Why is "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward hated so much

[Funky Dude]

I've noticed that everytime there is a negative thread regarding some disco tunes the song "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward always comes up, and also made it's place in "Disco songs you absolutely hate!" thread obviously.

I'm just curious to know what's in the song that makes nearly everyone hate it? Is it because radio DJs belt the living s#$t out of it which make people get so sick of it or is it Anita's voice or is it something else?

I'm just curious.

My personaly opinion of this song is, I don't mind listening to it, it has good rhythm, but I hardly listen to it mainly because I've heard it WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too many times on radio just like "YMCA" by Village People.

Then again I don't hate any 70's disco song but I have favourites and least favourites and the least favourites are obviously the ones radio stations belt the living s%&t out of.

[nrgbeat]

Although, I don't hate the song, Anita Ward is no Donna Summer.

[BrunoRepublic]

I dislike the song because

1: It's crap
2: That cheesy bwwwwwooo sound is used too much in it
3: The production (especially the glockenspiel) is gayer than Liberace in drag
4: The melody is catchy yet irritating, sort of like "Barbie Girl"
5: The previously mentioned factors increase in strength exponentially after hearing the song 5,396 times
6: It's the kind of song that people who don't know anything about disco but like Saturday Night Fever think is so great.

[Funky Dude]

Graham Start wrote:
6: It's the kind of song that people who don't know anything about disco but like Saturday Night Fever think is so great.

I can see your point, most people I know in Australia only know mainstream disco and rate that song along with "YMCA" and "Stayin' Alive" to be the best.

[Funky Dude]

Graham Start wrote:
after hearing the song 5,396 times

WHOAAAAAAAA!!!!! Did you REALLY heard that song THAT many times?

[Voyage]

It's so cheesy, tacky, and annoying. I'm so tired from listening to it lots of times on the radio.

Good point Graham Start about people liking this song. And trust me it's true! I once met someone who loved this song to death.

[HustleBaby]

Graham has hit the nail on the head! I hate the song also because of its lyrics and Anita's voice is SOOOOOO IRRITATING!!!!Altogether its cheap and cheesy - it sounds like something you may hear in a porn movie.

*DISCO DELIGHT*

[NickNack]

I never really hated this song. I just stopped playing it. It's something I never pull out because, as you say, everybody else has worked it to death. How many covers were done in the last 2 or 3 years alone?

Back in the day when I was dj'ing this song was fun. Campy, not too novelty and the rhythm kept everybody dancing while they were laughing at the lyrics. Now, I do find it irritating but my memories of the song are pleasant.

[nrgbeat]

On 2002-06-26 07:54, Graham Start wrote:
I dislike the song because

1: It's crap
2: That cheesy bwwwwwooo sound is used too much in it
3: The production (especially the glockenspiel) is gayer than Liberace in drag
4: The melody is catchy yet irritating, sort of like "Barbie Girl"
5: The previously mentioned factors increase in strength exponentially after hearing the song 5,396 times
6: It's the kind of song that people who don't know anything about disco but like Saturday Night Fever think is so great.

Graham, do you dislike all pop music and only prefer the underground stuff? While I agree a lot of the songs are overplayed I can't say I truly dislike them.

[Outsider]

I don't hate the song, but I don't care for it. Yeah, I think that Anita sounds like she sucked on helium, but that's not the main reason I don't like the song. And it's not because it's been overplayed. This song just doesn't do anything for me.

[The Lord of Flatbush]

This is a song that I purchased back in the days as a 12" and liked it very much.

To that demise, I haven't played Ring my bell for over 20 years. :sad:

[Boodikka]

Outside of the fact that it is inane and horribly sung (supposedly Anita Ward thought the song was stupid and didn't want to do it), one of my biggest peeves is that there was so much BETTER product available that summer. Those of us that were spinning can remember the great tracks that arrived from the pool en masse that summer.
My feeling is that since payola never really died, "Ring My Bell" achieved whatever status it had through graft and bribery.

[nrgbeat]

Boodi, what clubs did you spin at?

[Blaxman]

On 2002-06-26 11:04, The Lord of Flatbush wrote:

This is a song that I purchased back in the days as a 12" and liked it very much.

I like this song too, Lord. Shhhhh...dont tell anybody! :lol:

OK, I know. The Anita Ward's voice is awful, like a "Barbie Girl", somebody said. But, in some way i like the instrumental part of the song, the percussion break is fine. In my own opinion, of course.

Peace.

[BrunoRepublic]

On 2002-06-26 10:07, nrgbeat wrote:
Graham, do you dislike all pop music and only prefer the underground stuff?

Nope, Fantomas is our resident "disser-of-all-things-that-ever-came-near-the-pop-charts".

While I agree a lot of the songs are overplayed I can't say I truly dislike them.

There are plenty of mainstream tunes that I like... this just isn't one of them