The History Of Pop Part 27 aka Life is demanding without understanding

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

There are many tracks on Now 27 which I simply can't remember, so many in fact that I should probably have let alexmacpherson write the blurb. It seems to be another wide mix, and some of the things I do remember probably represent blind alleys - Credit to the Nation's agit-rap, Prml Scrm "going rock", and so on. A squib of ambient from Deep Forest and Enigma, belated acknowledgement of US alt.rock with Smashing Pumpkins and (ahem) the Gin Blossoms, and I'm still guessing it's going to come down to a straight fight between Swedish reggae and US dancefloor mentalism.

Pet Shop Boys' "Go West" won Now 26 comfortably, the third PSB track to win and quite probably the last. DJ Jazzy Jeff came in third with a surprisingly low percentile score (though with 45 or so voters the number of 90%+ crowdpleasers is surely dropping), and then a trio of Radiohead, Culture Beat and Take That. REM's "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" is, scientifically, exactly as good as Meat Loaf. EVERY track got a vote. The Levellers got seven!


[Poll #681019]


Over to you...

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

this is just you and your 'prefer the more generic follow-up' syndrome again innit

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

beat me to it

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

i wasn't saying i don't do it as well!

although i think 'The Sign' has enough to stand out from 'All That She Wants' - the whole mood of the track always felt much more positive.

'Anything' doesn't really differ from 'Mr Vain' or 'Got To Get It' mood wise. What would it have that the others don't?

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

'anything' is much harder and more banging!

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I do think it's interesting that the europop vote collapses so much on these follow-up singles - people approve of the big hits but not so much of the genre in itself (THO THAT WILL CHANGE)

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I wonder how much of that is memory - these songs were tbh v v similar to each other, and if you weren't paying attention at the time I can see eg a fourth-single-from-album by 2 Unlimited or Culture Beat follow-up passing you by

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

Well you know me and my Magic Affair love!

I am v discerning and fickle with my Europopdance though e.g. MC Sar & The Real McCoy's 'Another Night'? YES. MC Sar & The Real McCoy's 'Run Away'? FOOK OFF.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

'Run Away' is incedible! And lyrically v odd.