'Outstanding pop songs'

[risingson]

Following on from BB5's Michael Jackson post, I wondered if there were one or two songs that you could identify that could constitute as 'classic' pop songs. Something that you like and admire for embodying what you enjoy about music, but that is truly considered timeless.

I appreciate that on this forum there are a wide variety of tastes in music, so I'd be interested to see the results. There's no set criteria as such, but posting something like a 10 minute epic from some obscure prog band probably isn't going to count because whist it is 'pop music', it's not in the forefront of the musical public consciousness like 'Hey Jude' is (for example).

And for those that might claim that they 'dislike pop music', be honest with yourselves, and I mean very honest with yourselves. Think about your favourite music is and then think of its roots.

I personally could choose from a lot of stuff. Michael Jackson's Thriller album always springs to mind whenever I mention great pop music, but for me these two do it. The first one is The Beatles 'She's Leaving Home' and the second is 'God Only Knows' by the Beach Boys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lG3nXyI41M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDfH_J4MAUQ

Your turn!

[gary mac]

At risk of getting some serious stick here but here goes.........................

The Promise by Girls Aloud, is I think, a near perfect pop song.

[BottomE]

Ok, here goes and i would expect a lot of stick for this Great chorus, arrangement and melodies. "Go Jimmy"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uec35ppYLIc

[leftyhook]

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1333308252' post='1599887']
At risk of getting some serious stick here but here goes.........................

The Promise by Girls Aloud, is I think, a near perfect pop song.
[/quote] no stick.I agree. A lot of the 'puppet' bands have grrreat songwriters supplying the goods.

[lowdown]

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1333309043' post='1599905']
Ok, here goes and i would expect a lot of stick for this Great chorus, arrangement and melodies.
[/quote]

Not from me.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCca5mPMp9A"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCca5mPMp9A[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVS5rS_da9E"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVS5rS_da9E[/url]


Garry

Edited April 1, 2012 by lowdown

[Cat Burrito]

For me it's this

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN3GbF9Bx6E[/media]

[ead]

I've always had a soft spot for Spacer by Sheila B Devotion

[BottomE]

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1333310259' post='1599941']
I've always had a soft spot for Spacer by Sheila B Devotion
[/quote]
+1

Heres another one that oozes pop. Wasn't their most popular though.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsSoDsxB7Yo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsSoDsxB7Yo[/url]

Edited April 1, 2012 by BottomE

[Silvia Bluejay]

The 70s original of the rather horrid cover version by Destiny's Child.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvZVzYipAZw"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvZVzYipAZw[/url]

I'm currently finding the bassline to it for a project.

[SteveK]

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1333308056' post='1599884']
The first one is The Beatles 'She's Leaving Home' and the second is 'God Only Knows' by the Beach Boys.
[/quote]
'Good only knows' would probably have been my choice. Both can certainly be described as 'outstanding'.
While my contribution may not be the greatest pop [i]song[/i], I think the phenomenal production/arrangement makes it one of the greatest pop [i]records[/i].

I'm Not In Love 10cc
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2BavhwpIJg&feature=player_embedded#!"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2BavhwpIJg&feature=player_embedded#![/url]

Edited April 1, 2012 by SteveK

[essexbasscat]

Bono apparently said this was one of the best pop songs he'd ever heard

http://youtu.be/c18441Eh_WE


Myself, I'm compiling a list

Edited April 1, 2012 by essexbasscat

[Mykesbass]

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1333309608' post='1599919']
For me it's this

[/quote]

Beat me to it - have you heard this version - recorded just before his death with all the melancholy of the lyrics coming through: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDcaydHVliM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDcaydHVliM[/url]

[leschirons]

California girls Beachboys
Happy together The Turtles

I'll throw in "Nowhere to run" by Martha & the Vandellas for good measure

[Silvia Bluejay]

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1333311193' post='1599961']
Bono apparently said this was one of the best pop songs He'd ever heard
[/quote]

That's a Cathy Dennis classic, isn't it? Excellent, but I find it so catchy that my mind just rejects it altogether after having me hum it a couple of times - very musically 'cloying', so to speak.


Edit; did you capitalise He - referring to Bono - on purpose? I know he's God to someone, but...

Edited April 1, 2012 by bluejay

[essexbasscat]

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1333311384' post='1599968']


That's a Cathy Dennis classic, isn't it? Excellent, but I find it so catchy that my mind just rejects it altogether after having me hum it a couple of times - very musically 'cloying', so to speak.


Edit; did you capitalise He - referring to Bono - on purpose? I know he's God to someone, but...
[/quote]

Ah, yet another Baldrick moment, now corrected. Thanks BJ

[ras52]

This version, the single version... on the album it got "extended" and the, to my mind, perfect pop structure was lost... (or maybe the single is a fortuitous edit!)

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ-mjp2Yko0[/media]

[ras52]

And... as well as being a bit of classic in its own right, this is surely the, er, inspiration behind the classic Kylie mentioned above:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgS252XT_Ts[/media]

[Hobbayne]

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1333311123' post='1599957']
The 70s original of the rather horrid cover version by Destiny's Child.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvZVzYipAZw[/media]

I'm currently finding the bassline to it for a project.
[/quote]

Did you know that is a Bee Gees song? from Saturday night fever I think.

[Silvia Bluejay]

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1333314406' post='1600039']
Did you know that is a Bee Gees song? from Saturday night fever I think.
[/quote]

Not from Fever, no (I've got the album). Are you confusing it with If I Can't Have You, covered by Yvonne Elliman?

It is, very obviously, a Bee Gees song as they are all over the chorus! It's in C major so far, but I suspect a key change at the very end (haven't got that far yet).

[Hobbayne]

Another vote for the band you either hate or love, The Beatles and Penny Lane.
A great catchy pop song from Lord Macca, with some great bass playing too.
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEyJ2EEvRBU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEyJ2EEvRBU[/url]

[RhysP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9nE2spOw_o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srSq559FkG8

[Cat Burrito]

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1333311218' post='1599962']
Beat me to it - have you heard this version - recorded just before his death with all the melancholy of the lyrics coming through: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDcaydHVliM[/media]
[/quote]
Yes! Love his solo stuff. Not such a big fan of what his daughter has said about him since his death

[BassTractor]

Todd Rundgren: All the Children Sing, from Hermit of Mink Hollow
[url="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fFaQA9KactQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFaQA9KactQ[/url]


Andrew Gold: Lonely Boy, from What's Wrong With This Picture? if I recall correctly
[url="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iCOS2vOxuXE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCOS2vOxuXE[/url]


Beach Boys: Good Vibrations, from several albums. Obvious, but still.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrKKbaClME[/media]


Living Colour: Type, from Time's Up. A stretch maybe, but still this has some classic pop inside, and it's close to Good Vibrations sometimes:
[url="http://www.youtube.com/embed/M2OR_GuTUDQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2OR_GuTUDQ[/url]





best,
bert

Edited April 1, 2012 by BassTractor

[Roland Rock]

A favourite pop song of mine:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4D1HSL7P98[/media]

and this:
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leohcvmf8kM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leohcvmf8kM[/url]

Edited April 1, 2012 by Roland Rock

[Judo Chop]

It's gotta be this for me


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu2iv-vMKT8&feature=youtube_gdata_player