Blast from the Past: Positively Perfect Pop Songs!

Pop music gets very little respect from music fans. For those of us who like it, it's just a fun confection, an enjoyable lark. From "real" music fans, pop music is disposable, meaningless, without artistic merit. The equivalent of Stephen King or Dean Koontz in the fiction genre. Well, you know what? I dig King and Koontz! And I dig pop music too!

There are numerous pop songs that just strike me as pop confection perfection. And this is my list of some of the best of the best.

1. Misery - Maroon 5 - This group, headlined by The Voice's Adam Levine, is one of the most successful acts at crafting pure pop perfection. Usually, they include a little profanity to add a little street cred. But their songs are just little balls of perfectly crafted song candy. Misery is one of the best, making an abusive relationship sound fun and bouncy! Yay! I'm in misery!

2. Express Yourself - Madonna - It would be impossible to narrow down Madonna's discography to find the best, most perfect pop song. That's why I didn't, and there is more than one. This one isn't just perfect, it has alternate versions that are equally perfect! And that shouldn't be possible!



3. Mony Mony - Billy Idol - This is an eighties version of a sixties song, that is largely meaningless. But it is absolute perfection in what it sets out to do: set dance floors on fire, and make people happy for no reason. Its recent inclusion in a Nissan Sentra ad is just proof.

4. Steal My Sunshine - Len - Usually, when an act samples parts of another song to put into their own, the result is derivative, uninspired and something of a retread. In this case, one-hit-wonder Len achieves pop perfection, using Andrea True's More, More, More disco tune as a foundation.



5. Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode - You can tell when even an "alternative" band has become mainstream when their old tunes not only get mixed in on "80s and More!" radio stations, but get put into GAP ads. This song might be from a band with a heavy artistic cred, but the song is a pop meringue.

6. Vogue - Madonna - Leave it to Madonna to take an underground gay dance craze, and turn it into mainstream success. And then, make it enough of a classic that if you played it on any dance floor 20+ years later, it would still draw a crowd.



7. Waterloo - ABBA - I am of the opinion that ABBA's catalog--almost all of it--could be released today, and be successful. Many, if not most of their hit songs are masterpieces of pop music. Songs like Ring, Ring and On and On and On should be re-released, just to see what happens. But Waterloo, to me, is a perfect pop song.

8. A Little More Love - Olivia Newton-John - This one might seem like a stretch, but hear me out. Pay attention to Olivia's change-ups in melody. Notice that she changes the note structure in each lead-in to the chorus, and each chorus itself. Much like Adam Levine does in Maroon 5, Olivia plays with the notes, going all over the place, but always in tune, and sounding perfect.




Okay, kids, that's my bit for this week. Hope you had a great Easter and/or Walking Dead finale weekend! Have a great week, and happy Monday!

Blast from the Past: It's MAGIC!

Gotta tell ya, kids. This is another weekend that got away from me. First, we had a triple-birthday celebration on Friday (at the fabulous Brazilian steakhouse, Texas de Brazil), then a blowout garage sale for a friend clearing out a decade of flotsam, then the visit from a sibling-in-law. It's been busy. So, not much time for the bloggage, even with it being my sixth anniversary.

So, what can I offer you? What can be my Blast from the Past for this magical event? Well, how about something simple that requires no commentary? This is a back-burner topic I've held in reserve. It's just the topic of magic.Though almost all songs can have as their root either sex, finding sex, or looking for sex, there are themes in music. And one common one is magic. And the beauty of the subject is, I don't need to write a lengthy description when I'm tired, this is just a run-down of songs about magic. Enjoy.

Blast from the Past: Perfect Pop Songs

Pop music gets very little respect from music fans. For those of us who like it, it's just a fun confection, an enjoyable lark. From "real" music fans, pop music is disposable, meaningless, without artistic merit. The equivalent of Stephen King or Dean Koontz in the fiction genre. Well, you know what? I dig King and Koontz! And I dig pop music too!

