1976 No. 1 Hit Voted Second Worst Song of the 1970s by Rolling Stone Readers
In 1976, a song reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart on May 8, 1976, stayed there for two weeks, and it spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart. Roughly 35 years later, Rolling Stone readers named it as the second-worst song of the 1970s.
After Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight" topped the charts, it was nominated for Record of the Year, won Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group, and helped the band be awarded Best New Artist of the Year at the Grammys. Despite its chart-topping success and those honors, the song still draws plenty of hate today.
Rolling Stone Readers Ranked Starland Vocal Band’s “Afternoon Delight” as One of the Worst Songs of the 1970s
Even though the song has appeared in TV shows like The Simpsons and South Park, plus movies such as Anchorman and Good Will Hunting, it turns out that many people still can't stand it. In 2011, Rolling Stone magazine asked its readers to vote on the worst songs of the 1970s, and Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight" ranked second.
The 10 Worst Songs of the 1970s, According to Rolling Stone's Readers in 2011:
- 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"
The 1970s produced many remarkable music stories, like when a legendary rock star's No. 1 song became the subject of one of the decade's biggest copyright lawsuits. But while stories like that have faded with time, "Afternoon Delight" continues to draw criticism even now.
Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight" Still Gets Hate Today
Big Happy Birthday to the guy responsible for writing possibly the Worst. Song. Ever., "Afternoon Delight," by The Starland Vocal Band, Bill Danoff! Bill, actually its a 3-way tie between your song, Debbie Boone's "You Light Up My Life," & Terry Jacks "Seasons In The Sun!" pic.twitter.com/ijQVKCuz5O
— Sean Mcdowell (@dvesean) May 7, 2018
"Afternoon Delight" continues to regularly pop up in social media users' music complaints. A perfect example of that is the user @dvesean using songwriter Bill Danoff's 2018 birthday to roast the track. "Big Happy Birthday to the guy responsible for writing possibly the Worst. Song. Ever. "Afternoon Delight," by The Starland Vocal Band, Bill Danoff!"
More recently, in February 2026, @TroyTrellman expressed outrage at Starland Vocal Band beating Queen and Boston at the Grammys. "Bohemian Rhapsody lost a Best Vocal Arrangement Grammy to the annoying Afternoon Delight. I was 11 and have not watched the Grammys since. Same year as Boston lost Best New Artist to Starland Vocal Band."
Also in February 2026, the user @watchingdaisies reacted to a video about 1970s one-hit wonders by stating how much they like them all, except "Afternoon Delight." "Still love them all except the one I have hated since the day it aired on our radio... Afternoon Delight. Have hated that song since I was a kid."
Still love them all except the one I have hated since the day it aired on our radio... Afternoon Delight. Have hated that song since I was a kid.
— watchingdaisies (@watchingdaisies) February 6, 2026
Clearly, the hatred for Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight" isn't going away anytime soon.