Alright, I'm supposed to be some sort of indieb0i, so let's go for something different. While a bit more rocking out, YLT certainly loves pop music - take Upside-Down and, of course, Sugarcube. Crap, if I'm veering that much into rock territory I should include Sloan's magnum opus Money City Maniacs. But yeah, that happens to be the perfect rock song, not pop song.
Such Great Heights deserves a mention, even if it's on the long side for pop.
Is a perfect pop song one that after one hear on a car commercial has you looking to see what commercial it was so you can search the song out? That's what you call a hook, Major Tom.
I totally agree that "Take On Me" earns a place in the discussion. Not only is it hook-y and irresistible ear candy, it is one of the all-time great MTV/video-driven pop hits. a-Ha looks like a one-hit wonder from the US, but of course they have had a great run as pop stars in Europe.
I picked up on this amusing note from the YouTube poster: "I'm a true rocker but I love this song and no, it's not gay. It's just music." Right, got it. Absolutely no concerns about gayness here!
A song that retains merit while being cheesed into an easy listening format and squeezed into regular rotation on a 24 hour cable channel.
My weimaraner is pacified by the easy listening channel (jazz made her sway suggestively and classical made her swoon dramatically) while we are away from home; I was surprised at some of the songs that have received this treatment.
How does translation figure into this? I keep thinking how crappy songs can be after they've made the transition to English (like Ich bin von Kopf bis Fu
Now that I might not agree with. According to my definition of pop song, which I am constantly updating and which everybody should operate under, would disqualify any songs from perfect pop status that have a depressing tone to them and, like, use a lot of minor chords to make me sad and shit. Life on Mars, and that whole damn Hunky Dory album for that matter, ain't a cheery album. The perfect pop song makes a person tap their foot, puts a smile on their face (and not one of those I'm happy when I'm sad smiles), and makes impossible not to sing or hum along to it, even after the song is over.
I'm trying to think of some Bowie songs that would fit that bill. Nothing off of the Ziggy Stardust albums, not Alladin Sane, Station to Station definitely not, not Scary Monsters, Space Oddity and Diamond Dogs no, not Lodger. I'll have to go look at his discography.
Bowie is arguably my favorite rock musician ever, and part of that is the underlying sadness in his tunes even when the song has a buoyant tone to it.
So I guess you didn't read the part in my previous post that stated that everybody should operate under my ever-changing and omnipresent definition of a pop song?
It's possible to define a pop song as a non-genre specific song form, distinct from blues and ballads, eg, as a means of discussing what makes the perfect pop song.
Oh definitely, a perfect pop song transcends genre. In fact, pop music is similar to the genre of Indie in that it really isn't a kind of music but is more a collection of individual characteristics.
Comments
I think you've just put your finger on it - a good pop song makes me do something, tap my foot, hum, nod my head, dance like a loon...
And the perfect pop song only exists for those fleeting minutes when it perfectly matches your mood, after that it becomes just a great pop song.
"i fought the law" by the bobby fuller four seemed to far outlive the typical chart song of its day.
I am surprised that no one has mentioned Stevie - the man could pack two of the most amazing pop songs into a 4 minute punch. And what about Otis?
Alright, I'm supposed to be some sort of indieb0i, so let's go for something different. While a bit more rocking out, YLT certainly loves pop music - take Upside-Down and, of course, Sugarcube. Crap, if I'm veering that much into rock territory I should include Sloan's magnum opus Money City Maniacs. But yeah, that happens to be the perfect rock song, not pop song.
Such Great Heights deserves a mention, even if it's on the long side for pop.
And how could I forget the kings of pop melody...
Inspired selection.
truly
(It's Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) playing Guitar on Hold Me)
Craig
I picked up on this amusing note from the YouTube poster: "I'm a true rocker but I love this song and no, it's not gay. It's just music." Right, got it. Absolutely no concerns about gayness here!
A song that retains merit while being cheesed into an easy listening format and squeezed into regular rotation on a 24 hour cable channel.
My weimaraner is pacified by the easy listening channel (jazz made her sway suggestively and classical made her swoon dramatically) while we are away from home; I was surprised at some of the songs that have received this treatment.
- But definitely a one-hit wonder.
Craig
- This is of course subjective. . .
IMO. The amazing Dagmar Krause's translation of Surabaya Johnny works perfect.
(Lotte Lenya's Original version)
- And many many more.
Now that I might not agree with. According to my definition of pop song, which I am constantly updating and which everybody should operate under, would disqualify any songs from perfect pop status that have a depressing tone to them and, like, use a lot of minor chords to make me sad and shit. Life on Mars, and that whole damn Hunky Dory album for that matter, ain't a cheery album. The perfect pop song makes a person tap their foot, puts a smile on their face (and not one of those I'm happy when I'm sad smiles), and makes impossible not to sing or hum along to it, even after the song is over.
I'm trying to think of some Bowie songs that would fit that bill. Nothing off of the Ziggy Stardust albums, not Alladin Sane, Station to Station definitely not, not Scary Monsters, Space Oddity and Diamond Dogs no, not Lodger. I'll have to go look at his discography.
Bowie is arguably my favorite rock musician ever, and part of that is the underlying sadness in his tunes even when the song has a buoyant tone to it.
But I do believe it's a mistake to disregard songs with minor chords (ballads ?), or any other chords for that matter.