Give me an Absolutely PERFECT Pop Song

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/gimmie-a-perfect-album

The "Perfect Album" thread got some interesting responses:

So let's do a harder one: "Absolutely Perfect Pop Songs"

Your choices should contain everything a pop song needs:

Unforgettable Hook

Upbeat Tempo

'Like it the first time you hear it' songcraft

DON'T post overplayed Beatles or Nirvara songs; this is your big chance to be creative and dig out some perfect gems - not post the moldy oldies top 40.

If you hear it all the time on the radio, it's NOT the perfect pop song.

Make sure you put the artist's name and song title before the video, (NSFW) tags if necessary.

#2 5 years ago

BOY

vid1900

Pinside+ Member

I'll start the game off with the most perfect earworm ever

The Kinks - Sweet Lady Genevieve

Once under a scarlet sky I told you never ending lies
But they were the words of a drunken vagabond
Who knew very well he would break your heart before long
Oh forgive me Genevieve

Now I've come back to see Sweet Lady Genevieve
This time I'll give you some security
And I will make promises I can keep
So will you come back to me Sweet Lady Genevieve

Let me rock you, hold you
Take you in my arms
Forgive me, please
Smile away all your sadness, put your trust in me

Oh if you come back to me Sweet Lady Genevieve
I'm not the impetuous fool you used to know
I know that I used you and I hurt you so
But that was so long ago Sweet Lady Genevieve

Oh, love me
Take me in your arms
Let me rock you, hold you
Smile away all your sadness, put your trust in me

Once under a starry sky I led you on and told you lies
Drank too much whiskey on that hot summer night
I acted so slyly because you were acting so shy
Oh forgive me Genevieve

If you come back to me Sweet Lady Genevieve
You're not the child who smiled so innocently
And I'm not the rogue that I used to be
So will you come back to me Sweet Lady Genevieve

Oh Genevieve, Oh Genevieve

#3 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

Billy Don't Be a Hero

-1

#4 5 years ago

JZM

bangerjay

Pinside member

Yomamasville

12y 106K 4,816 46

#5 5 years ago

JAR

jar155

Pinside member

North Salt Lake, UT

14y 114K 6,220 9 141

Michael Jackson's Billy Jean might be the best pop song ever. Maybe not everybody's favorite, but very well could be the best. So hard to pass it up, and I don't think it gets "moldy" due to how much is in there.

Edit: If The Beatles' Here Comes the Sun falls under pop, that's probably it. Perfect melody, despite your challenge not to post it.

#6 5 years ago

OXO

Pecos

Pecos Pinball

8y 122K 4,495 56

I’m Not In Love, 10CC - perfection in recording engineering.

Post last edited 5 years ago: “Added second documentary with 10CC members.”

#7 5 years ago

BOY

vid1900

Pinside+ Member

This lesser known hit by The Knack, has everything a perfect pop song needs.

Super hook, double backbeat drums, and some suggestive teenager in lust lyrics.

(and yes, Doug Fieger is lawyer Jeffery Fieger brother, RIP Doug)

The Knack - Good Girls Don't

She's your adolescent dream
Schoolboy stuff, a sticky sweet romance
And she makes you want to scream
Wishing you could get inside her pants
So you fantasize away
While you're squeezing her, you thought you heard her saying

Good girls don't
Good girls don't
But she'll be telling you
Good girls don't, but I do

So you call her on the phone
To talk about the teachers that you hate
And she says she's all alone
And her parents won't be coming home till late
There's a ringing in your brain
'Cause you could've swore you thought you heard her saying

Good girls don't
Good girls don't
But she'll be telling you
Good girls don't, but I do

And it's a teenage sadness
Everyone has got to taste
An in-between age madness
That you know you can't erase
Till she's sitting on your face

You're alone with her at last
And you're waiting till you think the time is right
'Cause you've heard she's pretty fast
And you're hoping that she'll give you some tonight
So, you start to make your play
'Cause you could've swore you thought you heard her saying

Good girls don't
Good girls don't
But she'll be telling you
Good girls don't, but I do

And it's a teenage sadness
Everyone has got to taste
An in-between age madness
That you know you can't erase
Till she's sitting on your face
It hurts

Good girls don't
Good girls don't
But she'll be telling you
Good girls don't, but I do
Good girls don't
Good girls don't
But she'll be telling you
Good girls don't, but I do
But I do
But I do
But I do

#8 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

45 years later and this one still absolutely hits the spot.

#9 5 years ago

JAR

jar155

Pinside member

North Salt Lake, UT

14y 114K 6,220 9 141

Ok, I'll play by the rules. Broken Bells' The Ghost Inside is infectious, but not cheap. It translates wonderfully when played live. The vocals are godly and the bass beat is a toe tapper. I've shared the live version, which is a little more upbeat and less electronic.

