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Underground > Radio & Music >

Pop Corner

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00:58 / 22.10.02

My Sugababes fixation has returned with a vengeance. New album follows in the footsteps of the first in that even the relative duffers on it (just two) aren't really all that bad. It's aces in that Freak Like Me and Round Round don't stick out as being noticably better than the rest of the tracks. There's some great, punchy production and the whole thing's got sassy attitude running through it. They even nick Sting's Shape of My Heart and make me not hate it!

And if they release the poptastic Angels with Dirty Faces as the next single, then follow it up with the rubber electrofunk of Switch, world domination will be inevitable.

Regrettable Juvenilia

17:55 / 22.10.02

I've gone completely nuts for that Cristina/Redman song. At first I thought it was shamelessly bandwagonesque and cheesy - and it is - but now I've realised how good it would sound turned up to 11 if your bloodstream were just a little bit intoxicated. Plus you've got to love the bit where Red says "For dead presidents I pimp like cutty rows!".

Also still loving the Justin "It's just Justin" Timberlake single. How good is that bit at the end, after the guys from Clipse have finished, where he goes "Drums" and it just changes into a completely different tune? Ah, haterz don't know what they missin' when they be dissin'.

23:03 / 22.10.02

How annoying is the Nelly/Kelly effort? Very annoying indeed.

Heard the Jay-Z/Beyonce one and thought it was a bit bland - I'd hoped for better things really...

02:00 / 23.10.02

"Also still loving the Justin "It's just Justin" Timberlake single. How good is that bit at the end, after the guys from Clipse have finished, where he goes "Drums" and it just changes into a completely different tune? Ah, haterz don't know what they missin' when they be dissin'. "

'Zackly. I just got SoulSeek downloaded, thanks to the recommendation of someone on this board ('Audiogalaxy' thread) and that was one of the first things I got, along with Golden Boy and Miss Kittin's 'Rippin Kittin', which I'd say is Human League-esque robo-pop. I love Miss Kittin.

I've been listening to these two all day, and the novelty has far from worn. Now, if that download of ODB's 'Sussudio' would just hurry it's ass up, I'll be jizzing pop like some kind of fun-crazed maniac.

And yet... I also like Dischord Records. How eclectic am I?!

Tuna Ghost: Pratt knot hero

02:10 / 23.10.02

are you all fucking mad, or are you students being ironic. Its pop music for gods sake, when you favourite artist gets dropped by their record company it will be because of a pop artist. Holly Valance, craig David, what in the name of all that is holy are you on. I was told that their is some serious music discussion on Barbelith, but really, think about what you have done, now go and stand in a corner.

Yeah? Well, I'm a classically trained musician, so to me you're all a bunch of fucking neanderthals who wouldn't know Good Music if I shoved it up your ass with a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle. You are all messing with forces you will never, not in a million years, no matter how many pop records you buy, never never never understand...properly.

Heh. Actually, I have been introduced to a whole new group of people who have begun to show me that pop can be a lot of fun when ingested properly by consenting adults. This is considered sacriligious where I come from, so don't tell anyone. But I am secretly watching this thread with interest (now, anyway. I only just found it).

I'm also very interested in Japanese pop culture, which, if I understand correctly, is even more mass produced and shorter lived than American. Burns brighter, but for half as long, as they say.

13:20 / 23.10.02

i really really love the new j timberlake song. i also don't like the nelly/kelly song but mainly because they look so bad in that video.
anyway, my favourite pop at the moment is the new sugababes song (which i think should have been "virgin sexy" my favourite on their album). the sugababes can do no wrong in my book. i was actually really thrilled when they won a Q award this week in the midst of all the white guitar boy back slapping that was going on.
i have grown to like the ketchup song. but they have to sack their stylist because their clothes are really lame.
what else?
flyboy, that christina/redman song gets really boring after a while. i used to love it but it's just the same thing over and over. i love christina's outfit in the video though.

jUne, a sunshiny month

14:58 / 24.10.02

i love christina's outfit in the video though.
who doesn't ? it's hot in the best hot way... her little red thing just makes me nervous only by reminding it... now, i'm not into the track at all, even with redman doin his shit...

Regrettable Juvenilia

19:27 / 24.10.02

Ah, we've been here before, haven't we jade, with you and Britney, as I recall? Women dressed like that are good for fucking (and possibly killing), but their music sucks... dude. That's essentially it, isn't it?

Goodness Gracious Meme

20:05 / 24.10.02

bugger, can't remember the name of the gruop that's playing in this netcafe - but just to generally say that I'm enjoying alot of the really poppy two-step that's around at the moment.

More when i'm less vague...

