mac1

Yeah, yeah, I know, its not something you see much of these days, but what do you think rank up there as the most well written singles ever to be released?

Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
Some of the most beautiful guitar work ever to grace a single. Perfect lyrics, perfectly sung, pefectly played, perfectly mixed down, sheer perfection.

Sting And The Police - Every Breath You Take
A genius riff that you couldn't hope to ever write form the basis for this classic. Remarkably dark lyrics for a song that people have on occasion played at weddings though! In terms of songwriting ability, Sting rates up there with the best of them.

Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower
Jimi took what was a somewhat average Bob Dilon track and turned it into a classic rock masterpiece. The diversity of the overdubs in this track is quite broad too, with Jimi playing (if memory serves me correctly) 3 electric guitars, and acoustic and even a 12 string for one part.

Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Another track from the Electric Ladyland album, and featuring one of the most memorable openings ever. This track (along with the likes of Purple Haze, Villanova Juction, Machine Gun and Red House) almost transcends music at times. At times it no longer matters about the noted he plays, there is just so much feeling in his lead playing, a quality very few rock musicians can claim.

Santana - Smooth (Featuring Rob Thomas)
A modern pop classic (and that really is a rarity). A true summer track. With his album Supernatural Santana showed he still had what it takes to make great music that can appeal to the mass market. So far the album has sold over 25 million copies, mostly off the back of this track.

littlemissattitude

Sting is definitely an exquisite songwriter. That's what happens when you get an actual literate individual writing songs.

I'll have to think about this a bit. I'm very hazy as to what is considered "pop" as opposed to rock, adult contemporary, and several other categories. For example, even for all the controversy surrounding it and him, I find Eminem's Stan to be an amazingly well-crafted song. But, is it pop? Is it rap? Hip-hop? (I still haven't figured out the difference between those two - probably says something about my age.) At first, I dismissed it because of all of the hype surrounding it. But then, I actually listened to it. There is a lot of depth there.

An older song - Dock of the Bay, by Otis Redding. Such a simple song, but it says just the right thing to capture that mood of loneliness. But is it pop? Blues?

And then there is Exit, by U2 - an exceptionally moody, atmospheric song that was reputedly inspired by "Executioner's Song", Norman Mailer's book about Gary Gilmore. But I don't think that's anywhere near pop. And it wasn't even a single, just a cut on "The Joshua Tree". But in a collection of nearly perfect songs, it is my favorite on the CD. Simple, spare, just enough to set a mood.

Well, like I said, I'll think about this some more. Maybe I'll think of some actual pop singles that qualify.

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mac1

I was taking the term "pop" in its most literal sense ... ie "popular music". I guess anything that is released as a single could be taken to be pop to some small degree at least. Singles are after all usually three-and-a-half minute commercial tracks aimed at the mass market.

Yep, I'd definately agree, despite not being a huge fan of Eminem personally, Stan is a quite remarkable track. The lyrics are very cleverly written, the way it is put together is sublime and despite a stomach-churning bass riff, its remarkably laid-back. Clever track, very clever track.

Exit is a great track, but I havent heard Dock of the Bay. It sounds like something I would like so I will have to check that one out.

littlemissattitude

"Dock of the Bay" is a classic. But make sure you find the Otis Redding version, not one of the inferior covers (Michael Bolton's comes to mind as particularly hideous, although it sold millions - avoid it at all costs; he does evil things to a perfectly wonderful song).

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knivesout

I really like nearly everything Sting did, with and without The Police, the last two albums didnt do too much for me. He has so much he can do that no one else does without jumping on that damn electronic bandwagon.


Robbie Williams usually comes out with some very good pop songs and I confess to an abiding wekaness for Madonna. Her music I mean, yea, the music.

Prince had a lot of good songs too, as did George Michael, on occasion.

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littlemissattitude

Dirty Laundry - Don Henley - this is a great song that actually says something and does it in a clever way. What he is doing in this song, if you haven't heard it, is taking the broadcast media - especially television - down a peg or two by criticizing their sensationalistic approach to reporting the news. Serious stuff, no? Well, yeah, it is, but he has managed to put insightful commentary into a song that rocks.

And, sort of from the same source: Desperado - Eagles - this is just the perfect song, maybe my favorite of all time.

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dwndrgn

LittleMiss' last post regarding Desperado by the Eagles made me realize that I love songs with a story. Maybe I'm a country lover at heart? I don't know but I really like those songs that are basically telling you a story, especially a story that makes me laugh.

As far as well-written pop songs, from your post title I assumed you mean specifically the lyrics. However, I see that you've gone into the musical side. I can only comment on the lyrics since I've no clue what good music is other than the fact that I enjoy it - I don't know a riff from a raff .

American Pie by Don Maclean is a great one. There are so many different allusions that I've still not figured them all out. Same goes for Hotel California, another Eagles song. War Pigs is a song that says nothing subtly, but still makes it seem as if the lyrics were 'translated', someone would be upset.

Well, there are tons more but it is lunchtime and I'm hearing rumblings that I must go satisfy

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littlemissattitude

dwndrgn, you are absolutely right about "Hotel California". Another one of my favorites. As is "American Pie". Whenever that song is on the radio in the car, I drive my mom crazy by translating all of the references for her. It's amazing how much of pop music history McLean managed to fit in. Even for a seven-minute song, there is a lot in there.

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mac1

Yeah Hotel California is an amazing track. A spectacular bass guitar riff, great lyrics sung greatly, and the guitar outro is beautiful.

mac1

Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight
A prime example of how to write an amazing song. Just Phil and his drums, a haunting vocal effect, a tiny bit of synth, and a ton of emotion. The part where he kicks in with that drum fill is a classic rock moment copyed in so many songs after, but never to the same effect.

I, Brian

Genesis was a band I never really got into (or listened to properly) - but in terms of drums and vocals, always thought "Mama" by Genesis to be a particularly distinguished track.

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angrybuddhist

I really love Genesis, too. Especially the early years with Peter Gabriel singing lead.

But you can't beat the writing of Todd Rundgren for a "pop" song. "Hello, it's Me", "I Saw the Light", "We Gotta Get You a Woman", and "Can We Still Be Friends".

kaneda

I would say that Ben folds five - smoke is one of THE most perfect lyrical content songs ever. The man knows how to write good lyrics.

lucifer_principle

Just listen to Eminem sing. To me rap takes the cake when it comes to lyrics. Pop music, well...by definition sings about whatever sells