#10 5 years ago

KMP

Kkuoppamaki

Pinside member

10y 81,800 2,048

Because life in plastic is truly fantastic, Barbie girl ftw!

#11 5 years ago

KJS

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 85,100 1,284

The Go Betweens

Streets of your Town

#12 5 years ago

JPJ

Frippertron

Pinside member

Sparta, NJ

7y 60,800 2,301

Radiohead- Karma Police or Creep
Talking Heads- Burning Down the House

#13 5 years ago

JAR

jar155

Pinside member

North Salt Lake, UT

14y 114K 6,220 9 141

Enanitos Verdes - Frances Limon

Whether your speak Spanish or not, these Argentines can get you grooving along with them. You'll notice the main guitar riff, which has been shamelessly stolen and fought about by other artists, but this song predates their usage. The song is all pop, but it has bits of reggae, rock, and blues.

Latin pop and rock, the non-trashy stuff could absolutely dominate this list, by the way.

-1

#14 5 years ago

BOY

vid1900

Pinside+ Member

Officially, the most money ever spent on an EDM video.

Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance teams up with deadmau5 with a beat and a chorus hook that ruins your brain, permanently

deadmau5 ft. Gerard Way - Professional Griefers

#15 5 years ago

BOY

vid1900

Pinside+ Member

Quoted from Kkuoppamaki:
Because life in plastic is truly fantastic, Barbie girl ftw!

OMG that is an earworm.

I did not even click it because I dont want it stuck in my head.

#16 5 years ago

???

littlecammi

Pinside member

Carol Stream, IL

11y 82,650 4,532 19

I've Got a Line on You by Spirit.

Its going in my Mustang premium if I ever figure out how to use pinball browser to add/change the music files.

#17 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

A more recent offering- "Feel It Still" by Portugal. The Man

#18 5 years ago

Darcy

Pinside member

Leduc, AB

11y 124K 6,359 17

The Archies "Sugar Sugar".

#19 5 years ago

DAY

TwilightZone

Pinside member

Ottawa, ON

12y 44,300 700

This is one of the best pop songs ever IMHO Crazy simple lyrics with such a hook. Just love it.

#20 5 years ago

TIM

ralphwiggum

YouBentMyWookie

Sullivan, WI

12y 108K 5,440 6

I will only give you something within the last year, there are just way too many choices..... The latest Beck album has a lot of good options, but for one that just gets stuck in your ear all day-

#21 5 years ago

DAD

Yelobird

The Mod Couple

Wheaton, IL

20y 160K 10,056 44 37

You want pop, Pop Goes the World by Men without Hats. Hear it once and hum it all day. Lol

#22 5 years ago

IVE

Ive

Pinside member

Brighton

14y 61,900 1,170 11

Makes me smile everytime I hear this. Teenage Fanclub 'Sparkys Dream' 1995. Perfect guitar pop

#23 5 years ago

BUD

BudManPinFan

Pinside member

7y 71,050 1,333 3

Motörhead - Ace of Spades

#24 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

Kool and the Gang's Jungle Boogie is another one.

#25 5 years ago

DBLM

Pinside member

7y 125K 15,307

Tubthumping by Chumbuwumba. Catchy lyrics, beat, allows for singalongs, etc.

Post last edited 5 years ago: “Added video”

#26 5 years ago

KOZ

KozMckPinball

Pinside member

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/7be8753f-13cb-46b0-bcab-1b4b02d2ce1e

Dancing Queen. Admit it, you like it too. Lots of songs listed here I would't call Pop. This one definitely is. I'm a rock guy myself, in a car club and the guys call me "The Cruiser", but I like Dancing Queen....

#27 5 years ago

BOY

vid1900

Pinside+ Member

It's like getting 2 songs in one!

The Kings - This Beat Goes On/Switchin' to Glide

#28 5 years ago

DAD

Thermionic

Inactive member

8y 54,300 750

Oingo Boingo

#29 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

Feel Good Inc.

#30 5 years ago

KOZ

KozMckPinball

Pinside member

Quoted from Thermionic:
Oingo Boingo

That guy married Jenna Elfman who was in the ZZ Top Legs video I believe. Dharma and Greg. Also the house band in Back To School I think.

