The Historiography Of Pop Part 4 aka A Point Is All That Two Can Score

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The dust has settled and 32 of 64 songs stand ready for the next round. Say a sad farewell to Ace of Base, Betty Boo, and - yes - Gorillaz among others. Then prepare for the next instalment of ALL OUT POP BATTLE.

i.e. pick which song you think is best.

In round 2 each song is facing one of its close contemporaries, the battle of the ages having proved indecisive.


[Poll #797787]


How the draw was decided:

i. Examination of real actual chart placing i.e. 2 for Human League, 7 for Pulp.
ii. Examination of tick % from revious now poll i.e. 79% for HL, 81% for P.
iii. These two things not being in agreement I just went for the one I liked best, seeing as it's me who's gone to the bother of polling these things. Bye Disco 2000!

Comments

Re: Please explain

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

There's no difference, especially not when it got to #2! The great thing about poptimism is that it doesn't respect genre lines - pop can and will gobble up bits of everything if the hooks are good enough.

Re: Please explain

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

(I know, I'm just bitter about one of my favourites being beaten. Grr)

Re: Please explain

[koganbot]

"Mmmmbop" was a reasonably catchy pop-rock hit that was instantly overshadowed by way better and catchier and smarter and more passionate pop-rock hits by the likes of the Spicies, Backstreet Boys, *NSync, Britney, etc. etc. etc. I also don't see any value in plumping for something on the basis of its being a worldwide megahit. So what?

Re: Please explain

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

It,s nothing to do with it being a global mega-hit. That's irrelevant.

While I agree that the next wave of pop hits may have been smarter, I really don't agree they are catchier. Plus they are all a lot more heavily-produced, while mmmbop has this naive exuberance coursing through it from start to finish that no amount of expert songwriters or producers could quite replicate. I'm not saying I don't like the other groups you mention, but there was something quite unique about mmmbop that could only have been produced by a group of kids that age.

Re: Please explain

[koganbot]

What do you think of the Jonas Brothers? They haven't hit me yet, but then I haven't given them much of a chance. Their album's out just last week, and they're getting big play for "Year 3000" on Radio Disney but almost no play anywhere else. (Well, I don't know about MTV.) Anyway, they've definitely got a Hanson vibe to them.