1976 No. 1 Hit Voted Worst Song of the ’70s in a Readers' Poll
When music fans got the chance to vote on the worst songs of the 1970s, one track that had been a major hit stood out above the rest. Here's why the Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots' 1976 hit 'Disco Duck' was voted the worst song of the decade, years after it dominated the charts.
The Poll That Named 'Disco Duck' Worst Song of the ’70s
Back in October 2011, Rolling Stone gave its readers the chance to vote for the worst song of the 1970s. Given how passionate readers of that magazine tend to be, it is telling that they chose 'Disco Duck,' the goofy novelty song from Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots. It turns out, that wasn't the only time that the track landed on a list like that.
Other outlets have piled on over the years, too. Live About named 'Disco Duck' the worst disco song of all time, while Audio Phix included it on a list of the worst No. 1 songs from the decade. Even a radio station, Sunny 107.9, put it on its list of the worst 1970s tracks. After listening to the song, it is easy to understand why it has been included on so many negative lists. Between the low effort Disco beat, the silly duck voice, and the exaggerated accent employed in spots, it was bound to annoy many listeners.
Despite all the shade the song has gotten in recent years, there was a time when it was being fully embraced by a lot of listeners. 'Disco Duck' reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 16, 1976, spent 10 weeks in the top 10, and a total of 25 weeks on the charts. That level of success should never go understated.
The backstory of 'Disco Duck' arguably is among the most interesting of any song in history. According to Song Facts, Rick Dees wrote it in a single day and intended it as a tongue-in-cheek jab at the disco craze that was monumentally popular at the time. Even though it was meant to be funny, it didn’t take long for people to embrace it and turn it into a big seller. After being conceived as a joke and then taken very seriously, the song has been ridiculed in recent years. Perhaps that is the ultimate achievement of its original intent, and the haters don't realize Dees may be in on the joke.
The 10 Worst Songs of the 1970s, According to Rolling Stone’s Readers
- 10. Minnie Riperton – “Loving You”
- 9. Morris Albert – “Feelings”
- 8. Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods – “Billy Don’t Be A Hero”
- 7. Terry Jacks – “Seasons In The Sun”
- 6. Rupert Holmes – “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”
- 5. The Captain and Tennille – “Muskrat Love”
- 4. Debby Boone – “You Light Up My Life”
- 3. Paul Anka – “(You’re) Having My Baby”
- 2. Starland Vocal Band – “Afternoon Delight”
- 1. Rick Dees – “Disco Duck”