Hit, Classic, Despised: The Life Cycle of Boomer Songs

John Sinkevics of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press surveyed local bar bands to find out what requests they hate playing.

They're pretty much a Baby Boomer hit parade.

The bands he talked to never again want to play "Mustang Sally" (1966), "Brown Eyed Girl" (1967), or "Margaritaville" (1977).

Sinkevics says "As for me, Bob Seger's repetitive "Old Time Rock & Roll" made me yawn about the third time my band played it, and I'll feign deafness if I hear bellowing for "Proud Mary," "Joy to the World" or "Beer Barrel Polka.""

Others songs bands hate to play: "Mony, Mony;" "Jack and Diane;" "Two Tickets to Paradise;" "American Pie;" and "Soul Man," among others. The only song from the last two decades on their list was Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman."

So you, out there in the audience -- yes, the one who thinks it's still funny to yell "Free Bird" -- dig a little deeper next time you make a request. Five fewer people may want to brain you with a guitar.