A Year In Pop: 1

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

A what in who? This is the first of a series of polls replacing the mighty stevem78's monthly Top 40 polls.

The Top 40 polls were an grebt idea because they put the focus on NEW pop, unlike the canons, P&Js, Now polls etc. But they were by all accounts a hassle to do and response was never great, partly because there were SO MANY songs to deal with.

By doing them weekly (hear the method in the madness) we have a much smaller number of songs to pick, so there's more chance of individual songs getting discussion time, and also more chance of people who haven't heard the new goodies hearing them via YSIs or YouTube or what have you. (To save my time and sanity I will leave it up to commenters to hunt these down).

Of course I will be keeping track of the scores on these!

[Poll #904685]

What about teh AMAZING NEW CHART REVOLUTION then? My arbitrary rule is that re-releases will be included but only if they weren't in Steve's polls, which I think rules out all of this week's.

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I was going to suggest 'mentality'.

I wish I could see the appeal of Winehouse. (well, not really, but I can't)

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

she's a loon! i think that's why i might have some time for her

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I'm slightly surprised that you don't! She writes really hooky material - certainly 'Rehab' is one of the catchiest songs of last year, melodically and lyrically. She's properly funny (as opposed to having to wave a metaphorical massive LOOK I AM COMEDY sign around like Lallen and The Streets). She pulls off the "young lady about town" persona pretty well in her songs - this is actually at odds with her public profile, she sounds so assured and in control in her music, but the public profile is OMG in a Lohanesque way too. She really treads the line between wit and sadness well, in 'Rehab' she sings "I don't ever want a drink again/Ooh, I just need a friend" brilliantly - starting off winking at the audience, everyone knows the first line is a lie, but then hitting you with the isolation of the second.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I think I just hate her voice really Lex! My "not seeing the appeal" is harsh - I can see that she works as a pop star, the marketing angle of Joss Stone meets Charlotte Church without the boringness of one or naffness of the other.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

It's weird seeing her this big - I never thought she'd be famous at all when I heard her first album, now of course she seems perfectly suited to the musical climate.

Her voice is one of those hate-it-ot-love-it voices yes, but I think she uses it far better than the performing-dog way that Joss S uses hers - especially now, she's toned it down and can sing with subtlety and everything rather than bellowing all the time.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

she's just the UK's Macy Gray, i'm suggesting.

[koganbot]

I read this as "the line between wit and sadeness." (Speaking of which, an Enigma remix alb just came out; though I was thinking of Sade the singer, actually.) I pretty much dislike Amy's voice, but I like the overall effect anyway; her groove is so much better than those of the surprisingly clunky Eminem and Prydz.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

The line between wit and Sade-ness works almost as well considering how often Amy W gets dismissed as coffee-table tastefulness...