There are numerous pop songs that just strike me as pop confection perfection. And this is my list of some of the best of the best.

1. Misery - Maroon 5 - This group, headlined by The Voice's Adam Levine, is one of the most successful acts at crafting pure pop perfection. Usually, they include a little profanity to add a little street cred. But their songs are just little balls of perfectly crafted song candy. Misery is one of the best, making an abusive relationship sound fun and bouncy! Yay! I'm in misery!

2. Express Yourself - Madonna - It would be impossible to narrow down Madonna's discography to find the best, most perfect pop song. That's why I didn't, and there is more than one. This one isn't just perfect, it has alternate versions that are equally perfect! And that shouldn't be possible!



3. Mony Mony - Billy Idol - This is an eighties version of a sixties song, that is largely meaningless. But it is absolute perfection in what it sets out to do: set dance floors on fire, and make people happy for no reason.

4. Steal My Sunshine - Len - Usually, when an act samples parts of another song to put into their own, the result is derivative, uninspired and something of a retread. In this case, one-hit-wonder Len achieves pop perfection, using Andrea True's More, More, More disco tune as a foundation.



5. Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode - You can tell when even an "alternative" band has become mainstream when their old tunes not only get mixed in on "80s and More!" radio stations, but get put into GAP ads. This song might be from a band with a heavy artistic cred, but the song is a pop confection.

6. Vogue - Madonna - Leave it to Madonna to take an underground gay dance craze, and turn it into mainstream success. And then, make it enough of a classic that if you played it on any dance floor 20+ years later, it would still draw a crowd.



7. Waterloo - ABBA - I am of the opinion that ABBA's catalog--almost all of it--could be released today, and be successful. Many, if not most of their hit songs are masterpieces of pop music. Songs like Ring, Ring and On and On and On should be re-released, just to see what happens. But Waterloo, to me, is a perfect pop song.

8. A Little More Love - Olivia Newton-John - This one might seem like a stretch, but hear me out. Pay attention to Olivia's change-ups in melody. Notice that she changes the note structure in each lead-in to the chorus, and each chorus itself. Much like Adam Levine does in Maroon 5, Olivia plays with the notes, going all over the place, but always in tune, and sounding perfect.




Okay, kids, that's my bit for this week. Hope you had a great Easter and/or Walking Dead finale weekend! Have a great week, and happy Monday!

Blast from the Past: 30 Years Ago--The Music of 1982

Last week, for Blast from the Past, I chose the music of 25 years ago to illustrate the freakiness of time's passage. Some songs of 1987 of course are so dated, it isn't hard to believe they're that old. And then you get to one of the classics, and you're like, no way.

I chose 1982 this week, but I found something unusual. I decided to isolate my choices to the Billboard top 10 for that year, and found it to be an odd list. 1982 was the year after the debut of MTV. Disco was officially dead, and new wave was rolling in. You'd think that 1982's top songs would be a day-glo, leg-warmered selection of the cheesiest 80s tunes ever. Turns out, not so much.



1. Physical » Olivia Newton-John - This song was everywhere at the time. And though the video is a neon and headband 80s extravaganza, the song itself isn't really new wave or typically 80s. It really amounts to a novelty song, smack-dab in the middle of ONJ's genre-defying catalogue.
2. Eye Of The Tiger » Survivor - This one is just what you'd expect, an 80s tragedy, video and audio both. Possibly saved by being from one of the Rocky movies, otherwise disposable.



3. I Love Rock N' Roll » Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Again, this isn't really an 80s sound at all. It would fit with any other rock and roll number, particularly those by Jett.
4. Ebony And Ivory » Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder - Stevie Wonder's career spans several decades. And you could plug this one in ten years before or after, and it wouldn't sound out of place.



5. Centerfold » J. Geils Band - This one was a huge video hit, painting it forever an 80s tune. But--yet again--this is way more J. Geils than it is 80s, in sound.
6. Don't You Want Me » Human League - 80s all the way, but this time in a good way.



