what do you think the best pop song ever written is?
Reposted from my friend Kev on that OTHER board.
i am hoping this thread is long and discussion filled. ideally we get to make fun of hutch somehow and get to do a bunch of questioning of each others musical debate
definition of “pop song” – song that made billboard top 40 pop chart in the US
definition of best – whatever you want. your favorite, the musically best, the one with the biggest influence on you, i dont care
categories
best pop song of the 80s
best pop song of the 90s
best pop song of the 2000s
best pop song ever
feel free to add earlier decades as well, but i think music from then sucked so i am not doing it
also, feel free to create more categories like best pop song from a solo artist and best pop song from an all female band or whatever else you want
GO GO GO
Comments
I think I’m going to have to go with Hey Ya by Outkast. That song is so perfect from beginning to end. I’ll use that as my vote for 2000s and ever, though I might retract the “ever” thing later.
“I Want It That Way”
You may love that song, you may hate that song, but either way — you probably know every word.
1980’s: I really want to pick Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division but it missed the 1980 cutoff by 3 months. And as tempted I as I am to go with Billy Jean or Everybody Wants to Rule the World, I gotta go with Once in a Lifetime by The Talking Heads. Best/favorite ratings aside, I think Once in a Lifetime is a pinnacle, if not THE pinnacle of the progression of 21st century pop music. It’s the smartest it ever got, and yet, it’s completely accessible and dancable and singable. One case where what I think is the best might also be my favorite.
1990’s: 1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins. Never before have children, parents, and grandparents so agreed on a single song. It’s universally great. Green Day’s Basket Case is a close second for making punk rock even more accessible than Smell’s Like Teen Spirit. I think my favorite might be Karma Police or Closer by Nine Inch Nails. Both songs still completely wrecks my brain and I’m still finding new and gorgeous things in it.
2000’s: Hey Ya. Period. End of fucking discussion. Sexyback is a distant but respectable second.
Best ever: give Hey Ya another 10 years, it will be the best ever. For now, I will go with Once in a Lifetime.
Hahaha, Bill! We agree. We are like the same person.
Girls Just Want to Have Fun.
Wait, John. I thought the definition given of Pop song in this post was making the billboard top 40. Did any of those songs other than Hey Ya do that? I’m quite sure Love Will Tear us Apart didn’t. It might have but I’d be surprised if Once In A Lifetime did.
I’d really have to think about what my answers to this would be.
O.K. I’ve thought about this, and going only by Billboard top 40 hits my pick are:
60’s: You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling by the Righteous Brothers
70’s: I Can See Clearly by Johnny Nash
80’s: Beat It by Michael Jackson
90’s: Hit Me Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
00’s: Hey Ya by Outkast
My threshold was what song do I immediately think of first when I think of that decade.
Kevin said:Wait, John. I thought the definition given of Pop song in this post was making the billboard top 40. Did any of those songs other than Hey Ya do that? I’m quite sure Love Will Tear us Apart didn’t. It might have but I’d be surprised if Once In A Lifetime did.
I’m pretty sure all of them did. I’m certain Once in a Lifetime did.
Toni Basil’s “Mickey”.
kev has mentioned “Don’t You Want Me” by Human League before as being the greatest pop song ever.
i honestly could not answer, however Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” has been on a lot and i fucking adore that song. i also love The Moody Blues Your Wildest Dreams" and Toto’s “Africa”. commence abuse.
I guess the bigger question is if we’re only counting US charts since British charts tend to have a better history. Looking it up out of my own curiosity Love Will Never Tear Us Apart, Closer, and Karma Police never cracked the US Top 40. Once in a Lifetime only did upon it’s inclusion in some soundtrack years after Remain In Light came out. So I think you’re just cheating to be able to only pick songs by bands you already love rather than admitting to liking pop songs by pop artists. Just admit you love Hanson’s “Mmmbop” like it’s your first born child and we can be done with this charade.
mandy said:kev has mentioned “Don’t You Want Me� by Human League before as being the greatest pop song ever.
i honestly could not answer, however Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer� has been on a lot and i fucking adore that song. i also love The Moody Blues Your Wildest Dreams� and Toto’s “Africa�. commence abuse.
I don’t want to say these are bad songs. Cause they’re not. They’re all very enjoyable in their own right. Kinda silly, maybe, but certainly enjoyable.
BUT BEST POP SONG EVER!? C’mon! I mean, what about everything Michael Jackson released in the 80’s? What about the entire Beatles catalog!?
“Twist and Shout,” then. That still gets people moving like “Hey Ya” does.
See! I told you the Beatles weren’t a rock band!!!!!
Kevin said:See! I told you the Beatles weren’t a rock band!!!!!
Didn’t we already have this discussion and agree? I’m pretty sure we did.
Of course we did. I’m just feeling rakish today and being a smart ass.
Kevin said:Of course we did. I’m just feeling rakish today and being a smart ass.
What’s new?
John said:Kevin said:Of course we did. I’m just feeling rakish today and being a smart ass.
What’s new?
It’s a disease….a sickness.
Kevin said:John said:Kevin said:Of course we did. I’m just feeling rakish today and being a smart ass.
What’s new?
It’s a disease….a sickness.
“‘yeah kevin, you’re such a disease. you’re what the french call les incompetent’” — From Gosia.
mandy said:fuck the beatles.
fuck your face.
John said:BUT BEST POP SONG EVER!? C’mon! I mean, what about everything Michael Jackson released in the 80’s? What about the entire Beatles catalog!?
fuck the beatles.
and i wasn’t really referring to the best pop song ever, i just wanted to see if you’d berate my choices.
hahaha, i screwed that up. now it looks like YOU said ‘fuck the beatles’.
But I already did berate your choices.
You just hate people agreeing.
A guy a few cubes over from me is listening to “Informer” by Snow right now, so there’s my vote.
Did you slap him? You should have slapped him.
Informer > any Beatles song ever.
There, I said it.
If Billboard #1’s count as quality and if 1969 was the best year in music, this is the best pop song ever.
SCIENCE.
John said:Did you slap him? You should have slapped him.
I have to admit, the sound of “Informer” wafting through the airwaves on a beautiful spring day in 2008 made me smile grandly. A slap was not in order.
Jim said:If Billboard #1’s count as quality and if 1969 was the best year in music, this is the best pop song ever.
SCIENCE.
Science has failed us.
That’s what was playing on the radio the year the White Album came out. Live with it.
Why do you start threads just to tell everyone they’re wrong on subjective topics? Serious question.
Also, MJ album tracks suck ass. Really, try to get through a whole one.
And the largest selling record of all time is the Eagles Greatest Hits.
Jim said:Why do you start threads just to tell everyone they’re wrong on subjective topics? Serious question.
Because I like to argue. It’s my hope that by telling you you’re wrong, you’ll then counter and say why I’m wrong. It’s fun!