The History Of Jop Part 11 aka Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

1989, the number, another poll - something to do while you count the minutes until POPTIMISM TONIGHT AT THE UNION TAVERN (ahem).

Only EIGHT picks this time because Tone Loc's "Wild Thing" was a duplicate.


[Poll #837465]


Sweet Jop Of Ours (1988)

1. Push It (38 votes)
2. Sweet Child O Mine (35)
3. Don't Believe The Hype (34)
4. Paid In Full (33)
5. Alphabet Street (28)
6. Birthday (27)
7. Crash (26)
8. Welcome To The Jungle (25)
9. My Prerogative (23)
10=. Fast Car (20)
10=. It Takes Two (20)

Comments

BUFFALO STANCE vs LIKE A PRAYER

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

of course there is no possible way of choosing between these two, and I certainly couldn't make any arguments either way, but I would be interested in hearing any you have to put forward!

Re: BUFFALO STANCE vs LIKE A PRAYER

[koganbot]

"Buffalo Stance" by a long shot; far better dance rhythm - not that I insist everything have dance rhythm, but though I ticked "Like a Prayer" it's my number seven pick in a mediocre-for-Jop list, and it's second-tier for Madonna, far less basic joy and pizzazz and actual feeling than "Everybody" and "Into the Groove" and "Holiday" etc. etc. and less basic clutch-my-heart beauty than "Live to Tell." Also I have a feeling of resentment that this capital-I Important is the Madonna track that P&J finally puts into its Top Ten.

Re: BUFFALO STANCE vs LIKE A PRAYER

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Like A Prayer is just great, completely lovely and a total anthem (and is completely going to win this), but it's not as stop-the-traffic mental as Buffalo Stance, which is the better pop song.

Re: BUFFALO STANCE vs LIKE A PRAYER

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

Interesting how, after the argument that it's impossible to choose, no one has much to say about Buffalo Stance. I reiterate my opinion that it is over-rated, benefiting even more from the "capital-I important" factor than anything else. There are a million billion songs more danceable and/or more pop.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

1/ Does anyone on Poptimists like the Replacements? I have always hated them but I am not sure I have good grounds for this.

2/ 3 out of the top 4 singles by black British artists! Blimey!

3/ Did the Stones voters have any shame?

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

I vaguely recollect this being the Stones's comeback, and possibly the first of the "blimey, they still rock up a storm" reactions. Did their existence as a enormous moneymaking touring juggernaut start around this time as well?

Pleased to meet me

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

I, in fact, quite love the Replacements, and will be somewhat surpised if no one else does. They were one of the bands in high school that I loved that no one else I knew, even knew about. I'm too tired to wax particularly eloquent on them now, other than to point you to "Skyway" and "Can't Hardly Wait." Stephen Thomas Erlewhine trashes them on allmusic, but I have no attachment to their pre-Tim stuff, so I find the better production values and tighter playing totally to my liking.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

2/ it's a very black poll all round, hurrah! even (funk) metal by african-americans...

Good Life

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

Most overrated Golden Age Of Dance record ever? So... lurchy.

Re: Good Life

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Yes.

KORITFW

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

Why isn't this getting more votes?

Re: KORITFW

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

Because it's crap.

I want to have sex with a mutant ibex

[juror8.livejournal.com]

lol at Pixies-love amongst Poptimists. Good song though, innit?

Re: I want to have sex with a mutant ibex

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

the reduction of the ticks to eight saved me the shame of having to tick this (actually 'Love Shack' would still have been ahead of it so not really any danger at all, hurrah)

KORITFW!!!

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

marvellous, there.

best interweb acronym anyway.

