duanegoosen, great list--many of my faves. also:
replacements--unsatisfied
dwight twilley--sincerly
posies--dream all day
verlaines--death and the maiden
chills--pink frost
rolling stones--torn and frayed
paul mccartney--let me roll it
big star--whats going ahn
byrds--set you free this time
lou reed--legendary hearts
robyn hitchcock--madonna of the wasps
marinne faithful--broken english
neil young--broken arrow/expecting to fly
elliott smith--between the bars
afghan whigs--what jail is like
smiths--how soon is now
procol harum--homburg
shins--phantom limb
shoes--now and then
otis redding--these arms of mine
foster and lloyd--lie to yourself
mekons--memphis egypt
tommy keene--back to zero
radiohead--karma police
jethro tull--with you there to help me
badfinger--baby blue
aimee mann--i should've known
bee gees--to love somebody
bob mould--next time you leave
george jones--she thinks i still care
elvis costello--pidgin english
graham parker---discovering japan
and on and on........................ |
"Higher And Higher" from Jackie Wilson |
Don McLean - "American Pie"
R.E.M. - "Losing My Religion" |
|
Thriller?
(question mark)
Marty
Sorry. Couldn't resist |
I can't believe it, a Vogues song being listed as being one of the greatest pop songs ever. I really loved this group and they had some really good tunes in the early to mid 60's certainly 5 o'clock world would be one of them. Who would have ever though that they would ever be remembered and honored by being considered as having "the greatest pop song ever" 45 years later, a group somewhat similar to the Association if not quite as popular at the time. By the way talk about harmonies no one mentions "Cherish" great harmonies and a pretty good tune as well. Too bad it was quite overplayed none the less it was probably the biggest pop song of 1966.
What is conspiciously absent are any of the great pop songs prior to the 60's. Have they been considered or is this list limited to 60's - current? Stardust, Body and Soul, My Funny Valentine, Night and Day, come to mind immediately. What about Fire and Rain, Like a Rolling Stone, Blowin in the Wind.
My top nominee is Stardust. Bad Romance is tops for guilty pleasures :) |
It's my understanding that a pop song is a song that is popular...right. Not just slightly popular but popular in that it draws the attention of many people...I mean millions of people. Based on this qualification Michael Jackson is tops. I'm not a tremendous fan however based on thread initiation...this is a no brainer and answers the question as it pertains to 'song'. This thread is more of a greatest personal pop song of all time. These are opinions...can't be proven...remember fact and opinion...? I teach it in second grade. Now if you want to question artist as a whole...Beatles followed by Elvis...Elvis who? Get real. And third, M. Jackson closely trailed by Abba and Queen. |
"The Unforgiven" by Metallica is really good! |
Billie Jean is up there with the best pop efforts, the minute you here that bass line you tend to turn it up a little. I always liked I ran by "A flock of seagulls" another great beat. "December" by Collective Soul is one pop masterpiece not the best but its simply a great pop work IMO aswell............the list could go on and on.
Older efforts would be The Hollies Long cool woman, Marvin Gaye Hear it through the grapevine and Bostons More than a feeling. |
not my genre, but billie jean does, indeed, rule.
the song popped into my bean brain as i was reading the title of the thread. go mike. |
Carly Simon " Your So Vain" |
Hodu I think you may be right on both accounts. |
Summer Breeze- Seals and Crofts. A great reminder that the best things in life are free. |
Has to be a song by the "King of pop". For me "Billy Jean" wins the prize, with "Thriller" a not so close second. |
" Ridin' In My Car ' NRBQ |
Strawberry Fields/Beatles
Hurdy Gurdy Man/Donovan
My two favorites. |
"losing my religion" by REM |
IMO: A lot of the songs listed so far are great. I have to second Cajunpepe on "Friday On My Mind" (was it the EasyBeats?) and add "Walk Away Renee" by the Left Banke.
Although "Losing My Religion" and "The One I Love" by REM are also right up there. |
Feels Like Rain, by John Hiatt |
|
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, The Beatles |
Living On A Prayer - Bon Jovi |
I had some ideas before I clicked on the thread but I think I'll go with "The Day the Music Died". A second goes to Micheal Jackson's "Beat It". I'll deny it if confronted but I had a Beat It jacket. A Thriller one too. But don't tell anyone. LoL |
I'll agree it's like picking the most beautiful woman...and in the end, we all think that's the woman we are married to, or maybe have the most attachment to. Still, it's awfully nice to admire a new shape...
