The Historiography Of Pop Part 5 aka You Know The Drill By Now

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

With some of yesterday's fites still finely balanced, onto the second half of round 2 - more songs to whittle down. Some real blockbusters here - two of the songs most closely associated with 00s poptimism going head to head, a battle between Richard X and Xenomania, and a Britpop era clash are three of the juicier highlights.

As ever, just tick the one you like best in each pair.


[Poll #798576]


This poll will stay open until Monday (as will yesterday's).

Since Jeff W is away I propose a PET SHOP BOYS CANON for later this afternoon.

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

AAARGH Pets v Neneh actually HURT ME IN MY HEART :(((((

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

I suspect I'll view the last stages of this through a veil of tears.

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

That was painful. In the end I went for the Pets even though I think perhaps Neneh is a better record, but the Pets mean more to me for personal reasons, and the fact it's one of the only 2 proper uptempo pop songs to get to Christmas No. 1 in the last 20 years, rather than novelty songs and dull ballads.

Technotronic vs Adamski was even tougher. In the end I could only go for Technotronic on the grounds that 'Killer' launched Seal's career, which is pretty unforgiveable.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Looks like there won't be too many close ones here.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I found this pretty easy. I would like to see Justin doing better agains tAtU and Neneh giving PSBs more of a fite tho.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I thought Neneh v PSB would be a lot closer than it is.

ur all sick in head

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

bah pulp knerjerkism

Re: ur all sick in head

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

Have you listened "Trouble" again recently?

Who's looking good in every way

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Come on Neneh! I heart that PSB song but Ms Cherry wins.

And wherefore the Shampoo dissing? Go & change yr votes QUICK MARCH ON THE DOUBLE!

Sweetness that I'm thinkin' of

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

The Shampoo/Pulp result is shocking.

Kat are you Acid On Sea-ing tonight?

Re: Who's looking good in every way

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

Shampoo = poo!

Re: Who's looking good in every way

[mostlyconnect.livejournal.com]

Always On My Mind is one of the most amazing, beautiful songs ever!

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I predict a PSBs vs Britney final shockah (but ousting Pulp will be difficult).

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

IT MUST BE DONE THOUGH.

BANISH THE INDIE.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Even though "Girls & Boys" is a better song than "Justified & Ancient", I can't bring myself to vote for Blur over Bill & Jim. It's just not right.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Also: Alex James didn't play the bass on Girls & Boys! Steve Street had to have it sampled, hahahahaha yr a rubbish bassist Alex.

[nicolars.livejournal.com]

It would be so wrong. Though I reluctantly agree that Girls and Boys is a better song.

Point of pedantery etc

[anatol-merklich.livejournal.com]

It's "All the Things She Said", innit?

This was so painful

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

Both because I experienced a much lack of enthusiasm in having to pick one song over another, and also because I've mostly voted for losers.

If Rachel loses here, I will be (almost) as angry as Alex was about Ciara.

Re: This was so painful

[nicolars.livejournal.com]

I think all of my picks lost in the last round.

Some Girls vs Love Machine

[koganbot]

Ha! I'm getting clobbered, w/ only two of my choices leading, though I am totally in alignment w/ you alls in that it took me ten minutes to decide which of Rachel Stevens or Girls Aloud will have the honor of being rejected by me in the next round.

I chose Rachel, who is therefore certain to lose. My reasoning is thus: both tracks do the - how shall I say? - Brit thing of mistaking detachment for intelligence, or foisting off detachment as understated passion, or deciding that since great pop can be shallow it should be shallow, etc. But bad ideas can produce good music, and in both of these you do get this very funny understated overstatement (sorta the opposite of, oh, I don't know, Gene Pitney and Roy Orbison, who overstate everything so insistently that overstatement becomes functionally useful normal statement but can still be overstatement any time you want it to; Celine Dion's also pulled this off, occasionally; but I digress). If the phrase made sense I'd call Rachel's singing here "cold and sultry," dripping with sensuality while keeping its gloss. And the mixture of this singing and the technofuzz throb gets this over. But "Love Machine" is more genuinely funny (well, crack-a-smile funny, not belly laughs), and the quick wise(ass) vocals go unexpectedly well with the hi-NRG funk strum. So what wins it for Rachel (though we've determined that winning with Frank means losing on the Big Board)? The totally nonchalent "Hey" - like throw your hands in the air and wave 'em like, um, whatever - and, even (or especially?) delivered with its basic chill, the melody's got its emotionally melodic pull.

Re: Some Girls vs Love Machine

[juror8.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but The Stray Cats > give-a-shit European electronica.

[sbp.livejournal.com]

I've never heard the Nelly or Sugababes songs, as far as I know, so I picked one at random.

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

Maneater vs Push The Button is the Switzerland vs Ukraine of this tournament. Neither of them should be allowed through especially considering the glorious stuff getting knocked out elswhere.

Why has no one commented....

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

... on the kicking Beyonce is currently getting? I expected it to be MUCH closer than that.

It's an unjust result anyway. Crazy In Love >>>> Toxic.

Re: Why has no one commented....

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

Ah, it's the same reason as GA winning, and Blur losing. People aren't thinking about the song but the singer.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Heh, sorry Tom, I preempted yr PSB canon with my rap pollings! My thirst for Friday poll action is unquenchable, innit...

[nicolars.livejournal.com]

Girls Aloud are awful. They really really rilly rilly are.

[koganbot]

Now only one of my picks is leading, and just barely.