Admit it: We love cheese. Not those deep-fried things at the State Fair or something with a foreign name served with wine. I'm talking cheesy entertainment. "Dancing With the Stars," B-movies, Wayne Newton -- you name it. At the top of the cheesy pop list is ABBA, whose music fuels the Meryl Streep film "Mamma Mia!" that opens today. Here is a look at a baker's dozen of pop cheese -- and why we love them.
1. ABBA
As efficiently constructed as vehicles from the Volvo assembly line, the Swedish quartet's frothy tunes were crafted to be insidiously catchy and to induce even people with two left feet to dance with delight.
2. THE B-52S
Beehive hairdos, cheap keyboards, new-wave minimalism and a friendly frontman who can't really sing (but he's a fun-inducing cheerleader) make them an unstoppable party band.
3. THE BEE GEES
Despite the beautiful brotherly harmonies, Barry Gibb's quivering lead voice sounded like he was starting a joke. And that was even before they went disco, the ultimate cheesy move.
4. THE CARPENTERS
One of their hits ("We've Only Just Begun") started out as a jingle for a bank, and all of their hits were soppily sentimental. But with her emotional alto, Karen Carpenter was a superstar.
5. CHER
With or without Sonny, she has packaged cheese more ways than Kraft: "Half Breed," the video for "If I Could Turn Back Time," the bagel boy, the wig for the "Believe" video, etc.
6. TOM JONES
The oldest male striptease artist who never has to shed his clothes, Sir Tom delivers "Kiss" and "What's New Pussycat" with bug-eyed irony as women toss undergarments at his feet. We laugh with him and at him.
7. DOLLY PARTON
There were some true country classics in her early repertoire but her cartoonish look, fluttering voice and pop hits have walked the line between camp and cheesy.
