When I read the title, the song that came to mind was…Mmmbop.
The fact of the matter is that you can’t help but be a little happy when you hear it. It’s simplicity makes it an easy brain-worm and nobody could hate this song the first week it was out.
Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is pretty close to a perfect pop song. I’m not sure which version is the best, but the Jeff Buckley version seems to have the edge in terms of popularity.
I think “God Only Knows” is my favorite Beach Boys song.
Obviously, there are a ton of great Beatles songs that could be nominated. I think “Here, There, and Everywhere” is amazing.
Just for clarification’s sake, are we using “pop” as a genre, or is it supposed to refer to songs that were actually popular? Because I know a ton of great “pop” songs that never charted.
The Archies “Sugar Sugar” gets my vote. I nearly wore out the 45 I had of this song. Hearing it still makes me happy and gets everyone clapping and singing along.
Thanks for posting videos. The Monkey’s videos always put a huge smile on my face. And Stacy’s Mom, good lord, one of the all time great videos. Funny, tells a story, teases a bit. The best Cars song/video not done by the Cars.
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I’ve always liked that one Susan.
Here’s another one:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fndeDfaWCg&w=480&h=390%5Dor this:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrbtrOdytJ8&w=640&h=390%5Dor going back a ways:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCeD_6Y3GQc&w=480&h=390%5DWhen I read the title, the song that came to mind was…Mmmbop.
The fact of the matter is that you can’t help but be a little happy when you hear it. It’s simplicity makes it an easy brain-worm and nobody could hate this song the first week it was out.
Just Dance – Lady Gaga
Rio – Duran Duran
Express Yourself – Madonna
Thriller – Michael Jackson
I like those choices of pop artists, B.Russ, but I would choose different songs.
Not one of those were my “favorite” by those artists, they just seemed like the most iconic/poppy of their songs.
(FTR, my favorites would be “Monster”, “Save a Prayer”, “Rain”, and “The Way You Make Me Feel” respectively)
but there is definitely room for disagreement.
Which brings up the point, what makes a great “pop” song?
For me, it has to have a certain sugary cheerfulness to it. Which is kinda funny–”Mmm Bop” actually has serious lyrics.
Here’s a couple more:
Pizzicato – Happy Sad (can you hear the Jackson’s influence?)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tufaqDN3Cis&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0%5D
Supertramp – Give A Little Bit
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKeZnetNpG4&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0%5D
Ok, we’re done, that Supertramp song wins. Although that’s not the normal version of it. That must be the unplugged version.
Here’s the original:
[yahoo id=12273499 vid=4584934 w=512 h=322 thumburl=http://l.yimg.com/a/p/i/bcst/videosearch/7621/81081258.jpeg]I’ll put in a plug for some Paul Simon too:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46Cfrl7hMoQ&w=480&h=390%5DThanks MCQ. I couldn’t find the original version on youtube.
Going back:
1-2-3 Red Light by 1910 Fruitgum Company
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7KaEVD_cdU&w=480&h=390%5D
More Simon:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKOSJWpnyPA&w=480&h=390%5DThis is a great example of what pop music can do.
Also need to add this one:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0ylSUsel3w&w=640&h=390%5DAnd this:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7Wvtw2Vy1Q&w=480&h=390%5DSince U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson version. Perfection in pop.
Here is a band from Provo named Fictionist which is featured this month in Rolling Stone Magazine. Check the video out at: http://www.rollingstone.com/choosethecover/artists/fictionist
Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
Penny Lane – The Beatles
Fresh As a Daisy – Emitt Rhodes
Shut your eyes – Snow Patrol
The Rainbow Connection – The Carpenters
Feelin’ Groovy – Simon & Garfunkel
Wichita Lineman – Glen Campbell
Boyz II Men – I’ll Make Love To You
MCQ, “Boy in the Bubble” is such a brilliant song!
Amen, Steven.
