Joshua Allen of The Morning News contemplates the length of a perfect pop song.
What else is at 2:42? “Don’t Do Me Like That” by Tom Petty. “Divine Hammer” by the Breeders. “Helplessly Hoping” by Crosby, Stills & Nash. “Get Up” by R.E.M. “California Dreamin’” by the Mamas & the Papas. “This Charming Man” by the Smiths.MP3: The Mamas and the Papas - California Dreamin' (YSI)
You need more proof? Jerk. Let’s look at Sgt. Pepper. “Lovely Rita” is two minutes, 42 seconds. It delivers that psychedelic vibe and a coda but then gets the hell out of your life.
Compare that to “With a Little Help From My Friends.” It’s a mere two seconds longer but feels like it drags on for hours. Maybe it’s Ringo, maybe it’s the tedious melody—or maybe it’s the two goddamn seconds.
Then over here we have “Good Morning Good Morning,” rightfully discarded by the masses as a throwaway. Why? Two minutes, 41 seconds. Hey, Beatles, maybe next time think about tacking on an extra second to give a song the grandeur and majesty it deserves.
MP3: Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - Don't Do Me Like That (YSI)
MP3: The Beatles - Lovely Rita (YSI)
Just an interesting topic. I actually could not even find a 2:42 minute version of California Dreaming. They all ended at 2:41.515. Maybe he was rounding it up!
Speaking of pop music, Weezer is still on the hunt for the perfect pop song. The 6th studio album (the "red" album) comes this summer. The first single, Pork and Beans, is out next week and KROQ leaked it early! The boys seems to have grown up a bit. Well maybe not judging by the lyrics but they could honestly give a rat's ass... Fashion note, last night at the Spoon show, I saw the return of cardigan sweaters, was that a perfectly timed marketing scheme to bring the Buddy Holly days before the album's release??
They say I need some Rogaine to put in my hair
Work it out at the gym to fit my underwear
Oakley makes the shades that transform a tool
You’d hate for the kids to think that you lost your coolI’mma do the things that I wanna do
I ain’t got a thing to prove to you
I’ll eat my candy with the pork and beans
Excuse my manners if I make a scene
I ain’t gonna wear the clothes that you like
I’m finally dandy with the me inside
One look in the mirror and I’m tickled pink
I don’t give a hoot about what you thinkEveryone likes to dance to a happy song (Hey, hey)
With a catchy chorus and beat so they can sing along (Hey, hey)
Timbaland knows the way to reach the top of the charts
Maybe if I work with him I can perfect the artI’mma do the things that I wanna do
I ain’t got a thing to prove to you
I’ll eat my candy with the pork and beans
Excuse my manners if I make a scene
I ain’t gonna wear the clothes that you like
I’m finally dandy with the me inside
One look in the mirror and I’m tickled pink
I don’t give a hoot about what you thinkNo I don’t care,
I don’t careI’mma do the things that I wanna do
I ain’t got a thing to prove to you
I’ll eat my candy with the pork and beans
Excuse my manners if I make a scene
I ain’t gonna wear the clothes that you like
I’m finally dandy with the me inside
One look in the mirror and I’m tickled pink
I don’t give a hoot about what you think
MP3: Pork and Beans (KROQ Radio Rip)
2 comments:
Back to the basics for Weezer?
http://saynoradio.com/2008/04/15/weezer/
every pop song will be under scrutiny from this point on...
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