A Year In Pop: 20

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I brought this poll forward from tomorrow because I think it'll get quite a few ticks.*

[Poll #988684]

*and because I didn't want to harangue you with only game-based posts today.

Comments

Re: Real Actual Pop Injustice

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I don't think of it as a ballad tho!

Re: Real Actual Pop Injustice

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

But it is, surely.

Re: Real Actual Pop Injustice

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

It can be if you want!

One aspect of its genius is its malleability, it's a ballad which is a slow jam which you dance to either in a last-dance-at-school-disco romantic way or punching fists in the air with your friends.

I don't think of it as soppy AT ALL! It's totally real & beautiful. And STRONG, nothing this strong and single-minded and unashamed of itself could possibly be just 'soppy'. Evocations of genuine emotion != soppiness.

Re: Real Actual Pop Injustice

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

blimey, rocking the genuine vote there.

it is soppy, but in a good way. i.e. what you say viz it's a sentiment of "lean on me" strength but expressed in a new and pleasing way. and the melody is lovely.

what's not to like.

it's not the greatest song ever, and her vocal is a bit bored sounding. but that's not nec a bad thing

Re: Real Actual Pop Injustice

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I like the way the song grinds - it's got quite a cold, hard, military sound to it that sits interestingly with the tender feelings.

Re: Real Actual Pop Injustice

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

"i'll be all you need and mooOOOOOOOOORRREEEE" = not bored-sounding in the slightest

Re: Real Actual Pop Injustice

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

That is the best bit of the song, with the strings suddenly going "bam Bam BAM!"

Re: Real Actual Pop Injustice

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

I second the genuine emotion thing; it's very natural sounding and slightly goofy in a way that offsets the sharpness of the production etc. to stop it just sounding like a showcase.

Re: Real Actual Pop Injustice

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

realness and beauty aren't the issue as such, i wouldn't care if it was fake or somehow grotesque. in recent years i've come to think of 'my heart will go on' as 'impressive' or 'powerful' just not in ways that make me want to listen to it. i think 'umbrella' is effectively the same for me, tho it is obv. 'hipper', and not as blustery, nor quite as cheesy.

"Evocations of genuine emotion != soppiness"

yes they are/can be! soppy doesn't automatically equal a bad thing tho. it is a word i use to describe all romantic ballads really, no matter how punchy their drums are or how squelchy that one synth sound might be or how real it may all seem.

maybe all the hype has put me off. 'Irreplaceable' has grown on me a little finally after months of indifference so this may go same way yet. i must see if there are any recent ballads i DO like, to compare to this.