05:29 / 07.11.02

I just moved into a house with a radio after a few weeks without, and I therefore feel entitled to say anyone who doesn't like Dirrty has something wrong with them. On the other hand, Dilemma isn't as good as I'd expected it to be - this is more a reflection on my expectations than its quality, though.

Also, last night at karaoke I learnt that Whenever Wherever sports the couplet:

Lucky that my breasts are small and humble
So you don't mistake them for mountains.

Which is possibly the best lyric since 'animals strike curious poses/they feel the heat/the heat between me and you' in When Doves Cry.

09:22 / 07.11.02

Erm... Fly? That was june who said that about Christina's outfit, and I don't think he was saying she was only good for fucking and killing. Rather that he likes it, but persnally doesn't like her music.

I just thought I'd save a fight there.

Regrettable Juvenilia

10:10 / 07.11.02

june, jade - I get them confused. I'll take 'em all on though.

Everyone needs to listen to 'Can't Hold Us Down' off the new Cristina album, which pretty much sums up something I've been trying to explain to peeps all year (possibly longer). It won't make a difference, though, there will always be some misguided souls who think denigrating a female artist because she dresses too provocatively is not only justifiable but actually something to do with feminism, rather than its antithesis...

jUne, a sunshiny month

08:14 / 08.11.02

pin : That was june who said that about Christina's outfit, and I don't think he was saying she was only good for fucking and killing. Rather that he likes it, but persnally doesn't like her music.
I just thought I'd save a fight there.

oooo thanks pin, thanks.i'd rather jump into an empty swimming pool than have a new "talk" about showing breasts'n'feminizm theories with the one flyboy...

Flyboy june, jade - I get them confused. I'll take 'em all on though.

as far as you don't call me Laila or sumthing, everything's fine, fly.

Everyone needs to listen to 'Can't Hold Us Down' off the new Cristina album, which pretty much sums up something I've been trying to explain to peeps all year (possibly longer).

yeah, longer.

It won't make a difference, though, there will always be some misguided souls who think denigrating a female artist because she dresses too provocatively is not only justifiable but actually something to do with feminism, rather than its antithesis...

man o man, do we have to continue this anti-exchange of perception of things ?
fly, don't get me wrong, and please, let's stop this : i got nothing against provocatively dressing, really. i just cant' stand that some "artists " GOT to go provocative (it could be by their dressing, sure, but also only by their attitude, also) for reaching more audience. and i not only "blame" the ones who shows their ass, but also the ones who keep on watching MTV when Christina shows her very little red covering nothing stuff (which makes her really, strongly, uhm... well... a BIG object of desire, ok).
now, if you want us to continue this pretty sterile discuss, let me grab something to drink (us misguided souls need to drink sometimes, too). or can we stop, please ?

Ê

Our Lady of The Two Towers

09:37 / 08.11.02

Dread Pirate Crunchy
Also, last night at karaoke I learnt that Whenever Wherever sports the couplet:
Lucky that my breasts are small and humble
So you don't mistake them for mountains.

Not sure why Shakira is supposed to be 'crazy' and 'nutty', has she done a cover of 'Madness (It's all in the Mind)' or something?

Regrettable Juvenilia

10:46 / 08.11.02

june, the only reason this conversation keeps going round in circles is that you seem unable to grasp a fairly simple idea. So the conversation goes like this:

me: "Isn't judging a female artist by the way she dresses a little misogynistic?"

june: "I don't judge female artists by the way they dress - they can dress however they want! Unless they feel they have to dress like whores."

Now, if you wish to expand your position so that it is any way a refutation of what I've been saying, that'd be great. For example, you seem to be fumbling towards the conclusion that you object only when female artists are coerced into dressing a certain way in order to sell records - in which case, how would you suggest the distinction be made between the above and artists who are creatively expressing their own sexuality? If you're only going to repeat the same contradictory statements (and I'm now completely confused as to how you reconcile your contempt for those awful MTV-watching men leering over scantily-dressed female artists with your "hey, what red-blooded male *wouldn't* like that outfit, hubba hubba!" remark) - then yes, this will again be like banging our mutual heads against a wall.

11:06 / 08.11.02

Note also Shakira's "new" song, Objection, which has a video which once again proves that a) she was born to shake booty, and we mean shake and b) she has a REAL thing about the size of her breasts. I can't see a problem, but she evidently can, and proves this in the video, notably in the cartoon sequence where she deflates the silicon-enhanced pair of some other girl trying to steal her man. Then she wiggles her butt.

And I fucking hate that Nelly/Kelly effort. Tiresome, repetetive, ballad-POWAH for the RnB generation. And a whole room of drunk people doing the Nelly-high-pitched-"aah!" for the whole song is quickly very very very annoying.

Justin gets better by the day though.

