Pop Culture | 80s | 90s | Music
11 Inappropriate Songs We Definitely Shouldn't Have Been Singing When We Were Kids
When you were growing up, did you ever sing along to the songs in the radio? Or maybe you had a big ol' boombox that you your blast out your favorite tapes locked away in your bedroom but still scream-singing the whole time.
The thing is, a lot of the songs we used to sing were horribly inappropriate for our age groups. Obviously we aren't going to just sit around and listen to Barney sing about whatever repetitive thing he chose today, or Lamb Chop once again going on and on until your parents hate you.
Instead, we would listen to all that great new music, most of it being fun bubblegum pop. There were of course a few outliers in the songs we listened to that were the extra cool songs that only the most awesome kids knew about, but it didn't matter because all of it was super not safe for kids.
It never stopped us though, and really it's fine because we had no idea at the time what we were saying. It's only looking back at it now that we even understand the things we sang so loudly. So really, the only people who lose here are the parents who have to hear their kids singing terrible, awful things at the top of their lungs.
How many of these songs did you sing when you were younger?
1. Liquid Dreams - O-Town
I don't know that there is a song that is possible worst than this one. I mean, does it even need explaining? The meaning is pretty clear now that we are adults, but back when they first came out in 2001 we had no idea!
Here we were just thinking that this brand new boy band that was formed in front of our eyes was here to provide us with entertaining music. You have to admit, the song is catchy. But also ... wowsers.
2. Get Down - Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys were (and still are) one of the greatest boy bands ever, and we all sang their songs so loudly, and so often than I am sure all of our parents hated us. Especially when we got to this song on our cassette tapes, because what parent wants to hear their child yell out "Smack it up, flip it, and move it all around!"
Seriously, parents really had it rough didn't they?
3. 2 Become 1 - Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a true icon, and their slow and sweet single 2 Become 1 was all about relationships and falling in love, but what we didn't fully realize what we were saying while we sang it.
Seriously now... How did our parents not stop this? I guess because we had no idea what we were saying so it really didn't matter, but it's crazy to think about right?
4. Push It - Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa came out back in the 80s, but that didn't stop us from singing this song through the 90s and even 2000s.
Should we have sang this song as a child? Well... no, probably not. But it's so catchy you can't possibly blame us right?
5. Pony - Ginuwine
This song wasn't trying to hide it's intent in the least, but the song was way too catchy to ignore. I mean, to this day if you hear those first few notes start to play you know you are going to start dancing right?
Not really made for children, hopefully not too many of them knew what he really meant by his pony...
6. Ain't Too Proud 2 Beg - TLC
TLC is known for speaking their mind, but in this case it was a little bit beyond our comprehension.
All we saw was bright colors and a lot of dancing all to a song that was fun to sing a long to. We had no clue what they were begging for.
7. Genie in a Bottle - Christina Aguilera
Chistina came out of the woodwork at the same time as Britney Spears, but her image was always a little less squeaky clean.
The song talks a lot about rubbing which is uncomfortable to say the least. Especially when you try to remember how old you were when you listened to it.
8. Baby Got Back - Sir Mixalot
There are few songs that are as instantly recognizable as Baby Got Back. As soon as you hear that opening "Oh my god" you know exactly what you are in for.
But when we were kids we didn't get what 99% of what this song was saying, we just thought it was hilarious that there was an entire song about butts!
9. It Wasn't Me - Shaggy
The entire purpose of this song is to deny an affair, but there was just something about Shaggy's voice that made all of us kids so excited to sing this ridiculous song.
Seriously, I am pretty sure his CD was one that I owned as a kid, but yet did I understand what I was singing? Not even remotely.
10. Get Down - B4-4
Sometimes there is just some lyrics speak for themselves. I mean, it's WAY less subtle than the Backstreet Boys song with the same name. I mean really now, here is the chorus of this song:
"If you get down on me, I'll get down on you.
I will do anything that you want me to.
It's a game of give and take to make it through.
So if you get down on me, I'll get down on you tonight.
11. I Touch Myself - Divinyls
This one, a lot like Shaggy's song, doesn't really hide what it's saying, but it does use a different style of music than he does. This one is a lot more of a pop song and has a real 80s-feel to it.
The song was used in the first Austin Powers movie so there is a heavy 90s nostalgia that follows it around for sure. Not sure if they wanted it to be associated with Mike Myers stripping his clothes off in front of a bunch of robots but that is what they got!