"Fight the Power" and "Love Shack" overrated

[koganbot]

OK, I've registered my quasi-dissent on "Like a Prayer" above, but I did tick it, admiring how it actually built in emotion rather than trailing off into blarney when it hit the gospel part. "Fight the Power" was a number nine miss for me, and would have been a bigger miss on a better Jop list, "Love Shack" was down at number eleven or twelve, and both seem to me definitely second tier in comparison to "Bring the Noise" and "She Watch Channel Zero" and "Give Me Back My Man" and "52 Girls" etc. etc. etc. (not to mention "Roam"). "Fight the Power" has that amazing Bomb Squad sound and grab-you-by-the-throat-and-twist-and-shake-you rhythm, but it doesn't seem to add anything to that, and by the end of the track I'm just sort of, "Hmmm, not bad" with it. "Love Shack" was a pleasent surprise when it burst onto MTV, a nice song, but it has that "Oh we're weird and funny" B-52s thing pushed into your face even more than usual; in their great songs the B-52s had something else that was really the heart of the song, an intense guitar usually (Ricky Wilson was dead by the time they recorded this, unfortunately) and something utterly gorgeous in the singing, so the Fun Fun Fun had something to anchor it. (Not a bad song, mind you.)

Re: "Fight the Power" and "Love Shack" overrated

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

me on 'Fight The Power' for FT's top 100 singles list:
http://freakytrigger.co.uk/old-ft/nylpm/2005/09/the-ft-top-100-tracks-of-all-time-no80/

Clearly I picked this because I was worried there wouldn’t be enough rockist rap in the list. I still think this is their best and most succinct single, although I know the general consensus would point to any of the three before it. The street sound of Summer ‘89, this reference run deep into the ground by its gratuitous use in Do The Right Thing. The track is presented in that movie as some ultimate, towering concoction of black punk, following two years of consolidation and growth by the most exciting band in the world at that point.

It feels a little busier, more infectious and, perhaps crucially, more Pop than their other anthems, with the production unit and MCs on peak form. Containing arguably Chuck D’s most famous lyric (Oh, NOT an Elvis fan you say?), he wins sympathy from me as even today I know friends equally indifferent to the stature of John Wayne. Other great lines are strewn throughout. Another highlight lies in Chuck bitterly stressing that Bobby McFerrin’s message of ‘don’t worry be happy’ amounted to nothing more than denial, for D’s target audience at least, and simply wouldn’t do. How they got away with this level of fun-hating lyrically whilst attached to some of the funkiest party music of the time is the real skill of the act.

I often miss the rawness and maximal approach that came with so much hip-hop at this time as things have moved on since then in more ways than one. This represents well though the point where their message managed to capture maybe their largest universal audience yet, before being drowned out forever by the far greater demand for bitch/gun/money-obsessed gangsta fantasies (N.W.A. etc.) as opposed to dour b-boy political aspirations, regardless of how def the jam. It’s also the last track on their last truly great album and a fitting ‘exit theme’ as a result.

"nexus" at the time this felt like the greatest time for music ever

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

so i have great memories of 78/89 and 88/89, but i can't put my finger on anything too ace 98/99. i mean i liked a lot of music around that time, but it didn't feel like a "nexus" the way those two eras did. does anyone know what i am getting at here, or is it all retrospective mind-fabricated bollox?

Re: "nexus" at the time this felt like the greatest time for music ever

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

(i meant 78/79 and 88/89 obv)

"Keep On Movin" I ticked it! ....er, no, I unticked it

[koganbot]

I hated "Keep On Movin" at the time. Like, shit, what's next, are people going to tick smooth jazz? But in my listen-through this time I genuinely preferred its deep atmospherics to PE's rhythm rush. But then I remembered that I preferred the utter catchiness of "Self-Destruction" to either, had to go back and change my poll.

Re: "Keep On Movin" I ticked it! ....er, no, I unticked it

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

'Back To Life' would've been my 9th pick (with Young MC 10th). i was quite excited by Jazzie B in Smash Hits because of his entrepreneurial spirit (I have a sound system, now I have a shop, now I have a #1 hit...) and his talk of an afterlife party on 'the planet 'Ard'

"People who like Batdance, what are you like?"

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

I love Batdance. I love the way the tempo keeps changing through the song. I love the way it's a collage of all kinds of different elements that shouldn't work together but does. I love the guitar solo. I loved the fact at the time that it sounded like not much else on the radio. And I love the fact that I once saw someone attempt to do it in Karaoke which was hilarious.

Re: "People who like Batdance, what are you like?"

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I thought it was absolute genius at the time. Listened to it constantly and did air guitar to the solo on the extended mix.

HEY DUCKY, LET ME STICK THE 7 INCH IN THE COMPUTER

At the time...