11:09 / 08.11.02

Also on the hate-list: the new J-Lo, "Jenny from the Block".

"I used to have a little now I have a lot
but I'm still Jenny from the block"

Right. Yeah. You're still the same old you. You think we haven't seen the photos and film clips of that early so-called career? The fact the tune's shit doesn't help, either.

Regrettable Juvenilia

19:01 / 25.06.03

FRESH for Summer twenty-zero-three, you SUCKAS. Lots of great summer tunes starting to emerge:

'Feel Good Time' - Pink sings Beck. Fantastic. If Beck isn't going to make another Midnite Vultures, then this will more than suffice for the time being. Pink seems to have found the song she's been waiting for, ie it's not just straight-up pop or r&b, but it's not whiny faux-teen-angst stuff written by that woman out of Four Non Blondes either. Produced by William Orbit, but not really distinctively so, if anyone cares.

'Crazy In Love' - a huge relief for those of us who thought 'Bonnie & Clyde '03' was sub-par for both Beyonce and Hov. I find it hard to believe that in this day and age even the most cloth-eared Evanescence fan needs me to tell them how instantly, instinctively brilliant this song is. Twitchy verse, huge chorus, insanely catchy "uh-oh uh-oh" bit, effortless guest verse in which Jay-Z drops what I think is a new style for him, but best of all must be what I think in technical muso terms may be called the 'bridge': "Got me looking, so crazy, my baby / I'm not myself these days, I'm foolish, I don't do this / I'm playing myself, baby I don't care..." Single of the year to date.

And I'm probably too late to talk about 'Ignition' and 'No Good Advice', but I'll get to them. To me, pop fans!

(Image courtesy of Antipopper, which as you may gather is not anti-pop at all.)

19:14 / 25.06.03

Yeah, the Beyonce single's a rocket. As my pal put it: 'I'm just relieved that there's some good pop not being done by the Neptunes.' Single of the decade, more like.

Does 'Excuse Me, Miss' by the ubiquitous Roc count as pop? That's good.

Reports are that the third track on GA's album, which follows the first two singles is, and I know this is hard to believe, even better.

Oh, oh! I really like Linkin Park's 'Faint' for it's unusually heavy take on pop music; 's got a really great melody, then rockouts, repeat until fade. Great vid, too.

Matthew Fluxington

19:27 / 25.06.03

Yeah, "Crazy In Love" has got to be the big mainstream pop hit of the year, followed by R Kelly's "Ignition (Remix)" and Killer Mike's "ADIDAS." The majority of that Beyonce album is fucking BRILLIANT, by the way. I really hope that "Yes" ends up being a huge hit too.

Do I need to remind you that an Outkast double cd set is coming?

It's COMING!

No star here laces

08:48 / 26.06.03

No, Sean Paul's "Get Busy" is clearly the single of the decade. Months after first hearing it I'm still in awe of its utter pop genius. It's so perfect for so many moments. Sitting in your car on your way to a gig. Sitting in a pub slightly pissed and jumping up to badly attempt jamaican-style grinding with the nearest person of appropriate gender. Slightly swaggering to it as it blasts out of every car on the street in Dalston.

God I love this song. The way he just slides into the chorus from the verse and you almost don't notice at first, and the flow is so good and the words are perfect for the summer if you're wearing new clothes and feeling like you look hot. Genius.

His collab with Blu Cantrell on "Breathe" is fantastic too.

10:09 / 26.06.03

Got to say I'm so with you "Ignition" - I was wondering when that was going to pop up on here. What a fantastic record. In fact, I think I'll change my profile now in tribute. Even tempted me to look at R. Kelly's back catalogue - has he done anything else this damn good?

No star here laces

11:32 / 26.06.03

"I wish" and "Fiesta" are great, but nothing quite touches "Ignition" which is doubly great if you hear it on the album cos he plays the original first and then segues straight into the remix, which makes that lead-in bit even better...

Matthew Fluxington

11:53 / 26.06.03

There are some really good songs on the R.Kelly/Jay-Z album that came out about a year or so ago - I recommend "Honey" "Shake Yo Body" and "P.U.S.S.Y."

The Natural Way

11:26 / 27.06.03

I know Justin's just doing Wacko, but 'Dance with Me' is great. As are all things Beyonce.

And, yes, Sean Paul! Fucking gold.

But the best thing: that fucking Dizzie Rascal tune (I believe it's called 'I Luv') - shit hot. Sounds like fucking DJ Rapture colliding with Larndarn Hip Hop. Rock!

No star here laces

14:38 / 27.06.03

I remember trying to get people on this forum to listen to that track months back. It's not happening...

What to do tonight? Dizzee is at Fabric, but Sean Paul is at Ocean! Shit!

