Best Unashamed Pop Song

[* ORM *]

Someone's already gone for Take on Me - great choice

Dexy's, Erasure, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Madness, Queen, Kate Bush and much much more.

Not a big fan of Frankie Goes to Hollywood then but I could listen to an extended mix of Two Tribes any time these days.

Definitely not a fan of Depeche Mode and Wham.

I can't believe no-one has mentioned Jason and Kylie

oh and The St Winifred School Choir

 

[A loyal supporter]

Quote[/b] (* ORM * @ Sep. 26 2006,10:49)]Not a big fan of Frankie Goes to Hollywood then but I could listen to an extended mix of Two Tribes any time these days.

I with you there ORM. I bought 12" 80's which had the 12" of Two Tribes on and it is sooo much better than the 7".

It totally reinvents the song - absolute quality.

 

[* ORM *]

Quote[/b] (A loyal supporter @ Sep. 26 2006,10:58)]

Quote[/b] (* ORM * @ Sep. 26 2006,10:49)]Not a big fan of Frankie Goes to Hollywood then but I could listen to an extended mix of Two Tribes any time these days.

I with you there ORM. I bought 12" 80's which had the 12" of Two Tribes on and it is sooo much better than the 7".

It totally reinvents the song - absolute quality.

Ha, Ha. I bought exactly the same thing as you then !

 

[Jonny_Stokes]

Overload by the Sugababes.

And once it stops being played wall-to-wall, Smile by Lily Allen will go down as one of the catchiest pure pop songs of the era.

 

[Kris]

'Take On Me' by A-ha is arguably the best pure pop record of the 1980s but as this has already been name-checked a few times I'll nominate 'Don't You Want Me' by Human League. Honourable mentions also to Pet Shop Boys (in particular 'West End Girls', 'It's a Sin' and 'Domino Dancing'); Erasure ('A Little Respect, 'Blue Savannah' and 'Stop!'); New Order ('True Faith' and 'Bizarre Love Triangle'); and the sublime 'Wishing' by Flock of Seagulls.

After the 1980s pop went a bit tits-up, in my opinion, and though the 90s saw plenty of good music, most of it took itself far too seriously. No-one appeared allowed to make a genuine pop record anymore and the media became obsessed with genres and sub-genres. There were exceptions, though. Lightning Seeds ('The Life of Riley', 'Marvellous', Sugar Coated Iceberg') were extremely underrated in their ability to make classic four-minute radio singles, while Saint Etienne ('You're In a Bad Way', 'He's On The Phone') also deserved better recognition.

As for the current pop scene, rock has become the new pop (Kaiser Chiefs, The Killers, The Zutons, Razorlight etc) and it's not too bad. The Feeling are my current favourites, though. 'Fill My Little World' and 'Never Be Lonely' are textbook pop songs and their 12 Stops And Home album is packed with similarly irresistable, melodic songs that could all be singles.

 

[Smudger]

Quote[/b] (A loyal supporter @ Sep. 26 2006,10:58)]

Quote[/b] (* ORM * @ Sep. 26 2006,10:49)]Not a big fan of Frankie Goes to Hollywood then but I could listen to an extended mix of Two Tribes any time these days.

I with you there ORM. I bought 12" 80's which had the 12" of Two Tribes on and it is sooo much better than the 7".

It totally reinvents the song - absolute quality.

Good shout - that'll be Trevor Horn working his magic.

Genius.....

Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Gary Numan, Soul II Soul, Acid House etc - the 80's weren't as bad as some people now make out. Compare it to the current pop scene and I think we were better off then.

Someone mentioned "The Feeling" - to me they quite literally one of the worst bands of all time and make me want to kick my own head in every time I hear the opening cheesy, vommit inducing strains of "never be lonelllyyyyyyyyy" arrrggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[J]

blondie- heart of glass

 

[Davros]

surely a lot of the old 80's stuff that has recently had the funky house loopy business done to it would appeal to both young and old, eg. Boy Meet Girl - "Waiting for a star to fall", or even better Rockwell - "Somebodys Watching Me"

 

[Smudger]

Quote[/b] (Kris @ Sep. 26 2006,12:29)]Saint Etienne ('You're In a Bad Way', 'He's On The Phone') also deserved better recognition.

Great shout...and what about Saint Etienne's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" for the perfect chilled out pop/house crossover.

 

[Bielzibubz]

Quote[/b] (Smudger @ Sep. 25 2006,14:45)]I'll go for Street Life by The Crusaders - still a classic and it appeals to everyone across the board. I used to play it at the end of my house sets when I was DJing.

Curious, I've seen Street Life on both a Crusaders and a Randy Crawford album.
I have it as an instrumental on a Crusaders compilation I made a while ago so I assume Randy Crawford added her vocals after it's original release.

Who actually gets the accolades though?


Personally I'll go for Shakatak - Night Birds. Good mix of soul and piano jazz and easy on the ear.

 

[Firestorm]

Housemartins or Beautiful South

 

[Mad Cyril]

Quote[/b] (D62SUBOY @ Sep. 26 2006,12:53)]Personally I'll go for Shakatak - Night Birds. Good mix of soul and piano jazz and easy on the ear.

I could go for a bit of that as well.

Went down well at my wedding along with The Crown by Gary Bird and I believe in Miracles by the Jackson Sisters

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Great call by ORM for a bit of Kate Bush - "Wuthering Heights" is an all-time pop fave of mine. Cor, I fancied her when I was young...