7. Jack And Diane » John Cougar - John Mellencamp hadn't dropped the Cougar yet, but both hits by him in the top 10 could fit anywhere in his career.
8. Hurts So Good » John Cougar - Ditto.



9. Abracadabra » Steve Miller Band - It's not 80s, it's classic rock! Seriously, Steve Miller has his own sound, and it wasn't your usual 80s fare.
10. Hard To Say I'm Sorry » Chicago - See what I mean? Chicago is it's own thing. . .it doesn't really have an era.

All of these songs were hits in my sophomore and junior years in high school. I was finally shedding my awkward phase, and growing into a (slightly) more confident person. These songs--while not being particularly good at describing their era--all resonate to me as a time of joy and discovery. But discovering that they're 30 years old? That's a little deflating!

Happy Monday. If you can even face the day. . .   ;)

Blast from the Past: The Music of Xanadu!

Images from Wikipedia

This week, my aim for Blast from the Past was to do something patriotic, for the 4th of July. But I find most overt displays of patriotism to be kind of cloying at best, and phony at worst. I just couldn't think of an angle. Then, as I started doing my household chores today, I put the CD-jukebox on (yes, I still have one), and the album cued up was the motion picture soundtrack, Xanadu.

The movie came out in 1980, starring Olivia Newton-John (in her follow-up to Grease), and Michael Beck (who was following up an obscure career). It was the story of an aimless artist (Beck), who is inspired by a literal muse (Newton-John) to build a roller-boogie palace, with the help of an older musician (Gene Kelly) who'd been inspired by the same muse many years before. It's not a very good movie. It had the misfortune to come to life in an awkward era of pop culture. I was just starting high school at the time the movie came out, and I liken my awkward puberty/adolescence to America's at the time.

Remember, in 1980, disco was still going strong, but steaming toward a flame-out. Punk was the counter-culture, which was being commercialized and turned into new-wave. The style of "modern music" that Xanadu was trying to present occurred at perhaps the ugliest, most garish period of this transition. Fortunately, Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra--the two main musical elements of the movie, oddly enough--had careers that transcended any particular musical genre. You wouldn't peg either act as disco, punk or new wave. Maybe that's part of the reason the movie failed; it's just an unusual mish-mash (there's even an animated portion).

But there had to be something to it, for it to become a cult classic. It became a fairly well-received Broadway musical, after all. So, bad movie or not, Xanadu endures. And the most likely reason (besides Olivia's beauty and charm) is the music. My best friend (and not-so-secret crush) at the time had the vinyl album (remember those?), and listened to it endlessly. I got my own copy, and eventually had it on cassette and CD as well. I've had the movie on VHS and DVD. I still watch it every so often, but listen to the music far more so. I love it to this day.

So, that's it for this weekend. Hope everyone has as much fun this holiday week as I have when I hear the final song from this set! Happy Monday, it's a short week!

Blast from the Past: Songs & Artists American Idol Should Cover

As I sat down for this week's edition of Blast from the Past, I thought about tying it to the Super Bowl (the game with the number that heralds my age every year. . .I'll be XLVI!!!).  But everyone is doing that this weekend. So, during my walk, I was listening to Pandora, and Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun came on. It's an 80s favorite, but have you ever listened not so much to the song, but to Cyndi's voice? There is real power there! And I got to thinking about songs and artists that the youngsters on American Idol ought to be covering, if they want to blow the judges away.

Now, I haven't watched every episode of the show, frankly having lost interest the year Paula Abdul left. So, some of these songs, and surely some of the artists have been done. Not the point. Put the nostalgia and the personalities. Listen to the voices here.



1. I'm Gonna be Strong, Cyndi Lauper - Girls may be her signature song, but take a listen to this one, the song that got her a recording contract. Close your eyes, and imagine if this voice hit that stage with no buildup.

