The Search for the Perfect Pop Song (3 Viewers)

[nlgbbbblth]

it wasn't the question you asked me, it wasn't the answer i gave
that made me feel like i was on a train
it was a distant voice, made me make a choice
that i had to get the fuck out of this town

i got a lot of things to do
a lot of places to go
i've got a lot of good things coming my way
and i'm afraid to say that you're not one of them.

last time i was there, you were out on the couch
pressed into a little electric 2
it was the way that you smiled, made me know at once
that i had to get the fuck out of this town

'cause i've decide to make a stand
and i'm not gonna take your hand
i'm taking the next bus outta here
i'm gonna head for box elder, m.o.

pop points:

- short!
- classic song structure!
- singalong-tastic!

un-pop points:

- can't dance to it, at least not properly!
- lacks key change - essential for perfect pop (cf. bon jovi, 'livin' on a prayer'; britney spears, 'baby one more time')
- not actually a popular song, so not really a 'pop' song at all!

bonus points:

- lyrics make sense, unlike all other pavement songs ever!
- also a fantastic sad-but-hopeful song! makes people cry!
- lo-fi! sounds like sludge, so indie peeps are allowed to like it!

bonus - covered by The Wedding Present. Good cover!

 

[david]

xtc-towers of london
undertones-there goes norman
replacements-16 blue
love-laughing stock
monkees-pleasant valley sunday
laura nyro-sweet blindness
lovin spoonfull-do you believe in magic and summer in the city
husker du-could you be the one
jethro tull-witches promise
and, obviously, toto-africa

 

[Lili Marlene]

Outkast - Hey Ya..


Although it remains to be seen how perfect it seems in a few years..

not that perfect.

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

six months in a leaky boat by Split Enz = unstoppable dance mania!

ahoy!

 

[nlgbbbblth]

six months in a leaky boat by Split Enz = unstoppable dance mania!

ahoy!

played it earlier. It's on a Rhino compilation called Just Can't Enough: New Wave Hits Of The '80s Volume 7.
Great series.

 

[Mormon Nailer]

Keleidoscop World - the Chills
Right Here - the Go Betweens
Walking Around - the Hang Ups
Crazy Towm - Velocity girl
Emanualle - The Bigger lovers
Babe - Blue Mountain

 

[corksongs]

six months in a leaky boat by Split Enz = unstoppable dance mania!

ahoy!

and aussie kids pop show "the wiggles" do a version of it

inner child friendly!

 

[BonsaiSuperstar]

or Radiation Vibe by Fountains of Wayne,

Fountains of Wayne are the best at writing pop songs.
staceys mom is genius, as is the new single someone to love.

adam schlesinger and chris collingwood work really well together.

they also wrote that song "keep doing that thing you do" song in some prom film by the made up band the wonders.cant remember for the life of what the film was called...

 

[bloopitybloop]

Tripping Daisy - Sonic Bloom
Beirut - Postcards from Italy
Islands - Rough Gem
Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - everything

 

[egg_]

staceys mom is genius, as is the new single someone to love.

I despise that song. Dumb words, cliched melody ... what is there to like?

Not in work today, so didn't read the whole thread, but did anyone mention Get UR Freak On? It's not really a pop song, I wouldn't think, but by fuck it's a good single. My appreciation is probably helped by the fact that I don't normally watch TV so only saw the video once

 

[BonsaiSuperstar]

Dumb words, cliched melody ... what is there to like?

to me pop songs tend to be exactly what you described.....

oh and vb7000 - Tripping Daisy, Sonic Bloom is an unreal song

 

[Lili Marlene]

Power pop bands are never as good on record as they are in my head.

They always seem to be lacking, um, power. Stacy's Mom is a good example of this kind of thing. Or anything the Wildhearts have released in the past few years. Too many harmonies

although when it's

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....

 

[egg_]

Anybody mentioned The Four Tops's "Walk away Renée" yet? Now that's a deadly pop song, never mind yer oul Stacy's Mom

 

[Wilbert]

Fountains of Wayne are the best at writing pop songs.
staceys mom is genius, as is the new single someone to love.

adam schlesinger and chris collingwood work really well together.

they also wrote that song "keep doing that thing you do" song in some prom film by the made up band the wonders.cant remember for the life of what the film was called...

That Thing You Do?

Unless you were being ironical.....

 

[Scientician 0.8]

Funeral Suit by our very own The Yeh Deadlies.

 

[Wilbert]

just had a quick flick thru itunes, found these pop gems:

apples in stereo - Go
Bearsuit - itsuko got married
Belle & Sebastian - i dont love anyone
Stevie Wonder - sir duke
Deerhoof - milkman
Os Mutantes - a minha menina
max tundra - merman

Definitely. An earlier incantation of Groom pulled up outside the Roisin Dubh for a gig about 18 months ago with this blaring at full volume. We all agreed it was a really gay moment.

 

[Mormon Nailer]

Anybody mentioned The Four Tops's "Walk away Renée" yet? Now that's a deadly pop song, never mind yer oul Stacy's Mom

Lotion -who i forgot to mention erlier- great power pop band - do a great version of this.

 

[Mormon Nailer]

And stacy's mom is one of the shittyiest FOW songs.

Sick Day is is much better

 

[Wilbert]

Definitely. An earlier incantation of Groom pulled up outside the Roisin Dubh for a gig about 18 months ago with this blaring at full volume. We all agreed it was a really gay moment.

I, of course, meant incarnation.

 

[bogmanfan]

My Perfect Pop Songs are

Stereolab - Ping Pong
Pavement - Gold Soundz
Big Star - Thirteen

I will also defend the New Radicals' You Get What You Give to the hilt. Cracking tune.