I have always said I had no musical guilty pleasures. If I were to drop dead in the street, and my iPod was still playing, I would not feel the need to explain any of the songs on it, if you know, a miracle occurred and I came back to life.
That said, here is a trio of songs that absolutely kill me for the right reasons, and knowing my audience, might just plain ol' kill you. BUT...I have no regrets. This is pop music at its finest.
16 comments:
I listened all the way through to give them a real chance. Loathed the first one with a capital "L". Gave the Pet Shop Boys a pass for the sake of nostalgia, and I'm glad John Mayer erased them both by being something I could sink my teeth into.
I don't know anything about him except that he both dated Taylor Swift, and filled in for Jerry Garcia in The Dead. His ability to mimic Jerry's guitar is pretty impressive from what I've seen in videos.
"Perfectly Lonesome" is perfectly good white boy soul. Cool "Leslie" guitar solo.
No bullshit at all.
Thanks for sharing.
Some of my "guilty" pop pleasures are: Pete Wingfield's "Eighteen With A Bullet", Dobie Gray's "Drift Away", and Debbie Gibson's "Only In My Dreams".
Right now I'm fascinated by Childish Gambino's "This Is America". It's not pop but it isn't my usual obscurity.
Good idea for a post. Was only familiar with the Pet Shop Boys tune but I totally get how the other tunes could be guilty pleasures. My John Mayer guilty pleasure is "Half of My Heart" (at least I think that's what its called).
However, the first thing I thought of when I read the post was Bon Jovi. I hate Bon Jovi, a tough thing to do when you live in North Jersey, apparently. For some reason, though, I have always liked "Edge of a Broken Heart" a B-side/soundtrack tune. Its standard Bon Jovi, but it doesn't trigger my gag factor like the rest of his catalog. Go figure.
So that's my confession.
Forgot about the John Mayer, good song. Have a nice weekend Sal!
they're all well-crafted (tho Pet Shop Boys underwhelm me vocally), but lack an emotional connection for me. Always thought of John Mayer as the guy who inherited Jeff Healy's audience.
Mine are Breathe's "How Can I Fall" and that Spandau Ballet song
I love that guilty idea from Elvis!
You want guilty? -- The B side to the argument for me isn't if what i listen to is a guilty pleasure or isn't appropriately cool but do I challenge myself enough, look far enough afield, is my listening too comfortable? And in this day of instant digital access / gratification am I too quick to dismiss a song if it doesn't grab me in a few seconds.
Have a great long weekend all!
What's not to love. All great records. Music is never having to say you're sorry.
Mine are the most embarrassing of all, but I don't care:
"And We Danced" by The Hooters
"Take on Me" by A-ha
"Don't Let Him Know" by Prism
The whole "ASIA" album
I've never been afraid to proclaim my love for KISS, The Carpenters, Rhino's 25-disk Super Hits of the 70s set, anything that was played on Dr. Demento, American Idol and "Call Me Maybe".
Music is the best and I'll say goodbye to love...
Love the Take That & Pet Shop Boys. Always thought of Back For Good as a seriously good pop song. I saw Take That at Wembley Stadium a good few years ago, a couple of days after seeing AC/DC in Glasgow that was my choice Take That was the wifes and Take That were louder and, if I'm honest, more entertaining.
I always thought Back For Good was a great song, the kind you keep till later in the gig after building up a head of steam, anyway they threw it out after only a few numbers. I thought that was extremely bold of them but I didn't know that what they had later on was Never Forget, holy shit I've never seen a band have such control over their audience.
Now that's another great pop song.
"Dancing Queen" - Abba
"Xanadu" - ONJ/ELO
"Roar" - Katy Perry
"Since You Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
"Die in Your Arms" - Justin Bieber
There. I feel so much better finally admitting it to someone.
Nice to see Dusty and the showgirls from "A Hard Day's Night".
John Mayer is someone I want to punch in the face very, very much. That said, he has written MANY good pop songs. Most of the "Battle Studies" record is really good! And I've always liked the Pet Shop Boys.
Commenting on some things I saw here:
I think Bon Jovi's "Edge of a Broken Heart" became a hit for Vixen. and it's a song I like a lot.
the Hooters were a super good band. For 5 minutes. "All You Zombies" is a great song.
I have a ton of songs that are not critical darlings that I love. Poison's "Talk Dirty To Me". A lot of Motley Crue, Warrant, etc.
Lots of "mainstream" late 80's/90's rap. I love Taylor Swift. Love. Britney's "Toxic" and a ton of others. Some N'Synch and some Backstreet boys. Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You". "Hold An Old Friend's Hand" by Tiffany (title song of album #2!) is a favorite of mine. Juice Newton. Olivia Newton John's "Magic" gets me every time. So does "Hopelessly Devoted To You".
I will go to my grave saying that Mariah's "We Belong Together" is a legit great soul song. Brian Adams "Cuts Like A Knife" as well. Whitney's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" is perfect. I love the 70's and 80's Rod Stewart trash that everyone hates. Carley Rae Jaspen is great. Everything. Celine Dion's "Call The Man" makes the hair on my arm stand up. Mandy Moore's "Coverage" is a flat-out great album. Cyndi Lauper is a goddamn national treasure and I will fight anyone who dismisses her. Mick Jagger's second and third solo albums are great. Donna Summer has more great songs in her catalog than a lot of "Classic Rock" bands. The Jacksons' records from the mid 70's "Triumph" and "Destiny" are great. Kesha's latest album is great front to back. Harry Styles solo album may be even better. "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga is the best pop song of the first decade of this century. And she has maybe 10 other super good ones. Madonna's "Like A Prayer" album is a masterpiece. And she has 20 great songs besides that. "99 Luftballoons" could play on a constant loop forever and I'd be happy. Phil Collins' first solo album is great.
That's off the top of my head.
Clearly Elvis Costello is not Catholic or Jewish -- he'd know that the pleasure is DOUBLED when you feel guilty about it.
I'm with you, Sal. If I enjoy a song, I don't feel guilty about it. Clearly the idea would be to find stuff you truly don't think is good, but enjoy anyway, like my weakness for Jim Steinman solo (and even Fire Inc on the Streets Of Fire soundtrack, which is beyond parody). Bon Jovi's "Wanted: Dead Or Alive" would be another good example except that it's a good song!
I love Take That's "Back For Good." Just a perfect ballad, and how ironic the lads finally broke through in the US when the cocky Robbie Williams decided to go solo.
The Pet Shop Boys don't count -- they're too good craftsmen to even come close to guilty. :)
John Mayer has two albums in a Laurel Canyon vein that are terrific -- "Born and Raised" and "Paradise Valley" but he's such a dick in interviews that almost anything by him becomes a guilty pleasure. Those who dismissed him ages ago should check either out.
But maybe I feel a little sheepish when singing along to Kansas and "Dust In The Wind" since I remember feeling it intensely as a child and now recognize bathos when I hear it. But the Seventies is filled with stuff like that and "Seasons In The Sun" ("we had joy, we had fun...) so it's all low-hanging fruit.
And now I'm going to go back to replaying the opening riff to the first ASIA album over and over in my head. Now THAT'S a guilty pleasure.
John Denver, 'Rocky Mountain High'
Neil Diamond, 'Sweet Caroline'
The Cowsills, 'The Rain, The Park, and Other Things'
@Christine, I LOVE 'Don't Let Him Know' by Prism! I still have that 45! Great choice!
REO Speedwagon - Roll With the Changes
Robbie Williams- Angels
Ratt - Round and Round
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