I like that Len song, “Steal My Sunshine.” It’s bouncy, summery, catchy, happy, and feels like the 90’s to me. I also like Rhianna’s “Umbrella.” It’s one of the better pop songs of late, in my opinion. There are lots more, but those stand out the most.
ABBA and Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus. Take a chance on me and the party song are songs I normally wouldn’t like, but once I heard them they just made me move because they were so harmonious and upbeat. Oh…and the Spice girls.
i agree with Steal My Sunshine. Also, when i think about this question there are so many. So many from my childhood, not nescessarily catchy or bubble gummy but still good pop songs. Some Elton John (Island Girl), some Wham, how bout that song by Wang Chung “Everybody have fun tonight, Everybody Wang Chung tonight.” Madonna – good pop songs. Mariah Carey – good pop songs. i don’t think it could be narrowed down to just one.
Basic “Tin Pan Alley” ABAB construction on a English pop record with guitars and claps on the downbeat. Simple harmonies. Cool. And all at 2:24. What 13-year-old who likes boys doesn’t want some cute guy like Paul or John or George (or all three!) singing to her how he wants to hold her hand? How sweet.
But the other one I thought of was Strangelove by Depeche Mode. Dance pop for grownups. Nice four-on-the-floor stomp, the meter of the lyrics was dead on the beat. Lyrically, it’s one of the more clever songs Martin Gore’s written.
Gotta disagree with Mylie Cyrus. None of her songs has been around long enough to qualify in my opinion. In order to be a perfect pop song it has to have longevity. Will it sound as good 10–20 years from now, will some Disney tween do a bad remix?
@Megan64 thank you thank you, thank you. That song is awesome. Its my favorite driving music when I go on my road trips. My children can’t believe I love that song so much. I keep it on repeat for the longest. Oh yeah, I still Iike ‘What a Feelin’ too.
It’s from Sweden. It’s the first pop song I remember liking and it’s so super early 2000s. It basically summarize the early 2000s pop music-wise. Extremely catchy, love the key change from A major to B major at the end (and the F# minor piano part). The lyrics are very “pop”, the beat is classic early 2000s and I love all the twinkling sounds and chimes. Awesome song. :)
@Rufus_T_Firefly That’s rock and roll music. Pop is different. the best R&R song of all time would be Louie Louie, but I doubt anyone considers that pop.
@filmfann – As a musician and as someone who has worked inside the music industry for decades, I couldn’t disagree with you more… on both points. The Beatles AND rock and roll itself WERE indeed considered pop music during their emergence. ‘Pop’ is short for popular. Granted, pop music is a hell of a lot lamer these days, but today’s ADHD-affected audiences and mass-produced, cookie-cutter industry standards are to blame for that.