. An example is No More Tears and other songs off that album, very cool riffs but too much effect.  The later Van Halen material has a lot of this too, and EVH is one of my favorite guitar players.
 This is why I think Iron Maiden has a more organic guitar sound and better tone than Judas Priest.

[Stadler]

Not "riffs" as in guitar riffs, but I've always despised the main theme in Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty.

we can't be friends.

T-ski, let's go get beer and talk smack about DTA behind his back.  "Baker Street" is almost perfect in every way.  I even like the "bongos".   

[Indiscipline]

Song 2, Blur. Whoo-hoo.

[Zook]

 I'm gonna start with "Seven Nation Army".

First thing I thought of before opening the thread.

Can't think of any.  And I don't think I've ever heard Seven Nation Army.

Is housing available on the planet you're on?

[Stadler]

My votes:
The steel drums in "Love The One You're With".
Those repeating drum patterns in "Always Something There To Remind Me"

[pg1067]

And I don't think I've ever heard Seven Nation Army.

I'd bet good money you have.  It's just that 75% of the world knows the riff and absolutely nothing else from the song.

Nothing immediately came to mind for me either, which is surprising because I find a lot of music annoying.  I guess it's just not particular riffs that I find annoying.  I'm sure I'll think of something later when I'm away from my computer.

[MirrorMask]

Should I stay or should I go! I hate that riff! it really annoys me for some reason.

Agreed!

Agreed too! maybe not the riff itself, but the song and the way the lyrics are sung are for whatever reason annoying.

[RoeDent]

I wonder if a lot of these hatreds are just because you hear them everywhere? Familiarity breeds contempt and all...

[bosk1]

And I don't think I've ever heard Seven Nation Army.

I'd bet good money you have.  It's just that 75% of the world knows the riff and absolutely nothing else from the song.

I just checked it out on YouTube.  I'm pretty sure I have NEVER heard that song before today.  And I'm not sure when or where I would have even had the opportunity to hear it, unless it was featured on some tv show or sporting event that I happened to be into.  As for the song itself, kinda cool and catchy.  And I like the riff (although it isn't really a "riff"--it's just a repeat chord progression).  I can dig it, other than the annoying slide whistle type sound at about 2:30.

[Architeuthis]

And I don't think I've ever heard Seven Nation Army.

I'd bet good money you have.  It's just that 75% of the world knows the riff and absolutely nothing else from the song.

I just checked it out on YouTube.  I'm pretty sure I have NEVER heard that song before today.  And I'm not sure when or where I would have even had the opportunity to hear it, unless it was featured on some tv show or sporting event that I happened to be into.  As for the song itself, kinda cool and catchy.  And I like the riff (although it isn't really a "riff"--it's just a repeat chord progression).  I can dig it, other than the annoying slide whistle type sound at about 2:30.

I'm glad you found something positive about the song, and didn't go by my opinion.  You are right about the sporting events, the Baltimore Ravens crowd is always chanting the main riff and some college teams use it too. 
 The melody and repetitive nature of the riff just makes me cringe for some reason. How a band gets so much noteriety from such a song leaves me puzzled, kind of like Don't Worry, Be Happy..lol
 I guess there's something to be said for catchy and simple,  yet Seven Nation Army is annoying and sounds like something a grade school-ish entry level garage band  would come up with..

[MirrorMask]

That was the unofficial soundtrack to Italy winning the World Cup in 2006 

[Crow]

Dream Theater - Untethered Angel

[bosk1]

...yet Seven Nation Army ...  sounds like something a grade school-ish entry level garage band  would come up with..

That isn't necessarily a "bad" thing.  One doesn't have to be graduate-level musical prodigy to come up with music that is fun to listen to or that has artistic merit.  If you don't like it, that's cool.  But I think a lot of musicians would find your concept of what makes music good/bad to be narrow minded and somewhat insulting.

[Podaar]

I may be way off base here, but wasn't that the point of the White Stripes? Isn't their genre literally garage band?

[King Postwhore]

I may be way off base here, but wasn't that the point of the White Stripes? Isn't their genre literally garage band?

I love Jack White in The Raconteurs but can't stand anything from the White Stripes.

[Architeuthis]

...yet Seven Nation Army ...  sounds like something a grade school-ish entry level garage band  would come up with..

That isn't necessarily a "bad" thing.  One doesn't have to be graduate-level musical prodigy to come up with music that is fun to listen to or that has artistic merit.  If you don't like it, that's cool.  But I think a lot of musicians would find your concept of what makes music good/bad to be narrow minded and somewhat insulting.

Yeah you're actually right about that and forgive me for my cynical thoughts.  I never said however, that you have to be at grad level or musical prodigy to be good song writers. There are many great simple songs and riffs that I really like.
 The opening riff to Rock You Like a Hurricane, simple yet powerful and catchy.  Seven Nation Army riff just gets on my nerves, but I should at least give them credit for writing a hit anthem even if I don't like it..

[bosk1]

That's cool.

Oh, and I have to give some props to you.  This is probably the second post of mine you have responded to where I realized retroactively that it could have easily been taken as an intended insult to you (even though that is not what I intended).  I appreciate that you did not take it that way and responded thoughtfully instead of going on the attack.

[Samsara]

That's cool.

Oh, and I have to give some props to you.  This is probably the second post of mine you have responded to where I realized retroactively that it could have easily been taken as an intended insult to you (even though that is not what I intended).  I appreciate that you did not take it that way and responded thoughtfully instead of going on the attack.

I'll handle the attacks on you bosk, no worries. 

[Architeuthis]

Thanks bosk!  It's good to try to be humble and learn from others when they make a suggestion. I try to take things to heart if it helps me to be a better person in any way..

[DTA]

Not "riffs" as in guitar riffs, but I've always despised the main theme in Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty.

we can't be friends.

T-ski, let's go get beer and talk smack about DTA behind his back.  "Baker Street" is almost perfect in every way.  I even like the "bongos".

Ugh...it's just so cheesy. Fittingly, the most bland rock band on the planet (Foo Fighters) covered it so that makes me hate it even more.

[ProfessorPeart]

Just about any and every Reggae riff, which is pretty much the same riff in every song. At least to my ears.