They’re loud, they’re chart-topping superstars, and they’re so annoying that if you were trapped in a lift with them you’d chew off your own arm and use it to prise the doors open.

Crazy Frog

Just why someone thought this creepy character would sell anything is beyond explanation. He was based on The Annoying Thing and his voice was a sound effect created to imitate a two-stroke moped engine, but that didn’t stop Crazy Frog landing the number one spot on the chart in the UK and most of Europe with his album Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits. What’s even more unfathomable, though, is that Crazy Frog was allowed to release a second album, Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits, and that some poor kids actually got stuffed Crazy Frogs for Christmas in 2005. Plus, he wasn’t even mildly amusing after they censored his package.

Mika

Yes, Grace Kelly was quirky and catchy – the perfect summer soundtrack to childish happenings and ironic dance moves. And that’s where it should have ended – yet the irrepressible squeaky falsetto warbler, who should by rights be on the top of the trash heap with the rest of the flash-in-the-pans by now, is inexplicably still around. Make it stop.

Lou Bega

The only thing more irritating than Mambo Number 5 was the fact that it was a hit – it was the number one selling single of 1999, the same year that brought us classics like Sugar Ray’s Every Morning, Blink-182’s What's My Age Again? and Smash Mouth’s All Star. Incidentally, it was also the year of Ricky Martin’s Livin' La Vida Loca – but more on that later. Yes, we’re lashing out at the singer when what we really loath is the song, but anyone lame enough to come up with “A little bit of Sandra in the sun; A little bit of Mary all night long”, let alone force it on the public, deserves anything we can throw at them.

James Blunt

There are some people who believe James’ sweet soulful ballads are lovely. The other 99.9% of the population think his annoying little girl voice, obvious stalker tendencies and bizarre stripping attempts in the You’re Beautiful video are enough to have him sectioned. Another singer who should have bit the dust after his annoying one-hit-wonder yet has mysteriously been allowed to torment the public with a string of “hits”. Just who is actually buying his records, we ask? (And where do they live…)

Britney Spears

Ignore her annoyingly nasal whiny singing for a second, and consider Britney. Nothing rock ‘n roll about waving babies from moving cars, shaving your locks and putting on ten million pounds, but you’d forgive her if she wasn’t so damn inane about it. Recall her foray into acting in the smash hit drama Crossroads. Now think back to her music. How is this woman the icon of the noughties? See more in our video player here

The Cheeky Girls

Who knew humiliating yourself on Pop Idol could launch a chart topping career? It worked for twins Monica and Gabriela though, although some critics have suggested that their success may not be a direct result of their singing talent or songwriting expertise. Their fans disagree, saying that although penning the words “We are the cheeky girls…touch my bum” and cribbing a couple of lines from Right Said Fred can’t have taken much brainpower, Monica did beat Jerry Springer at a 12 hour game of Scrabble, and Gabriela did manage to nab an MP with her witty banter. Do you still want us to get into why they’re annoying? Thought not.

Aqua

Aqua are best known for their smash hit Barbie Girl back in 1997, when somehow they convinced everyone it was cool to dress in lumo lycra and sing like Mickey Mouse on helium. Surprisingly, Mattel cared enough to file a lawsuit. Incidentally, if you thought that the only thing scarier than the fact that Barbie Girl was ever a hit was the fact that it was resurrected in an even more horrifying fashion by our very own Samanda, you’d be wrong. Because Aqua is set for a comeback tour in 2008. Now that’s scary.

Nominations please!

Think we’ve left anybody out? We want your nominations of any other acts you love to hate. Let us know by adding a comment in the box below!