The Hoff-meister!

[boof-boy.livejournal.com]

I'm reacquainting myself with the wonder of Susanna Hoffs' voice.

The first time I noticed it was in the mid-80s, probably the verse she takes in 'Walk Like an Egyptian', but also her part in 'Manic Monday'. She's very clear and syrupy - and you can only take so much at a time. It's like candy or doughnuts.

But a treat every once in a while all the same.

I bought her album of sixties covers, a duet with Matthew Sweet. Purists will wonder why I bothered, as the originals by such as the Stone Poneys, Beach Boys, and Beatles are pretty much perfect and can't be bettered. And I agree with that point of view while still enjoying the delicious purity of Hoffs voice. And from a prurient p.o.v. it always helped that she was drop-dead gorgeous ... the dream teenage indie girlfriend.

My guilty pleasure for this month undoubtedly.

I know I'm not supposed to believe in guilty pleasures

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

But can anyone tell me why I seem to like anything that Enrique Iglesias puts out?



Okay, well, a quick look at Wikipedia suggests that he's put out about 3,000 singles, and I've only heard about 10 of them but still... I mean, I think I even like the Lionel Richie duet (!!)

Moments like this remind me of a bit I heard years ago in a documentary about Motown. Someone or other was talking about working with Smokey Robinson and how "he taught me how to write a hook for a pop song." Ever since, I've had this persistent feeling that if only I knew enough music theory to fully transcribe pop songs, I would be able to figure out the secret mathematical formula that made them so catchy. Enrique's stuff has to be built with the same magic, I think.

let me repeat that: i want my STUFF BACK

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

This is the second best single of the year, after Umbrella-ella-ella-ay-ay-ay.

Watch on YouTube

The tune is killer, the vocoder touches neat, Aly & AJ deliver their lines with pizzazz, but what I love best are the lyrics: it's really well-crafted as a narrative, each line revealing an extra aspect to the situation; and it's concise, like Aly & AJ are tying a knot. It's an ultimatum which leaves the guy they're addressing in no doubt that they mean what they say and that they're not going to take any bullshit any more, but also leaves room for what they secretly hope he'll say in response with the neat twist at the end. Which will it be?

( This is the potential break-up song... )

Lynx

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Fairytale in the Supermarket: this blog is about writing "at least one sentence vaguely related to music every day" - some entries are short, some long, lots of them are interesting, and it's all apparently relating to a thesis being written about poptimism! (The "poptimism" being talked about by skyecaptain and Simon R. in the comments box here, not the club night on the 29th JULY JUNE.

Also, it's your last chance to vote in last week's Pop Open group. Results up tomorrow! Next week's group will be MONEY.