[Closed] What’s the best pop single of all time?

Ramsey Neil - Member
OP Should change the thread title to your favourite half a dozen pop songs

I could - but it would make a hypocrite! 😉

Not heard this Fleetwood Mac tune in years on the radio, but then out of nowhere since this thread started, bits of it started playing in my head. Googled it and initially, the video rang no bells, but then I started recalling this being played lots on MTV in the mid to late 1980s and bits of the video such as those dolls at the start/end. I've lost count how many times I've played the video now in the background while web browsing since Monday! 😆

I think I can safely conclude that for me, picking out the best tune of all time is an impossible task! 😳 😉

OP Should change the thread title to your favourite half a dozen pop songs

Half of the suggested tracks would never be classified as pop.

Erm, I dunno.. I think any song that’s upbeat, rhymes and you [i]can[/i] dance to is Pop... I’m not a huge fan of some of the “rock pop” that’s been posted, but you can’t deny it has pop appeal and crosses the genre because the songwriter needs to produce a [i]Pop[/i] song for the album.. 😉

So stepping back into the thread, I have another.. a Band that gravitated towards dance, built on Pop beats and urban communication.. it is a true classic of theirs, nothing comes close to hitting the originality.

A N Other, well not really.. haven’t seen this mentioned and I’m clearly stepping into BBC R2 Steve Wright territory (so please forgive the tangent) however Chaka Khan & Rufus “ain’t no body” lit up the dance floors in 83’ will a Pop Dance song that’s as true today as it’s always been.. we’re stepping into classics territory .. hold on tight..

Work was too demanding today so I’m relaxing by being back on this thread, you can tell my journey home is going to be a long drawn out affair..

A story of a thousand dance-floors, of nights in sweaty discos up and down the country, sticky baggy t-shirts and torn jeans, glue based hair gel and phone numbers written in pen on your hand (only to disappear with torrents of sweat)

Soul II Soul defined a dance generation and moved a million hips transcended Pop into Dance as we know it.

Dunno about here, but in the States during the 70’s and early 80’s a day wouldn’t go by without the Jackson 5 being interviewed or played or watched or gossiped about, defiantly Groove, classically Pop..

I have to put this on because the summer of 69 was a great summer for me and it's also great song.

Y’o! Gonna kick my ass f’o diss bro’ innit..

Kerwazy, the 90’s eh.. all that groovin and wrigglin and getting up to no good in the clubs.. tekin da drugz and being darn wiv those terrible uncouth youths who ought to be put in prison for thier outrageous behaviour Tarquin..
Are those E’s really any good dear fellow? Are they?

Two more before I hit a tunnel..

And I’m sticking with my Dance orientated Pop, purely for the fact you can dance to it..

&

Bowie's lets dance is a strong contender. Anyway how about these:

This was massive in Spain in 1982 but wasn't released in the UK as far as I know and every holidaymaker in every club kept asking to have it played . Those of us who were there for the season used to sing along to it with "we hate this f***ing record " which went perfectly . Probably not the best ever but pure unadulterated pop nontheless .

I don’t think I’ve ever seen you post so much on a thread bikebuoy...!

Ain’t Nobody - nothing wrong with that!

Loving your work bikebouy 🙂

I'll just add

More contenders to add! 😆

one things for sure we all remember and loved them. same cant be said for all the new stuff coming out.

Latecomer to this thread, as I thought some stuff was too obvious. But I had to get to page 5 before there was any Wham! WTF! And still no Elton:

I love this stuff, I really do.

Fascinating looking back at the stuff that’s past through our ears and given us formation of music culture. For all the worthy recommendations, those that seemed to push back the boundaries of Pop there are those artists that embraced and thrived within the genre. Pop transcends class and politics and simply seeks to entertain for a few moments hatred is forgotten.

Controversial for some, too complicated to understand for many.. but the bloke produced some of the most memorable tunes of the 20th century.. will there be another artist to surpass his skill and craft? I do hope so, but for now..
Just dance..

Talk Talk not the telecoms company.

Without doubt Club Tropicana - Wham!