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

My top 15. Note contrariness in the Neneh, De La and SoulIISoul picks, although I maintain these are all better than the songs that made the P&J list.

I wish I could share the Cookie Crew track with you all. It is quite superb.

1. Kate Bush – “The Sensual World”
2. Cookie Crew – “Born This Way (Let’s Dance)”
3. Neneh Cherry – “Manchild”
4. The Sundays – “I Won” (from 1989 Peel session)
5. The Sundays – “Can’t Be Sure”
6. Kate Bush – “Rocket’s Tail”
7. De La – “Eye Know”
8. Soul II Soul – “Get A Life”
9. Throwing Muses – “Dizzy”
10. Prince – “Batdance”
11. Neneh Cherry – “The Next Generation”
12. KORITFW!!
13. De La – “Say No Go”
14. Stone Roses – “Fools Gold 9.53”
15. De La – “The Magic Number”

Re: At the time...

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

i'd certainly love to hear 'Born This Way' again. would make a good TS with Wee Papa Girls 'Heat it p'.

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

I think the actual nexus of the last decade was more 2000-02 really, where suddenly there seemed to be loads of exciting new stuff everywhere.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

likewise one could argue that 91/92 >>>>> 88/89

i try not to buy into this end of a decade thing

HANG ON 1X MINUTE

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

We have just finished the 80s and I remember the Lovely K8 appearing once.

WHAT THE HELL?!?!

Re: HANG ON 1X MINUTE

[koganbot]

I don't think she hit much in North America.

Doowutchalike

[koganbot]

Why isn't Doowutchyalike* getting more ticks? Vastly prefer it to "Me Myself and I." Did it fail to score east of the Atlantic?

(*I think this is the correct spelling.)

Re: Doowutchalike

[koganbot]

*As opposed to how I spelled it in my comment title. (Clonks self on head.)

My year

[koganbot]

My Pazz & Jop singles ballot, 1989

1. Roxanne Shanté "Live On Stage"
2. Cynthia "Change On Me"
3. Bam Bam "Where's Your Child"
4. Housemaster Baldwin f. Paris Grey "Don't Lead Me" [remix by Mike Hitman Wilson]
5. Kix "Blow My Fuse"
6. Pajama Party "Over And Over"
7. Neneh Cherry "Buffalo Stance"
8. Bang Tango "Someone Like You"
9. Pajama Party "Yo No Sé"
10. Young MC "Bust A Move"

Notice how in 1989 P&J is actually whiffing* completely on the greatest U.S. music of the time (freestyle), almost whiffing on the most innovative (house and techno), totally missing the boat on hair metal, and, like me, treating country and adult contemporary and other vast parts of the popular landscape as if they don't exist.

Great year; P&J doesn't reflect it very well.

(Is "whiff" in this usage - taking a swing and missing - part of the British idiom?)

Re: My year

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

we say whiffle

(as in "whiffling in the dark")

Meanwhile In Britain

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Top 50 NME singles Crossovers in bold!

She bangs the drums - The stone roses
Fools gold - The stone roses
Can't be sure - The Sundays
Made of stone - The stone roses
Pacific state - 808 state
Fight the power - Public enemy
The third time we opened the capsule - Kitchens of distinctions
Back to life - Soul II Soul
Last of the famous int. playboys - Morrissey
All around the world - Lisa Stansfield
Round and round - New order
I don't know why I love you - The house of love
Dowutchulike - Digital underground
Madchester rave on EP - Happy Mondays
Closer to fine - Indigo girls
Like a prayer - Madonna
WFL - Happy Mondays
Keep on movin' - Soul II Soul
Funky cold medina - Tone loc
Dont let me down - The wonderstuff
Orange crush - REM
Monkey gone to heaven - Pixies
Tears - Frankie knuckles
Less than senseless - Mega city four
Interesting drug - Morrissey
Sleep talk - Allyson Williams
Barging into the presence of god - Pail saints
Sit down - James
Move - Inspiral carpets
Tom Verlaine - The family cat
Me, Myself and I - De La Soul
Pure - Lightning seeds
Eye Know - De La Soul
The Phantom - Renegade Soundwave
The Sensual World - Kate Bush
Warning - Adeva
All’s well in the world - The sandkings
She drives me crazy - FYC
Leeds station - The Parachute men
Ride on time - Black Box
Getting away with it - Electronic
Losing my mind - Lisa Minelli
Kennedy - The Wedding present
Veronica - Elvis Costello
Too much kissing - The senseless things
People hold on - Coldcut & Lisa Stansfield
Blue moon revisited - Cowboy junkies
Say no go - De La Soul
Have I told you lately? - Van Morrison
Joe - Inspiral Carpets

As you can probably tell, the NME 'got behind' the Stone Roses to a degree.