Here’s another favorite:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y944YxuE1OU&w=480&h=390%5DAnd there’s this:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHWw7fr-io0&w=480&h=390%5DAnd this:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVpv8-5XWOI&w=640&h=390%5DNot my favorite Train song, but it won best video of 2010 on VH1, so there’s that.
Speaking of recent videos, I kinda like this too:
http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:593156P!nk - New Music - More Music Videos99 red balloons?
I’m surprised no one nominated anything by the Beatles yet. My Beatle choices in this category: “She Loves You,” “Hey Jude,” and “Penny Lane.”
I love Pink.
General Public – Tenderness
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJyYTvrcTAI&w=480&h=390%5DLeonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is pretty close to a perfect pop song. I’m not sure which version is the best, but the Jeff Buckley version seems to have the edge in terms of popularity.
I think “God Only Knows” is my favorite Beach Boys song.
Obviously, there are a ton of great Beatles songs that could be nominated. I think “Here, There, and Everywhere” is amazing.
Just for clarification’s sake, are we using “pop” as a genre, or is it supposed to refer to songs that were actually popular? Because I know a ton of great “pop” songs that never charted.
I meant it as a genre.
I’m not sure “Hallelujah” qualifies.
It seems appropriate to play this now:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgRXpk3OT5Y&w=640&h=390%5DAnd this:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypqit7RNs98&w=480&h=390%5DHere’s the Beatles song that I think meets Susan’s definition of “pop” best:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJiExfGevNg&w=640&h=390%5DHere’s more Beach Boys:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QCZ_bv9aLc&w=480&h=390%5D[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC_UILNwWrc&w=480&h=390%5DI really like that Fictionist song.
The Archies “Sugar Sugar” gets my vote. I nearly wore out the 45 I had of this song. Hearing it still makes me happy and gets everyone clapping and singing along.
That’s awesome, Russel. What nursing home do you live in?
Here’s another nomination:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qBTuwX9hj0&w=480&h=390%5DAnother Good one from the 80s is Billy Idol’s “Dancing with Myself”.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG1NrQYXjLU&w=480&h=390%5DSclub7′s “Never Give Up” is also pretty perfect.
Fountains of Wayne – Stacy’s Mom
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZLfasMPOU4&w=480&h=390%5DDaydream Believer – The Monkeys
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJMyXxiBR1Q&w=480&h=390%5DSqueeze – Pulling Mussels from the Shell
Squeeze – Tempted
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afVTc3qhx20&w=480&h=390%5DSplit Enz – Message to My Girl
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvLUdKVAnZA&w=480&h=390%5DThe Crystals – Da Doo Ron Ron
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rfbz7z6wDQ&w=480&h=390%5DGeorge Michael – Faith
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu3VTngm1F0&w=480&h=390%5DNew Radicals – You Get What You Give
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9bS6JFlueI&w=480&h=390%5DSparks – Cool Places
Haircut 100 – Love Plus One
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6omzK2jiOE&w=480&h=390%5DFunny, Matt, I was thinking of posting Faith and a Crowded House song.
This one:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQOlwMKpmvQ&w=480&h=390%5DCome on–you can’t top ABC by the Jackson Five.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho7796-au8U&w=480&h=390%5DRelated to this topic, someone put together five seconds of every #1 Pop Single:
http://ubu.wfmu.org/sound/chart_sweep/Chart-Sweep_Part-1.mp3
http://ubu.wfmu.org/sound/chart_sweep/Chart-Sweep_Part-2.mp3
MCQ, yeah, tons of Crowded House songs could qualify.
But Better Be Home Soon, like Don’t Dream It’s Over, Fall At Your Feet, etc. feels more “ballad-y” than “pop-y” to me.
Weather With You, Something So Strong, It’s Only Natural, etc. feel more like pop songs.
Thanks for posting videos. The Monkey’s videos always put a huge smile on my face. And Stacy’s Mom, good lord, one of the all time great videos. Funny, tells a story, teases a bit. The best Cars song/video not done by the Cars.