Some of you may be aware that i have a few obsessions – for covers, axe wank, Stones, and i have another one you may or may not be aware of – for swooningly pretty pop tunes. Compiling a personal list here that may end up elsewhere – can you help me out?
Not a challenge, no rules, post as many of the prettiest pop tunes as you see fit. The definition of pop here is pretty loose too. Bonus Spill points for newtomes.
Thanks!
Tonnl, you’re a star! Thanks!
Was I surprised, yeah
Was I surprised, no not at all
Left Banke – Pretty Ballerina
Hard to beat some Harriet …
DOND!
Or, if it’s too late in the year for that, how about:
Or this one:
“I Might Be Crying”
Following on from you getting Human zedded, there is of course:
On an 80s roll now:
A DsD fave that never seems to get a mention:
Ah Silvermac! Stalled just outside the Top 40, I seem to recall. A CRIME.
Last one before bed. This thread’s gonna crash with all these vids, Amy!
Oh go on then. One more . . . G’night.
Thanks folks! I’m off to bed now – have an early day at work tomorrow so probably won’t get back to the Spill till late tomorrow.
I can tell you that the Sundays and Pavement were already on my list – and so was either the Four Tops or Left Banke’s Walk Away Renee. And was also wavering between the Left Banke and Alice Cooper’s (seriously!) Pretty Ballerina.
I think i may have mentioned that i hate the holiday season. Last year for a Spill Challenge i asked for chill out songs. This year it’s going to be pretty pop that gets me through it. Thanks all, catch up with you tomorrow.
You’re safe from pain in the dream domain
A soul set free to fly
Queensrÿche – Silent Lucidity
I very wrongly dismissed this at the time as a shameless Pink Floyd rip off. It’s actually a rather audacious combination of child’s lullaby and epic heavy metal umlaut power ballad from the last days before grunge.
I forget where it was, but I had seen the above lyrics quoted on the gravestone of someone who had died at a very young age, possibly a child’s. Talk about having one’s perspective changed in an instant.
If you’re gonna be a one-hit wonder, aim high.
Perdy pop ?
I reckon it’s this one fer me.
oh, that was perty!
Or maybe this one.
The Queers cover Miss Skeeter Davis !
Oh dear, you may not be able to stop me on this one… First thought is The Cure.
How about “Just Like Heaven”?
Or “Catch” if you want something more delicate?
Just like Heaven is already so at the top of my list. (As is Friday I’m in Love).
But i’m expecting big things from you here, you don’t have to stop anywhere.
Q magazine recently voted this number-one in their rather snooty, snotty list of twee pop songs. I think it’s gorgeous:
Lightning Seeds: “Pure”
This one’s good too:
Lightning Seeds: “Life of Riley”
massive headslap for Pure. Thank you sir.
Yu know, i think i might like the other one even better.
Trash Can Sinatras: “Country Air”
*sigh*
Or from the days when they could toss beauties like this off as B sides:
“Useless”
Jeebus. Both are gorgeous.
I’ll stop in a minute… But first:
Dream Academy: “Life in a Northern Town”
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions: “From The Hip”
The Blue Nile: “Downtown Lights”
Dream Academy i knew. Lloyd Cole is gorgeous.
My computer isn’t coping very well with all the videos, so this will be quick: anything by the Bangles or Susanna Hoffs, obviously.
The Magnetic Fields: “All My Little Words”
*sob*
I’m surprised Ton didn’t beat me to this one:
The Triffids: “Trick of the Light”
If “Head Hang Low” isn’t, I should think this one’s already on your list:
Julian Cope: “Elegant Chaos”
Or this one: “Lunatic and Fire Pistol”
ooh, big donds for Julian Cope, I’ll raise you “Beautiful Love”, “Jellypop Perky Jean”, “Passionate Friend” and “Trampolene”
What a gorgeous batch of tunes. Head Hang Low was indeedy on my list, but the others are drop dead gorgeous too. Especially taken with Jellypop.
But HHL was a gift from Shiv that i’ll treasure till i die, probably that one still just edges out the others.
Bish -
No Georgie yet? I’ve got Father Figure on my list unless you’ve got a better one.
Good choice, Amy! I have a fondness for “A Different Corner” too, but that may be an 80s step too far…
Nothing wrong with a bit of George bish. I think the guy has a great voice and “Different Corner” would certainly be in my choice of top 20 singles.
Oh good, glad it’s not just me, bluey! If you wanna combine your love of pretty pop AND the Stones, Amy, you could always go for George’s “Waiting For That Day” with it’s “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” outro. For me though, the “Funky Drummer” sample is a bit clumsily prominent – as well as a bit ‘of its time’ (every second record seemed to be based around it in 1990).
Three that I think fit the bill…
Duel by Propaganda – great tempo and hook and possessing the intrinsic quality of any great pop song in transforming the moment.The wotjumacallit instrumental break on a classic pop record is also important and Duel’s works brilliantly
Another from the 80s which I think contained quite a few pop gems. Another female vocalist with a great pop sensibility – Belinda Carlisle and Summer Rain
I always thought that Christine McVie was Fleetwood Mac’s soul in respect of great pop tunes. How wrong I was. Stevie Nicks’ Say You Will is up there with the band’s catchiest toons.
