The History Of Jop Part 15 aka I'll Be Your Whatever You Want

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

1993 sees the alt.rock revolution in full swing, hip-hop going in all directions at once and a smattering of other stuff for YOUR jurisdiction. NINE ticks across these 27 songs, please.


[Poll #851292]


1992: The Love AlBUM (Poptimists Promo)

1. My Lovin (Never Gonna Get It) (38 votes)
2. Justified And Ancients (35 votes)
3. Jump (28 votes)
4=. Jump Around (27)
4=. Baby Got Back (27)
6. Friday I'm In Love (25)
7=. Pretend We're Dead (23)
7=. Ain't Too Proud To Beg (23)
9=. Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover (21)
9=. Lithium (21)

Comments

Re: My Pazz & Jop ballot, 1993

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

TWO PRINCES. oh my. now there's a poptimist conundrum.

Re: My Pazz & Jop ballot, 1993

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

THUMBS UP from Kat.

2 Princes

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

A no brainer for me. Tis good.

Re: 2 Princes

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

Good!

Re: 2 Princes

[koganbot]

I think there's a Greil Marcus attack on Spin Doctors somewhere that I would perversely enjoy. He thought they were morally despicable. Think it was "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" he hated, something to do with sexist lyrics, perhaps? Don't really remember. I like "Little Miss" more than "Two Princes." And I probably never even noticed the lyrics.

the radiohelephant in the room

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

errm talk us thru yr CREEP vote!!?

Re: the radiohelephant in the room

[koganbot]

Radiohead's "Creep": Classic blatant, shameless, ingratiating pop one-shot from a band that was never heard from again.

Re: 2 Princes

[koganbot]

Ah, here it is, Real Life Rock Top 10, Sept. 7, 1999.

1. The Best News of the Week: Denver Post, Aug. 22

"Universal Records has confirmed that Spin Doctors lead singer Chris Barron ['Little Miss Can't Be Wrong' etc.] has been diagnosed with a rare paralysis of his vocal cords. Barron is meeting with doctors who have indicated that he may never regain the full use of his voice. He now cannot speak above a whisper. All promotional activities for the band's new CD, 'Here Comes the Bride,' are on hold."

Phil Dellio questioned him about it a couple of years later:

Phil: Just about anyone who writes about pop music lapses into unchecked ridicule, or glibness, or sarcasm, or meanness on occasion. I think you're good on calling people who cross a line in that direction, be it Albert Goldman, or Public Enemy, or the Stockhausen quote after the bombings. No one's going to put the Spin Doctors on a plane with the issues you were objecting to in those instances, but can you see where someone might feel you crossed a line yourself in your published comments a couple of years ago about that group's singer's medical problems? I know you hated the Spin Doctors, but what you wrote really threw me.

Greil: No. Anyone who could sing "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" the way Chris Barron did--"Things been a whole lot easier since the bitch is gone," he said, like someone throwing dirt out the window--deserves what he gets. Especially not being able to sing it anymore, if in fact he can't.

And from several years earlier (where Marcus comes off as less of an asshole): "hating a band is a pleasure that at times can bring satisfactions that loving a band can't touch. It might start with some small irritation, the way some guy cuts his hair, the treacle in Juliana Hatfield's voice, but soon enough it's under your skin, the music is a disease, and you don't need no doctor, you just need a gun."

Re: 2 Princes

[nicolars.livejournal.com]

Throwing dirt out a window?!?! I have read more outrageous claims, but this jumps out as being a pretty odd leap to make.

Re: 2 Princes

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

i am v conflicted:

pros
lovely bouncy guitar pop
memories of a million student discos

cons
that TW@ of a lead singer
most of the other people who liked them, who are no doubt now james blunt's key demographic (ie geography students)

Re: 2 Princes

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I secretly liked 2P though would never have admitted it at the time.

Re: 2 Princes

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

I heard "Jimmy Olsen Blues" first. Blame graciousviv for that one.

Re: 2 Princes

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

my dilemma is that i cannot remember my genuine feeling at the time, and as such conside me the poptimist traitor. one big clue is that i bought (and still own) the cd single. clearly it is a fun tune in some sense, however i am sure i detested the variety of fun it dealt out. possibly through being repeatedly told in social situations that it was the epitome of ugh AOR american cheese.

i think i could not enjoy it now

Re: 2 Princes

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

it may be even this singular contradictory basket case of attitude to a song that drives my current poptimism

Re: 2 Princes

[nicolars.livejournal.com]

It is a catchy song but I could never really like it because every time I'd hear it I'd think of the goaty looking hippies at school who looked like the Spin Doctors.

Re: My Pazz & Jop ballot, 1993

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I liked it but didn't love it. It was my Bosnian au pair's favouritest song evah, though. It's always been kind of...wrong though. I think a cover might do it more justice than the Spin Doctors themselves.