Re: Meanwhile In Britain

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I knew and liked vast numbers of these, having read the NME all year and looked forward to its Xmas poll immensely. Indie records from this list I still like:

Can't be sure - The Sundays (The Smiths meet Marit Larsen)
Madchester rave on EP - Happy Mondays (Shaun Ryder's best dance music move)
Monkey gone to heaven - Pixies
Pure - Lightning seeds
Kennedy - The Wedding present
Joe - The Inspiral Carpets

Don't hang yourself with a celibate rope

[koganbot]

Some links:

Bust a Move" - big surprise to me that this didn't do better here.

"Self-Destruction". "I shouldn't have to run from a black man."

KORITFW. "One more kid that'll never go to school/Never get to fall in love, never get to be a fool."

Re: Don't hang yourself with a celibate rope

[koganbot]

He might actually be saying "Never get to be cool" or some other thing, but I like it my way. We are created equal with the inalienable right to be fools.

The rise of Warrant

[koganbot]

The Billboard 26 Singles of 1989 - * Song went #1

*1... LOOK AWAY, Chicago (Reprise) (#1, Dec 1988)
*2... MY PREROGATIVE, Bobby Brown (MCA) (#1, Jan)
*3... EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN, Poison (Enigma) (#1, Dec 1988)
*4... STRAIGHT UP, Paula Abdul (Virgin) (#1, Feb)
*5... MISS YOU MUCH, Janet Jackson (A&M) (#1, Oct)
*6... COLD HEARTED, Paula Abdul (Virgin) (#1, Sept)
*7... WIND BENEATH MY WINGS, Bette Midler (Atlantic) (#1, June)
8... GIRL YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE, Milli Vanilli (Arista) (#2, April)
*9... BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY/FREEBIRD MEDLEY (Free Baby), Will To Power (Epic) (#1, Dec 1988)
10.. GIVING YOU THE BEST THAT I GOT, Anita Baker (Elektra) (#3, Dec 1988)
*11.. RIGHT HERE WAITING, Richard Marx (EMI) (#1, Aug)
12.. WAITING FOR A STAR TO FALL, Boy Meets Girl (RCA) (#5, Dec 1988)
*13.. LOST IN YOUR EYES, Debbie Gibson (Atlantic) (#1, March)
*14.. DON'T WANNA LOSE YOU, Gloria Estefan (Epic) (#1, Sept)
15.. HEAVEN, Warrant (Columbia) (#2, Sept)
*16 ..GIRL I'M GONNA MISS YOU, Milli Vanilli (Arista) (#1, Sept)
*17.. THE LOOK, Roxette (EMI) (#1, April)
*18.. SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY, Fine Young Cannibals (I.R.S.) (#1, April)
19.. ON OUR OWN, Bobby Brown (MCA) (#2, Aug)
*20.. TWO HEARTS, Phil Collins (Atlantic) (#1, Jan)
*21.. BLAME IT ON THE RAIN, Milli Vanilli (Arista) (#1, Nov)
*22.. LISTEN TO YOUR HEART, Roxette (EMI) (#1, Nov)
*23.. I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU, Bon Jovi (Mercury) (#1, May)
*24.. IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW, Simply Red (Elektra) (#1, July)
*25.. LIKE A PRAYER, Madonna (Sire) (#1, April)
*26.. I'LL BE LOVING YOU (Forever), The New Kids On the Block (Columbia) (#1, June)

Poison wuz rubbed

[nicolars.livejournal.com]

So was Roxette and Milli Vanilli.

[nicolars.livejournal.com]

*cries*