#31 5 years ago

BOY

vid1900

Pinside+ Member

This song is a pop freight-train

The Dictators - Stay With Me

I shuffle down the street
My eyes are on my feet
I got no place to go

I try to reason why
But end up getting high
I'm drinking more it shows

I stare into the TV screen
But every face reminds me of a girl

I never used to be so mean
But I can't bear to face my shattered world,
You just ain't fair to this romeo
I fell apart when I watched you go

Baby, baby, baby
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,
Heart is calling won't you
Stay with me
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,
Heart is calling won't you
Stay with me

The stars they used to shine
But now my tears they blind
The fun we used to have
At night I toss and turn,
The memories they burn
I don't know how to laugh

I try and make the social scene
But I get drunk and turn into a fool
Then I start a fight because I'm only half the man I was with you

Said we'd never part until we die
Why didn't you stop when you heard me cry?

Baby, baby, baby
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,
Heart is calling won't you
Stay with me
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,
Heart is calling won't you
Stay with me

#32 5 years ago

DAD

Thermionic

Inactive member

8y 54,300 750

Flamin’ Groovies - overlooked and almost forgotten, but this is one of the best “Power Pop” tunes of the 70s:

#33 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from Darcy:
The Archies "Sugar Sugar".

Were you aware the singer on "Sugar Sugar" was Andy Kim?

#34 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

Although I usually listen to modern music, this thread is right up my alley having grown up during the 70s. lol

Another great Canadian "Hit"

#35 5 years ago

JPJ

Frippertron

Pinside member

Sparta, NJ

7y 60,800 2,301

Quoted from KozMckPinball:
That guy married Jenna Elfman who was in the ZZ Top Legs video I believe. Dharma and Greg. Also the house band in Back To School I think.

Danny Elfman is Jenna's uncle-in-law.

#36 5 years ago

JAY

Phat_Jay

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 111K 2,309

More hip hop than pop, but it saw a lot of action in pop rotations
So awful it’s a great. Made it to #9 hot 100

#37 5 years ago

Darcy

Pinside member

Leduc, AB

11y 124K 6,359 17

Quoted from o-din:
Were you aware the singer on "Sugar Sugar" was Andy Kim?

Yes. He is Canadian, born in Montreal, also known as Baron Longfellow. He co wrote the song.

#38 5 years ago

ZZZ

Wickerman2

Pinside member

9y 105K 6,825

Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du, yeah
Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba du dop
Ba du bop, ba du dop
Ba du, yeah
Said oh yeah
In an mmmbop they're gone
Yeah yeah

#39 5 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,033 19 30 1

Quoted from Thermionic:
Oingo Boingo

Good stuff, with the criteria above I'll go with Running on a treadmill

But thinking more mainstream, wedding jokes aside, as a random listener I find it very hard to find a more pure pop worthy song that Outcast - Hey ya. It's pretty goddamn perfect.

#40 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Beatles were probably the biggest pop hit makers of them all. The first song that really grabbed me when I was 4 or 5 years old.

#41 5 years ago

ABB

Aurich

Mods and Opinions

Torrance, CA

11y 144K 23,395 3

Square Hammer by Ghost, most perfect pop song about the devil I know of

#42 5 years ago

ODB

Gryszzz

Pinside+ Frequent

Indianapolis, IN

10y 120K 13,251 9

When I think of "perfect" and "pop music" together, the only thing I can come up with is Taylor Swift's legs.
Fo9zjbX (resized).jpg

#43 5 years ago

ODB

Gryszzz

Pinside+ Frequent

Indianapolis, IN

10y 120K 13,251 9

Grammar nazis help me out....should there be an apostrophe in Swift's? It is possessive correct?

#44 5 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,033 19 30 1

Quoted from Gryszzz:
Grammar nazis help me out....should there be an apostrophe in Swift's? It is possessive correct?

I'm not a grammer nazi just grammer power (is that a thing?), but yes her anus is possessed by her.
EDIT: I also don't care aboot grammer

#45 5 years ago

KOZ

KozMckPinball

Pinside member

"I don't listen to this song very often But when i do So do my neighbors"

#46 5 years ago

TOM

BigT

Pinside+ Frequent

Smithville, MO

10y 79,550 706 4

There are so many choices, but going by your rules, “Under Pressure”. No matter how many times I have heard it I still wont skip it or change the station when it is on.

#47 5 years ago

KOZ

KozMckPinball

Pinside member

On the subject of Bowie..

#48 5 years ago

SBS

o-din

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from Gryszzz:
should there be an apostrophe in Swift's? It is possessive correct?

I hope this helps answer your question.
download (resized).jpg

#49 5 years ago

???

usandthem

Pinside member

Canton, MI

11y 76,050 3,172 6

Classic rock was the “pop” music of its time. I’m going with “Help” by the Beatles, “Already Gone” by The Eagles, and “If you Want My Love” by Cheap Trick.

#50 5 years ago

KOZ

KozMckPinball

Pinside member