I love Belinda Carlisle. Always loved the Go-gos and Mad About You, and now I’m reminded of I Get Weak which i loved too.
At what point does pretty tip over into beautiful?
Mekons: Ghosts of American Astronauts
This actually makes me ache inside.
Not the greatest singer.
Not the greatest video.
But a “Swooningly pretty pop tune…………
You bet it is.
Neil Young………”Harvest Moon”.
excellent call!
I’m sure you have some Mark Linkous on your pretty list, amy, but here are Sparklehorse‘s quite short and rather sweet Hundreds of Sparrows and Junebug.
Thanks for the reminder, indeed gorgeous. Seems to me that there was one Sparklehorse posted on RR a long time ago that stopped me in my tracks. Will try to jog memory.
Think it’s Cow and King of Nails.
Dammit Sis! You been in my room again? All my Bread 45s are gone again. Here, long as you’re stealin’, take these too.
1. The Critters – Mr. Dieingly Sad (1966)
2. Baby You Got It – Brenton Wood
3. You Showed Me – The Turtles
4. Sandy – Ronny And The Daytonas
5. Don’t Mess With Bill – The Marvellettes
Pssst * I could do this forever ya know*
sorry Fintan! Just got home from work – held for approval due to all of the links i guess.
(Bread had actually never occurred to me!)
No Bread ! Hmmm, you did say pretty pop right?
I did, but it just didn’t occur to me! Everything i Own would be the one for me, i reckon.
btw, if you could do this forever, feel free to keep them coming.
If you and Aba have a favorite Bangles tune, i’m all ears.
Never heard the Critters before. Which reminds me somehow of the Mamas and Papas…
They’re all gorgeous, Fintan! Which reminds me of a duh headslap – Beach Boys!!!
Darling Buds ‘So Close’ – somebody posts underneath it “some bands you like, some you love, some you fall in love with”:
‘Crystal Clear’ is excellent, as well. The video contains mediocre dancing though.
Chug’s ‘Flowers’ is a lovely, swirly, fuzzed-out pop song – as featured on the Adventures of Pete & Pete:
Happy-making.
I absolutely loved those, and the Darling Buds was especially gorgeous. Thanks!
I’ve thought of a few
Goldfrapp – Caravan Girl
Caravan – Golf girl
Modern English – I Melt With You
and
Prince- Kiss
I was going to add Raspberry Beret but all the videos are blocked. Hope these cheer you up as the holiday season approaches
Raspberry Beret was indeedy already on my list!
Caravan was awesome! Kiss and Modern English i already knew.
Personally cannot stand it .. son plays it in car just to annoy me .. too pretty
Travis – Why Does It Always Rain On Me?
Lead singer isn’t bad either, though the name escapes me … old age creeping in.
Fran Healy, innit.
Wow, i loved that!
Oh wow, where do I start? Or rather, where do I stop?
Staying fairly close to the blueprint of “There She Goes” (one of the most perfect songs ever), here’s:
The Milltown Brothers – Here I Stand
The Mock Turtles – Can U Dig It?
The Primitives – Crash
The Bluetones – Slight Return
The House of Love – The Girl With The Loneliest Eyes
I’m guessing you already have something by the Gigolo Aunts (preferably “Where I Find My Heaven”)?
Going a bit more random…
An oldie: The Zombies – Care of Cell 44 (or you could just listen to the whole album)
And one from this year: Allo Darlin – Europe
Inevitably, something Swedish: The Cardigans – Lovefool
And another:
Jens Lekman – You Are The Light
And since I’m now well into twee territory, we might as well finish with some Belle & Sebastian: Mayfly
Just left two comments that need moderation – either because they contain too many links, or too much tweeness.
sorted. I would have been bereft if you hadn’t showed up with tweeness.
Just looked this one up on YouTube for a friend…
Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat by Goldie and the Gingerbreads
If anyone has the perfect Lemonheads song, i’m all ears.
I’d been meaning to post one actually. Maybe this:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5msy_the-lemonheads-it-s-about-time_music
or maybe this:
Off to get through the work shift, then work week over and i’m off for 5 days. Sorry if i seem kind of absent here right now.
A C86-style playlist
Ah, there’s my afternoon’s listening sorted… Thanks!
Bangles? If She Knew What She Wants or Tell Me will do. More to follow but I’m keeping it to two at a time to avoid moderation hell.
The Bangles can also do double duty & fulfill your covers fetish. They did a great job on Big Star’s September Gurls. Here’s the Bangles version.
The Merry-Go-Round’s Live is still an all time fave for me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UYGX7PV7oI is a spot on cover & it’s energy still makes me smile
I’m probably venturing into apostasy here but I actually prefer The Bangles version of Going Down To Liverpool. Nothing wrong with Katrina. It’s just personal preference.
Here’s two more from the Merry-Go-Round. Time Will Show The Wiser and Had To Run Around Well, hell Might as well throw in You’re A Very Lovely Woman.
Don’t forget The Romantics. When I Look In Your Eyes or their version of Open Up Your Door should do nicely. Richard and The Young Lions original wouldn’t hurt either.