Out of curiosity, do you think Barbara Ann is a good song? The one by the Beach Boys.

A Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Oh Barbara Ann take my hand
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Barbara Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
You got me rockin' and a rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin' Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann

Went to a dance looking for romance
Saw Barbara Ann so I thought I'd take a chance
Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann

Oh Barbara Ann take my hand
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Barbara Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
You got me rockin' and a rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin' Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann

Say Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Oh Barbara Ann take my hand
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Barbara Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
You got me rockin' and a rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin' Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann

Tried Betty Lou
Tried Peggy Sue
Tried Betty Lou but I knew she wouldn't do

Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Oh Barbara Ann take my hand
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Barbara Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
You got me rockin' and a rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin' Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann

Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann
Oh Barbara Ann take my hand
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
Barbara Ann
(Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann)
You got me rockin' and a rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin' Barbara Ann
Bar bar bar bar Barbar Ann

Barbar Ann
Barbar Ann

Three chord song, that. Stood the test of time as far as I'm concerned. Lyrics? Crap. Amount of chords? Minimal. Song? Great.

It's opinion. Just because Air Hostess has crap lyrics and only four chords doesn't make it a bad song. Not everyone sings along, not everyone needs brilliant lyrics (I don't like a lot of songs with good lyrics and I like a lot of songs with crap lyrics). Will Air Hostess stand the test of time? Maybe not, probably not. But that doesn't mean it's not popular. A lot of people listened to it and a lot of people enjoyed it. So long as the sound is okay, I'm more often than not fine with the song. AH wasn't a favourite of mine by any means but I didn't mind it on the radio or TV every once in a while. I just don't mind the sound of the song. Is that so bad? No, it's not. Barbara Ann is the same. Great song as far as I'm concerned, although I can't listen to it many times in a row like I can with some. I just love the sound of it.

You can't assume based on your quick school study that you're right. A lot of people do buy this music and at the time of it being released they obviously thought it was more worth buying than any other single. That to me means it's a #1 and that to me means it's popular. Because it is. To say a #1 single isn't popular is pretty rubbish, as far as I'm concerned. Just because it's not popular amongst 59 million people doesn't mean it's not popular amongst that 1 million that bought it. And my money is on there being a lot more than just those that buy the single that actually enjoyed the song.