Let's talk PERFECT POP!

[atommickbrane.livejournal.com]

So! Perfect Pop! A genre with the propensity to irk even more than 'indie'! So why is this? And who MAKES perfect pop? Surely one of the KINGS of perfect pop is IAN BROUDIE from the Lightning Seeds. Ooh, say it with me! Production values! Record sales!

But also Perfect Pop has been used for the Beach Boys (production-focused attitudes = PRESENT), the erm High Llamas (I can well believe) - Swedish indie popsters get this tag a lot. What irks? Is it the attitude behind calling a song 'perfect' from the start? I like an awful lot of 'perfect pop'? Bear in mind that most 'perfect pop' falls into the 'pop' genre as much as Marit Larsen. Beyoncé might make perfect pop (according to the Lex :)) but she's not 'perfect pop'.

I like an awful lot of 'perfect pop' - to the point where I am considering that Lightning Seeds best-of - so what do YOU chaps think? Is it just indie in major keys and nothing more to it? Help me out here cos there sure aint a page for wikipedia on it and I want to write it! What IRKS you? Wot is GRATE? And who makes 'perfect pop'? And do you like it? If not is it because YOU HATE FUN?

Then again I am still bitter that they deleted my page for Sean's Show *mutter grumble*

Comments

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

In my day, the term was associated A LOT with Scritti Politti - especially Scritti circa 1984, about which we will be Jopping shortly no doubt, i.e. even BEFORE Green released a song called "Perfect Way". Back then, I think PP had to include a well-crafted song with a great hook as well as glossy production values (technology used in the service of aesthetics, that sorta thing) and honeyed vocals (PP could never be edgy).

It has, it's true, become associated since the 80s with earnest white men with Beatles or Beach Boys/Van Dyke Parks obsessions. Whereas its true spiritual heirs are probably to be found in, I dunno, microhouse or something.

Tom - I'd stay well clear of refs to PP in your Archies piece. "Sugar Sugar" is kinda perfect in my own mind, but it's fairly unique in the bubblegum canon, most of which is determinedly lowest common denominator pop, the dumber the better - which is not IMHO what PP is about.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

how does 'Sugar Sugar' dodge dumbness?

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

I didn't say it did! But look past the chorus and it's hella sophisticated.

(I'll say more on Popular after Tom's piece goes up, no doubt)