One? Right this minute? 'I've Been Waiting' by Matthew Sweet. |
TOM JONES NOT UNUSUAL
ROY ORBISON OOBIE DOOBIE |
|
Great song. That's a good one!!
Better even than the nun in the movie, who was no slouch herself. |
Mapman, Thanks for bringing Metallica onto the pop song list! +1Like! GOOD ONE! |
I'm waiting for teh Metallica version of "Climb Every Mountain". Seriously!!! |
The greatest pop song ever?
Easy - it's "Walk on By" - Dionne Warwick |
The Band's, "The Weight". |
AND album- Michael Jackson's Thriller. and Billie Jean has enough detail and overdubs to make it kind of a modern masterpiece. Do i "thrill" to it? No. but MJ hit a peak that will not soon be equalled. He was literally on top of the pop music world for many months after its release.
It reminds me of the time during Beatlemania when John Lennon, commenting on the HUGE crowds of fans swarming the Beatles wherever they went, said they were becoming "more popular than Jesus"- a handful of super pop stars enter into the "Unreality Zone" from which some of them sadly never escape.
Honorable mention goes to a lot of REALLY great pop songs though- hundreds of them... |
"Be My Baby" by the Ronettes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=jrVbawRPO7I
|
|
Which ever one it is, I think it was composed by Burt Bacharach. And probably sung by Dion Warwick. |
One of my favorites was 'Year of the Cat' by Al Stewart. I play this every few years and this song gets me out of my chair playing air piano, guitar and saxophone. |
Oh, and by the way. The best selling pop single of all time is Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas' at 50 million. |
How about this classic from the legendary Vic Mizzy |
I want to add "True" by Spandau Ballet. I listened to this for the first time in like forever the other day and forgot how really good this tune is. |
Since "White Christmas" was nominated due to its standing as the #1 seller (and half the Michael Jackson catalog would qualify on a similar basis), I looked at the top 25 all-time best seller list for other potentially good choices. For the benefit of those who like sales as a determinant of the winner of this competition, I found it!
My hands down choice:
"Kung Foo Fighting" by Karl Douglas - which checks in at #19 on the all-time sales list (per Wikipedia). As a special bonus, my friends Rich and Eileen used it as their first dance when they married twenty years (or so) ago. Maybe not #1, but clearly one of the top 20 pop songs ever! ;-) |
I'll add "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison to the list.
Much better than "He's So Fine"..... |
"Thriller" is still largest sold album. After Mike's death the sales of this album increased to the size of volcano.
Every song from this album was literally "Thriller" to the huge public. |
Jaybo: Interesting. Your post reminded me of a 7" 45rpm record I have from back in the day titled: "It's The Real Thing. Coke."
Side one: "Buy The World A Coke"
Side two: "Little Bit Of Sunshine"
"It's The Real Thing" |
"Wichita Lineman" has got to be on the list of one the greatest songs ever. Pop, I don't know.
As far as lyrics, absolutely, Glen's rendition, not too shabby either! |
Easy, "At Last" by Etta James . |
Yes, that would be White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby. 50 million copies sold, which takes top honors in that category. |
"Wichita Lineman"... with less than 150 words.. (I haven't counted them). told THE STORY!
Wow! I only wish that could happen in this day and time.
Forward to approximately ten years later.. Hall & Oates.
Their MOFI "Abandoned Luncheonette" was/is one of MOFI's greatest sounding lps.
This has to be one of the greatest "pop" lps to date!
"She's Gone" & "Lady Rain"... common'! I think, sometimes we forget.
Still Wichita Lineman stands superior! |
Let's not forget about Carol King's GREAT work! |
I'm on a roll.
Don't forget about the late, great John Denver.
What a voice. What a simple solution to pop culture!
Too many to mention. Even Frank Sinatra called him the best voice he had heard. |
Anyone remember 10 CC?
Now that I have your attention.....
"I'm Not In Love"
"Here Come The Judge"
"Things We Do For Love"
Wow!
Wichita Lineman still hangs TALL! |
