Canon-forming and pop

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

On today's poll thread Cis raises the spectre (which may be a benign spectre, and may not be spectral at all) of a 'pop canon'.

I have a couple of questions which may or may not relate to it:

Are there any very well-known (and ideally well-loved) pop songs that weren't especially popular when first released?

Are there any very well-known and well-loved pop songs that have never actually been hit singles?

Comments

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

Bizarre Love Triangle might be my answer to both these questions. Wasn't Blue Monday more of a slow-burner than a big hit?

We might be able to sneak Alcazar - This Is The World We Live In into OUR pop canon in a couple of years and that certainly answers both your questions.

[cis.livejournal.com]

but BLT was a hit in the US, no?

[5500.livejournal.com]

'Twas, yes. Esp. the video.
Apparently (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizarre_Love_Triangle), it was also big in Australia.