The 'perfect' pop single

[haydxn]

bleah! i don't like that song much (american idiot)..

i'd say that [Ash - Burn Baby Burn] is a killer single, as singles go. top class stuff!

there's nothing in particular that i look for in a single tho..

[Stupid American Pig]

nah, How Soon Is Now
or Bigmouth Strikes Again

I used to love how soon is now, until Soho came out with Hippie Chick and ruined that riff for me...

[Ian B]

I really meant, what goes into making the perfect pop single for you, and which single(s) fit the criterea best? That's a bit narrow, I know but it/they don't have to be your favourite's.

[haydxn]

there aren't really any particular qualities that i go out looking for in a single, but Ash's Burn Baby Burn just presents them all to me in one nice helping.

[Stupid American Pig]

I will add God only Knows to the list because it is the standard by which all the others listed here shoud be measured..

[nuffink]

I really meant, what goes into making the perfect pop single for you, and which single(s) fit the criterea best?

Hooks without cheese.

[Stupid American Pig]

I really meant, what goes into making the perfect pop single for you, and which single(s) fit the criterea best? That's a bit narrow, I know but it/they don't have to be your favourite's.

I really cant say what makes a pop song jump out at me- its usually catchy, and I dont try to qualify it beyond that.

[CypherOne]

[prepares for imminent stoning]

The Stone Roses - Fools Gold

[runs for cover]

[Armadillo]

I was listening to 'Green Day > American Idiot' earlier and thought, jeez, this is so close to being the perfect single. It has pretty much everything I look for (it's only the song's lyrical content that lets it down for me)
1/ 3 minutes (or under) long
2/ It's got be by a guitar based band
3/ Instantly memorable melody
4/ Pointless lyrics, nothing deep anyway
5/ Put's a smile on my face each time I hear it

What makes the perfect pop single for you?

That's funny cause I think songs like "Time of your life" and "when I come around" are much better songs by Green Day. Even "Basket case" I think is better. But then again, I don't care at all about points 1, 2 and 4.

[Hovmod]

Nobody's mentioned Love will tear us apart yet?
Nothing to say - Motorpsycho
Born Slippy fails all your criteria (and mine) but belongs anyway.

[Wicker Man]

Perfect pop for me means that more people will find the track acceptable than those who think it objectionable...and quite often, in my opinion, its something quirky (not revolutionary, mind) that will stick in your consciousness...not necessarily a track written to a rigid formula.

Here's some from me :

Thriller - Michael Jackson
Dancing Queen - Abba
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Like a Prayer - Madonna
Cars - Gary Numan
Linger - The Cranberries
Common People - Pulp
Ghost Town - Specials
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Conner

All poppy, but different

[advaya]

Hmmm... I hope I don'tget bashed for this, but for me (by a long shot), I'd have to say Oasis - Wonderwall...

I have always believed that in order for a pop tune to really have an impact, it has to contain a very solid chord progression... This one (in my humble opinion) is the holly grail of chord progressions. And now Greenday went and 'borrowed' it for their Blvd of Broken Dreams... Though something got lost in the translation...

Seriously... I can pick up my guitar and hammer out that progression all day and never get tired of hearing/playing it! But hey... that's just me!

[clueless]

Ghost Town - Specials

[opiadream]

the monkees - daydream believer

go ahead admit it,you think it's fluff
but you sing along when the chorus kicks in

[clueless]

95% of everything recorded by The Byrds pre-Sweetheart