7. UB40, "Can't Help Falling in Love": Diluting reggae was something of a mission statement for UB40, but they never scored bigger than they did with this milktoast Elvis cover. The original song is weak soundtrack fodder from the King's Hollywood period, and it was improved not at all by synthesized horns and electronic drums. Naturally, it managed to hit No. 1 on the charts.
Some credit this tune for helping spread appreciation for reggae around the globe, but it surely spawned just as much hatred.
6. 311, "Lovesong": It's kind of impossible to discuss the worst appropriations of authentic reggae sounds without at least mentioning 311. We can't be sure how much ganja the band smoked before deciding that the Cure's biggest hit would sound incredible as a reggae track, but surely a single Swisher wasn't enough to wrap it all.
Apparently they weren't the only ones lighting up, because 311's version went No. 1, charting higher than the original. Didn't stop us from referring to it as "Loathesong" to anyone willing to roll their eyes at us, though.
5. Robert Palmer feat. UB40, "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight": Maybe it's unfair to disparage UB40 twice on this list, but they deserve it for dragging the late Robert Palmer into this mess. There's no denying that Bob Dylan is a truly great songwriter, but that doesn't mean it's necessary to translate his compositions into every musical style on the planet. This dire reggae cover of "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" serves as grim proof.
The tune was a hit upon its release in 1990, but has largely faded from memory since. Probably because the song is so embarassing that nobody's got the balls to even consider playing it on a cruise ship in Jamaica.
4. Big Mountain, "Baby I Love Your Way": The Reality Bites soundtrack is best remembered these days for giving us Lisa Loeb's smash single "Stay (I Missed You)." Mercifully forgotten is this wholly unnecessary bit of sputum from Big Mountain. There are few lamer '70s superstars to rehash than Peter fucking Frampton, but that didn't stop these dreaded-out peckerwoods from drenching his sappiest ballad in dub. The assholes even added a saxophone solo.