2. Pavement Cracks, Annie Lennox - As half of Eurythmics, Annie is often remembered in the same category as Cyndi, with unusual hair, makeup and clothing. But she has a clear, unmistakable, beautiful voice.




3. Hard Candy Christmas, Dolly Parton - When Idol contestants try to do runs and trills, it usually seems like showing off, and seems forced. When Dolly does it, it sounds effortless and natural. I'm not a fan of her country music--for the most part--but there is no denying her talent.

4. Promises in the Dark, Pat Benatar - Pat is mostly remembered for her makeup, her leg warmers and other hideous 80s fashions. But she has an astonishing voice with a wide range, exhibited in a variety of genres. This one was chosen for its hard edge, but softness too.




5. Kissing a Fool, George Michael - George Michael has unfortunately been more well known in recent years as a tabloid fixture. But his voice combined with his good looks made for an amazing combination for a while in the 80s and 90s. He seemed to have a complex about the looks part, but the strength of his voice was never in doubt. Listen to this song--particularly the bridge--and imagine Idol judges heads exploding.

6. A Little More Love, Olivia Newton-John - ONJ has always been one of my favorites. Her beauty
was staggering back in the day, but her voice was so pretty and clear. Listen to this one, how in each chorus, she changes the note pattern, and yet is always in perfect pitch.




7. It Must Have Been Love, Roxette - Yes, your memories of Roxette are covered with cheese. But they're better than you remember. As proof, this song. Listen to lead singer, Marie Fredriksson. From the soft notes to the power belting, this would wow the judges.

8. Rockin' Back Inside My Heart, Julee Cruise - Best known for the theme from Twin Peaks, and her performances within the show, Cruise has a voice I once read described as "an angel on quaaludes." Idol might not be able to showcase a voice this unique. But imagine if this song came out of one of those young waifs!

And that will do it for me for now. I'm off to a Super Bowl party, and we'll have to see if I have any more blogging in me afterward! Either way, happy have a good week!

Cyndi Lauper Speaks!

I can't say how much I love Cyndi Lauper.  For me, there are four popular artists of the eighties who seem to have gotten largely stuck there, unfairly (the others being Pat Benatar, George Michael and Olivia Newton-John).  All of these artists are amazing talents, and all have been shunted into nostalgia. No fair, man.

But Cyndi is the one who I really connect with.  Not only is she amazingly talented, but her political outlook matches mine to a "T."  Here is Cyndi, in her own words.

Careers Cut Short Redux: Olivia Newton-John

Photo from My Lifetime

I haven't done one of these for a while, but the home-made MP3 CD I was playing in my Jeep today landed on three different songs by Olivia Newton-John, and it reminded me of this series. I featured--back in the early days of this blog--a series of posts about musicians whose careers were tragically cut short. Don't get me wrong, they're still celebrities, but they never recaptured the massive fame they once had.

The previous entries included Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael and yes, Olivia Newton-John. All of these pop stars had a stunning stream of hits, and all have equally stunning voices. Benatar had the rocker thing, Lauper had the "new-wave" thing, Michael had the "ambiguously gay" thing, and Newton-John had the Madonna/whore complex.

When I was a little kid, Olivia Newton-John was a country star. Which was confusing, because I knew she was an Australian. And also, her "country" songs were also mostly top 40 hits. From If You Love Me Let Me Know to I Honestly Love You, she was a sweetie-pie, absolutely pure as the driven snow. And she rode that image to Grease, which turned her from a goody-two-shoes to a hot mama. She came out with Totally Hot, an album with racy photos that drove my step-dad bananas. And she followed that with first, Xanadu, where she reverted to pure, and then Physical, when she got a little trampy again. But after that, things went sour.

