I'm aware that they're on but I'm also aware that I'm not listening to them. Not their fault, really. It's just we live in the world of flogging everything to death.

So overplayed at the time that you hated them. Both, if you came across them as obscurities tucked away on albums, you'd realise were actually quite good.
But I will go to my grave failing to understand the appeal of Robbie Williams' "Angels"

Sometimes hearing an overplayed song in a new setting can revive its fortunes. Last week I heard a 6th form band playing Led Zep IV in full (and boy, can the kids play these days) and I was reminded that 'Stairway', for all its rustling in hedgerows, is magnificent.

I can't get much pleasure out of Alright Now and Brown Sugar anymore.
However Matthew's point about context rings true. Years ago we went to the Town & Country in Kentish Town to see Southside Johnny. They'd just played a sterling version of Wild Horses when someone shouted out for Brown Sugar. Johnny looks around the band members, checks everyone is familiar enough wiith it to play it and off they go. That was the first time I'd got any sort of frisson from that song for many years.

For me the thing with these two is that when you hear something else by Queen or Abba, it always sounds better than it probably is just cos it's not those two. eg I saw Take a Chance on Me and Seven Sea of Rye on BBC4 progs recently and loved them.

The NUMBER ONE overplayed record for me is Losing My Religion. I am amazed that Peter Buck allows himself to play it live still - just strapping the bloody mandolin on must make him shudder & groan.

...when they have a new album out, it is utterly inescapable. It'll all start again this year, of course, as they have a new one due.

I have to say that some of The Stones' stuff I grew a bit weary of; 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' especially was really overplayed on the radio stations I used to listen to, as was the Motown stuff from the 60s but I find I can enjoy some of it again these days (still not a great fan of The Supremes though; maybe due to the over-playing).

Got a bit sick of Van Morrison's 'Brown Eyed Girl' as well. Discovering most of his back catalogue last year was a real eye-opener for me though; I'd never heard much if anything from his albums!

I think the comment about the Asbury Jukes' live cover of Brown Sugar encapsulates the argument. If the song is revitalised by the new arrangement (preferably not just a new voice), then it stands up. Stands up hard, hence the use of the the word Stand'ard, shortened as standard, for a universally much covered song.
So: Bohemian Rhapsody? Well, "Hibernian" Rhapsody by De Dannan is rubbish, so that's fine for me.
Dancing Queen? Haven't heard a cover of that one. In fact, v few Abba covers at all, with only Name of the Game/Any Trouble and Knowing Me, Knowing You/Danny Wilson. They are good, so chances are that Name of the Game is too. Can't abide it myself.
Losing My Religion? Both the Tori Amos and the A Camp versions are good. Cat Power less so. Verdict: stand'ard.
Simplistic? Sure, but it works for me.

Hotel Bloody California.
Even though I know the guitar solos note for note, I still find the song irritating. It's just too damn slick for its own good. I think Terry Wogan is largely to blame for my disaffection as for a while he seemed to play it practically every day. I've learned my lesson though - now I start the day with John Humphries on Radio 4.
Someone told me that HC was voted as the all-time great rock song, or some such nonsense - I think it was OK when it was just another album track, but seems somehow to have acquired legendary status, and therefore become boring through repetition.
Curiously, though I have an extensive collection of West Coast and Country Rock music, I own not a single track by the Eagles... not even a freebie on a sampler, download, etc. Long may it remain so.

I love New Order - hell, I even listen to Get Ready from time to time - but I've heard Blue Monday so many times now that I just don't notice it when it's on.

Oh and you're all just so right about Coldplay.

A Whiter Shade of Pale is *the* most played song on UK radio, yet I confess I'm not tired of hearing it. In fact, if it came on now I think I'd turn the radio up...

Here's the top 10, nose-pickers...

1. Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
2. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
3. Wet Wet Wet - Love Is All Around
4. Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream
5. Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
6. Abba - Dancing Queen
7. Elvis Presley - All Shook Up
8. Rod Stewart - Maggie May
9. The Beatles - Hello Goodbye
10. The Beatles - Get Back

I'm going for a lie down.

One extra point, though: should one ever be objective about music?

Isn't that like being architecture about dancing? Or something?

Fairy Tale Of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. I loved this song when it first came out. At last I thought something decent. Great tune but now it's every Christmas it gets wheeled out like the annual Slade or Wizzard tracks.

Can someone tell me why independent radio sounds the same virtually when I travel the country? Trying to find music variety without hearing the same play list on the hour every hour has become an up hill struggle for me in recent years.

...about Dancing Queen; there's so much in there to focus on (the drums, the voices, the incredible piano) I never tire of it. Mind you, Hotel California is the most sententious rubbish & does The Eagles' rep no favours; they had some great songs in their catalogue but the bum ones like HC & Lyin' Eyes get the most plays while The Best Of My Love, New Kid In Town & (least known & best of all) I Can't Tell You Why hardly ever get a look in.
And, as if to prove played a lot doesn't mean overplayed, the most played record ever on American radio, according to Gambo, & one that can't be far behind in the UK, is You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling. Who's tired of that?

are one of the things that puts me off a "classic track". I think the Sissor Sisters probably suffered from the same "played to death syndrome" as Coldplay with all their singles. TV still seems to use both of them as background music for every programme possible.
And I wouldnt care if I never hear You're Beautiful by James Blunt or theme from Titanic ever again.

Many wouldn't care if we'd never heard them at all.......