08:35 / 28.06.03

Oh well here in Australia we really commiserate with such problems. But I am psychotically excited that JUSTIN IS COMING!!!

The interactive top ten on video hits this morning was the best ever! Amongst Pink, R Kelly, Beyonce, Aaliyah, Punjabi MC, 50 Cent, and Sean Paul the two really lame annoying songs were easily forgotten. And I'm with Shoelaces on Get Busy, single of the year amidst heavy competition.

And the dance those girls do in the video, where they are kind of on all fours matching dance steps and shimmying their hips is incredible.

19:48 / 30.06.03

To be fair 'laces, I had forgotten about S(hee)ean Paul's voodoo-ragga classic when I wrote that sentence.

"Stop banging on de damn furnace, y'hear me now!"

It is very, very good.

Matthew Fluxington

22:07 / 30.06.03

Dizzee Rascal's Boy In Da Corner is definitely a brilliant record. I don't know if it really qualifies as pop in the US - I can't imagine anything off of this becoming a real hit, it's just so extreme and bizarre. It is far more likely that there will be a lot of US hip hop hits sounding just like this within six or seven months. "I Luv U" and "Fix Up Look Sharp" are instant classics.

Matthew Fluxington

22:09 / 30.06.03

Also wonderful:

Mya "My Love Is Like...Whoa"
Fountains Of Wayne "Stacy's Mom"

Regrettable Juvenilia

15:34 / 05.10.03

If you want [this thread] to stay, I'll never leave!
If you want [this thread] to stay, love endlessly!
If you want [this thread] to stay, I'll never leave!
If you want [this thread] to stay, if you want [this thread] to stay, I'll never leave you!

Uh-oh, uh-oh!

Regrettable Juvenilia

16:53 / 31.08.05

REVIVE! 'Cos the really good pop stuff of summar '05 seems to be coming at the end, like the weather. And 'cos I love this thread, a nice little place to talk about various tunes that probably couldn't sustain a thread on their own. Currently I am feeling these:

Sugababes - 'Push The Button' - extremely catchy. Has a really nice light touch to it, which seems a good direction for the Sugababes to go in since I don't think the whole "mainstream pop that sounds like dirty electro house" can be taken any further.

Charlotte Church - 'Call My Name' - in contrast, this is totally unsubtle, full-on raunch. This is cake. Cake with rum in it. With brandy sauce. SAUCE.

Tatu - 'All About Us' - more melodrama! Video features one of them shooting a man in the face!

Franz Ferdinand - 'Do You Want To' - should this be in this thread? Who cares! It makes me want to get very drunk.

10:26 / 24.02.06

Remy Ma brings this thread back.

'Conceited' has 'nothing special' written all over it - functional but phoned-in Scott Storch bubbling/Orientalist/crunk-lite beat like yeah yeah we loved it the first fifty times but come on! But Remy brings a whip-sharp flow like the fiercest drag queen you ever tried to avoid eye contact with, raising standard-issue rap arrogance through seven kinds of wtf! intensity to straight-up glamour sublimity. Then, because Remy made you stick with it through the Tuff Jew genericism, you notice little details like the, oh, transcendental violin spasm that rides out the end of each line.

So the gist of this song is that Remy looks too good. Too good for her jewellery, for her clothes, too good to be fucking you. So basically it's rnb Right Said Fred, if RSF were terrifyingly cool and sexy and could drop lyrics like, 'now who's that peaking in my window? Nobody, cause I live in a penthouse', or, 'poke it out now, roll with it, my thong's showing, that's cool, my shoes go with it'. Her shoes go with it! Okay, not only is that the best one-liner since Jay retired, she colour co-ordinates her thong with her shoes! That is to be envied.

Plus, not to go on, but there's also the no-doubt best lyric of 06: 'Look in the mirror, like, what the fuck? Damn, I look good!' I think that at least twice a day! I am so happy to finally be represented in popular culture.

12:40 / 24.02.06

"Do You Want To"s video annoys the shit out of me. It's those fun-loving unpretentous boys crashing an art exhibit because it's so pretentious. See, this would be a great video if I didn't think Franz Ferdinand's major concern in life is their matching outfits, carefully designed and calculated.

16:23 / 24.02.06

Does Bowling For Soup count?

The Boy (now aged 11) has gone nuts for "1985" after, I think, hearing it on the soundtrack for Sky High. At first I thought it was a weird, cynical hybrid of Blink 182 aimed at parents nostalgic for the 1980s, simply by dropping as many brand names/old pop landmarks as possible, Then I started listening to the verses, and man if it isn't a great little narrative about nostalgia and music and joy and disappoinment, and it still makes me want to jump up and down.

I also like that Bowling for Soup's members are all kinda paunchy.

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