Sidney Youngblood - If Only I Could

Something a bit newer...

Older still...

So, have we all agreed yet that it's Billie Jean?

Hmmm.. No. 😆

Back in the early 80's a whole wave of Beats were popping up, some Pop'ier than others but two here for perusal.. (can't see them on the thread so if they're here..oop's)

And kerplunk.. an original by Sylvester (anyone remember him, still classy, still some outstanding early disco and dance tracks.. seek him out for reminiscing purposes obvz)

So, Jimmy Somerville and "You Make me Feel" certainly did Son, crossed a lot of homophobic boundaries and entered the charts to visual and tonal acclaim..

Another Dance classic, teetering on the very edge of pop so really shouldn't qualify, but I can't populate a thread without including a tune that gets you wiggling and taking that shiny suit jacket off... to show the top button of some sleek shirt done up, white socks and black shoes..

Show me some Robin S...

The beat reminded me of-

Another Dance classic, teetering on the very edge of pop so really shouldn't qualify - Robin S - quality choice BB

Cor Blimey, Shannon and 'let the music play' inspired 😀

I was in a Pub in Alsager with some mates BITD, just hanging around the bar and waiting for the local DJ to start his Friday evening session (as they did back then) anyhoo's this one evening a very pretty girl walked in, damn if she didn't look exactly like Tiffany.. I was floored.. just a lovely sweet looking Girl Next Door type and my word I think I fell for her that night.. did we dance all night? Oh Yes we certainly did.
So the DJ kicks off his "set" with Tiffany and "I think we're alone now"..
What were the odds. 😆

I’ve gone off on a slight tangent here, a cool band back then producing a couple of crackers. It’s a bit down on the BPM beats that Pop (IMO) need so tricky to wiggle to unless you are either drunk or at a wedding, or both..

Should I stop?

Ok, last three..

MSP - Member
The beat reminded me of-
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H5Se-9XAVE

Actually, that second one might be an overall contender? Better than the Elvis version I reckon.

Better known for Barbie Girl but my Aqua favourite was Dr Jones

Is there a fine line between pop and cheesey shite?

There are some great suggestions here! If I went for one in particular it would be 'Valerie' by Mark Ronson and Amy Whitehouse, so well done Bikebuoy, you're the winner - although it's a numbers game and the more suggestions one makes, the greater the likelihood of being top dog eh?! 😉

Here's my suggestion, not that it's the greatest, but possibly the most apt and amazed it hasn't already been nominated...

She was more like a beauty queen from a movie scene
I said don't mind, but what do you mean, I am the one

Shannon, Comsat Angels, great choices and brilliant thread.
🙂

2 billion views cant be wrong..

It’s not a competition, is it?

I’m just posting stuff I like and we’ve probably not heard in a long time...

Anyway, I’ve obliterated the thread, got carried away..

Hope it carries on though because there are some crackers on here.
😀

Beatles wrote some good pop songs.

Why was this so popular back in 1991, the single that spent the record number of weeks (16) at number one in the UK and number one in a lot of countries?

Simply because of being in the film? I got absolutely sick of it in my late teens (still think he did better tunes than this), a bit like how I couldn't stand hearing New Order's Regrets for years after a year of my uni neighbour playing it all the damn time, or Travis' singles off The Man Who album (a street neighbour this time)!

Ii don’t think it’s a competition. Just about what makes a great pop single that’s all.

Yes Jekyll, Billie Jean is a great example. If it’s on - I’m dancing.

I've been watching 80s pop videos on YouTube with my daughter today. She loved them and I must admit despite not liking much of it at the time I can see some brilliance now, especially compared to modern chart pop.
Having said that my perfect pop song is God Only Knows,can't see how it could be improved

Awe crap... One Moar!

Grrr.. I'm drawn back in..

Grrr..

Ok, Billy Jean.. but not quite as you know it..

The thinking persons' Beatles...

Another 😆

Could be this:

One newish one to finish.

rem- lmr, shp
crowded house- ddio, wwy, fayf

to name but a few more. the list could be staggering.

absolute radio 90s is my station of choice at work, some bangers on it.