After Xanadu the movie bombed (though the soundtrack did very well), she followed with Two of a Kind, a movie with John Travolta. It bombed too. Then Soul Kiss, a sort of concept album, playing up her sexiness bombed. Then, a cancer scare, a divorce, the disappearance of her boyfriend. She became tabloid fodder. She's been in a few small movies (loved her in Sordid Lives the movie and the series). But no hits. None at all. And I wonder why?

Cher made innumerable comebacks. Elton John, Rod Stewart, Bette Midler. . .all have had comebacks, and/or Las Vegas shows. Why couldn't Olivia? It isn't fair. And it's overdue.




#1 - Xanadu - This was the infectious theme song from the disasterous roller-disco/muse film. It's become a Broadway musical in the mean time, and has garnered a "so bad, it's good" reputation. The song is still guaranteed to fill a dance floor.

#2 - Summer Nights - One of the best (and most successful) songs from Grease. I won this record in a "sock hop" in junior high school, believe it or not.

#3 - Let Me Be There - This was one of the early ones, and it demonstrates Olivia's beautiful voice, and beautiful face. Man, she's pretty. And can you imagine if you could transplant this performance to American Idol? They'd totally plotz.

#4 - A Little More Love - This song, from Totally Hot, is one of my very favorites. I included it for the American Idol comment from above. Olivia mastered the "runs" and changeups favored by Idol stars without making them cliche or trite. She managed to change each chorus, hitting different notes, going from melody to harmony. I just love it.

And here's a bonus, the theme song from Sordid Lives, It's a Bitch

"Sordid Lives: The Series" to Debut

I have yet to see the movie Sordid Lives, a comedy that The Other Half raves about. But the film has been turned into a series, and based on this preview (which plays like a preview for a movie), I'm going to have to see it soon. I want to be up to speed when the series debuts! The show will star many of the same stars as the movie, including Olivia Newton-John, Leslie Jordan, Bonnie Bedelia, Leslie Jordan and Rue McClannahan. It looks great. Check it out.

WARNING: Probably NSFW, with some cussing, as much nudity as YouTube will allow, and oh yeah, the gay thing.

Guilty Pleasures: Songs to Get a Party Started

In a continuation of the previous post, these are four songs that will get a dance floor hopping. You might not personally like them (or maybe you just won't admit it), but request one of them at a dance club sometime, and watch the floor fill up. I've done it, and it works!

Today's dance music can be so boring and repetitive (I know, I'm old, but that doesn't make me wrong). This is what good dance floor or party music is to me. Crank up your speakers, and get the party started!

#1 - Xanadu by Olivia Newton-John & ELO
#2 - Dancing Queen by ABBA
#3 - Into the Groove by Madonna
#4 - One by One by Cher

Guilty Pleasures: Xanadu

Illustration from source, Towleroad.com

OK, we're back to the odd things I like. Xanadu, starring Olivia Newton-John. Yeah, it's cheesy, and at times relentlessly stupid. But for some reason, I just dig it. That said, I had no idea it was a Broadway musical. I'm not sure if I can wrap my brain around that.

Kenneth Walsh (of Kenneth in the 212) is filling in for blogger extrordinaire Andy Towle this week at Towleroad.com, and has this review: Xanadu: On Broadway (Seriously).

And since I can't mention Xanadu without running a clip of it, here you go!

Sphere: Related Content

Careers Cut Short #2: Olivia Newton-John

In part two, we come upon one of the more confusing cases of "Careers Cut Short." Olivia is an extraordinarily talented singer, pretty, and has that charming accent. How did her hit-making career stall out? Given the continued success of Grease to attract an audience, I just don't get it.

I'm far from a music critic, but Olivia, beyond being a good singer, seems to have a innate talent for it. In the song A Little More Love (and countless others), she organically changes the phrasing of each chorus. A less talented singer would come off contrived. I'm glad she pops up on the reality shows on occasion, but what the heck happened here? She hasn't charted since Soul Kiss in 1985? Well, not exactly true. In 1990, there was The Grease Megamix. Check it out.


Check Out: OliviaNewtonJohn.com