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SurfaceAgentX2Zero 1:22 Tue Nov 10
Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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No winners - it's all a matter of taste.
One to get you started.
Fortunate Son
Credence Clearwater Revival
1969
1) Gets the job done in 2m21s. In my humble opinion, this is more than enough time for a great song.
2) It's lyrics are youthful, intelligent, angry, passionate, rebellious and subversive, all the things rock and roll is supposed to be about.
3) It has a serious message, (man). If that sort of thing floats your boat.
4) The music mirrors the lyrics perfectly. It's loud, brash and hits you straight in the gut.
5) It's simple - no soulless synths or weedy keyboards simpering away. No crappy backing vocals. It's just a great big hunk of southern boogie.
6) Nobody would ever describe this song as 'tasteful' or, worse, 'mellow'
7) If you can't dance to this (n.b.head-banging is a perfectly acceptable mode of dance), you just can't dance.
8)This may be the clincher - the Dude loves it. And, as we know, he doth endure.
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Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
percyd
6:48 Thu Nov 12
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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I can think of several: Not least The Kinks "YRGM", Lola and Waterloo Sunset. All fairly iconic in their own ways.
But I'll nominate Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street". Musically interesting, high quality arrangement and playing and (as with most of his solo work) lyrically well written and autobiographical. As well as a single, a part of the "City To City" album, itself a masterwork.
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Darby_
4:26 Thu Nov 12
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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ray winstone 11:38 Wed Nov 11
Yeah, for some reason I’m always humming that to myself.
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Mr Anon
3:13 Thu Nov 12
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Beach Boys- God Only Knows. It's just....perfect
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ray winstone
11:38 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Orange Juice - Rip It Up, Edwayn Collins, genius, end of.
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MaryMillingtonsGhost
11:25 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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The Lexicon Of Love (the whole album) by ABC is pretty much pop-perfection from start to finish.
Also a shout-out for Black Man Ray by China Crisis, but only because my cousin's in the video.
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FruityBoots.
8:49 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Level 42 “Something about you”
Just a easy simple pop song, always liked it. I thinking I was about 14 and had a bit of a crush on Cherie Lunghi who was in the video
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Darlo Debs
8:41 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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...and a sprinkle of Cameo - Word Up
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Too Much Too Young
8:15 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Would also have to throw in a dollop of Maze - Twilight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gRcLbJS5zY
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Darlo Debs
8:02 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Along those jazzy lines,
Turn Your Love Around - George Benson
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isca hammer
7:59 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Shakatak - Down on the street
Got a bit of everything, and its loooong
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Too Much Too Young
7:45 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Let's start 2 dance again - Hamilton Bohannon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfAZ1Oe-iDo
Its got a funky beat and girls going whooooo hoooo. and some of the best cheesy lyrics ever.
YUM YUM, GIMME SUM
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Far Cough
7:43 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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What a Waste - Ian and the Blockheads
Has everything, pathos, melodrama and the ticket man at Fulham Broadway station
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Swiss.
7:36 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Darlo Debs 12:01 Wed Nov 11
Chant no 1 spot on. Loved the vid. I had a TR6 for a while. Ollie on the door of The Beat Route club.
Funk, Jazz, Rap...has it all. Beggar and co brass.
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WHU(Exeter)
10:07 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Surf, I was (over the top and went on and on about it) royally pissed off that it wasn't the closing song at the Olympics. Perfect song and perfect choice for it and was rumoured that it would be used, but oh no...
I think I'm finally over it
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SurfaceAgentX2Zero
1:42 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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WHU(Exeter) 6:01 Tue Nov 10
Leeshere 5:50 Tue Nov 10
I totally agree that Waterloo Sunset is a perfect pop single.
For me, what lifts it from, 'jolly good song' to perfection is Davies Minor's guitar.
If you listen carefully, you can almost hear him thinking, 'Hmmm, this song is in danger of becoming a slushy ballad. We don't do slushy ballads, we are the fucking Kinks'.
Cue increasingly angry, snarling guitar riffing. It's mixed well back, but you can plainly hear him there doing his nut. Or of course, it might have just been the speed.
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oioi
12:58 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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"I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am!) - Gary Glitter
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zebthecat
12:46 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Grumpster 12:43 Wed Nov 11
Jimmy Webb was a genius at this. McArthur Park is another.
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Grumpster
12:43 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Guess 2 I never tire of are Wichita Lineman and Down in the Tube Station at Midnight.
Can relate to the Jam as I've been in a tube station many a time at midnight and with Glen Campbell's classic, can imagine that long old highway the fella is working on and it has one of the best lines of any song.
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zebthecat
12:14 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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OMD - Enola Gay
A happy sounding song about the Horishima nuclear bombing with a killer synth melody for the chorus.
They combined great pop singles and hid them in deeply weird albums. Dazzle ships is one of my faves and Stanlow (Red Frame/White Light is close) is my favourite song of theirs.
This was Andy McCluskey's serious project. The less said about Atomic Kitten the better.
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Sarge
12:01 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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Pop - Curiosity killed the cat. Down to earth.
Rock (ish) - waterfront. Simple minds.
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Darlo Debs
12:01 Wed Nov 11
Re: Perfect pop/rock singles - with reasons
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I.will be very biased and suggest Precious - The Jam & Chant No.1 Spandau Ballet 2 of my favourite i0s tracks that aren't ska.
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