I like some current pop music!

Posted by: u5227470736789439 on 08 January 2010

I like some current pop music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYhrYHmUPn0

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours (live)

Real poise and real talent IMO. Not deep or usefully analysed perhaps, but splendid like the best popular music from any time in the last 110 years, surely - well at least IMO.

Most of the current crop must surely eat their hearts out in the face of something this fine!

Please post other modern pop music that is in the same league ...

ATB from George

Posted on: 09 January 2010 by Bananahead

Not really my sort of thing.

I prefer this

Colours fade

Posted on: 09 January 2010 by droodzilla

Hello George

I don't buy much rock/pop at all these days - not because I don't think it's any good, but because after thirty years of consuming it avidly, I feel that I've heard most of it before. There are more interesting adventures to be had, IMHO, in jazz and classical music.

However, one band (a duo, actually) I rate is Kings of Convenience. They've only released three albums in around ten years, and quality control is very high, with not a single duff track on any of them. There's a real commitment to the craft of songwriting with a strong Simon & Garfunkel infleunce. Also, if it helps, they're from Norway

. Anyway, here's the wonderfully mellow "Cayman Islands" from their second album:

Cayman Islands

And a nice live performance of "Power of not Knowing", from their latest album (song starts at 0:50):

Power of not Knowing

Good lyrics too:

I see you changing girl
From Day to Day
Impressed by and trying to imitate 
Those who are older
Those who are colder
Suddenly embarrassed by your age
  
A bigger blessing, girl
Is being young
The power of not knowing
Where you belong
I try so hard to keep it
Not to lose that secret 
Waiting for someone like you
To come along 
 
Maybe it was me
That made you old
Stole whatever it was that
Made you glow
A little touch of something 
A lot of work for nothing
And now a heart, once open,
Will be closed

Posted on: 09 January 2010 by nicnaim

quote:
Originally posted by GFFJ:
I like some current pop music!

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours (live)

Most of the current crop must surely eat their hearts out in the face of something this fine!

ATB from George

George,
My kids played this to death over the summer, and I must admit I really like as well, as it is a great pop song. There is something really rewarding about being introduced to new music by your own kids, shows they are exercising their own musical curiosity and showing good taste.

My daughter claims to hate all my twiddly jazz, but my son regularly raids my collection, so it cuts both ways.

Regards

Nic

Posted on: 09 January 2010 by Guido Fawkes

Please click here for the brightest pop music around today - IMHO. of course. There are some great folk and pop artists around at the moment.

Although I like the track you have selected George. it does seem a bit like a guy trying to impersonate the great Bob Marley. I find quite a few modern artists come across as impersonators of a popular artist or style. Thus when I find an artist with a spark of originality and something about them that is unique then my enthusiasm circuit is brought in to play. Many of these artists are musically component - sing well and play well - but they don't have what grabs me. Hence when an artist like BB comes along and has the magic of a unique approach and looks happy to be playing music then I'm drawn in.

Too many artists are gloomy, aggressive or just try to upset or shock, where as BB is simply trying to make the most joyous engaging music she can. The thing I like least is a song from somebody with lots of life experience, as I'm just not intersted - whereas somebody who dreams, creates something new and moves us away from the humdrum is my cup of horlicks.

Of course if the doom and gloom has a sense of humour then that's different - however Norwegian bands like Burzum are not for me.

Posted on: 09 January 2010 by GraemeH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQIowXjGGMI

Posted on: 09 January 2010 by BigH47

Not much there that hasn't been heard before IMO.

It's good to see that Basia has finally found a good voice to sing with. If that is how the new (2nd) album is I might even buy it.

Shame Stina didn't.

Posted on: 09 January 2010 by TomK

George,
The whole album is worth a listen. It's full of light jazzy pop with an occasional hint of Sufjan Stevens in there as well. The lyrics are very intimate and uncannily relevant in places to a strange situation I find myself in involving someone very dear to me who is a long way away. It's a real personal favourite of mine.

Posted on: 09 January 2010 by Lontano

quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
Shame Stina didn't.

That's a superb album that Stina one. And she closed her eyes - one of my faves.

Posted on: 09 January 2010 by BigH47

quote:
Originally posted by Lontano:
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
Shame Stina didn't.

That's a superb album that Stina one. And she closed her eyes - one of my faves.

Do you like Bjork?

Posted on: 09 January 2010 by Lontano

quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
Do you like Bjork?

Funny enough, not a lot.

Stina's first two albums got loads of airplay in this house back when they were released. Still popular with me and the missus. A lot more my style than Bjork.

Posted on: 09 January 2010 by GraemeH

quote:
Originally posted by Lontano:
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
Do you like Bjork?

Funny enough, not a lot.

Stina's first two albums got loads of airplay in this house back when they were released. Still popular with me and the missus. A lot more my style than Bjork.

I have all Stinas albums - Much better than Bjork IMHO.

Posted on: 10 January 2010 by Whizzkid

Sorry George but have to disagree in my eyes and ears this is real talent, original and heartfelt modern pop music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJwWtuR1TtU

Musical taste eh!

Dean...

Posted on: 10 January 2010 by HIghfid3l_IT

quote:
Originally posted by droodzilla:
Hello George

I don't buy much rock/pop at all these days - not because I don't think it's any good, but because after thirty years of consuming it avidly, I feel that I've heard most of it before. There are more interesting adventures to be had, IMHO, in jazz and classical music.

However, one band (a duo, actually) I rate is Kings of Convenience. They've only released three albums in around ten years, and quality control is very high, with not a single duff track on any of them. There's a real commitment to the craft of songwriting with a strong Simon & Garfunkel infleunce. Also, if it helps, they're from Norway . Anyway, here's the wonderfully mellow "Cayman Islands" from their second album:

Cayman Islands

And a nice live performance of "Power of not Knowing", from their latest album (song starts at 0:50):

Power of not Knowing

Good lyrics too:

I see you changing girl
From Day to Day
Impressed by and trying to imitate 
Those who are older
Those who are colder
Suddenly embarrassed by your age
  
A bigger blessing, girl
Is being young
The power of not knowing
Where you belong
I try so hard to keep it
Not to lose that secret 
Waiting for someone like you
To come along 
 
Maybe it was me
That made you old
Stole whatever it was that
Made you glow
A little touch of something 
A lot of work for nothing
And now a heart, once open,
Will be closed

I second those two choices and rate them surpassing the Mraz-mataz with no small margin (IM(H)O).

Posted on: 10 January 2010 by Bananahead

I think that pop music is whatever is in the charts.

I may not like much of it but so what.

Posted on: 10 January 2010 by u5227470736789439

Thanks for all your favourite fine recomendations which I listened to.

I cannot go into comparison of the grand with the grand so I am not able to agree the Norwegian Kings of Convenience are actually better than Mraz. They are simply different. I prefer the less morose sounding Mraz because I like popular music that is more up than down, like Bach is generally up and perhaps Mahler is more often [than Bach at least] down!

It is all down to personal taste, but it is nice to hear singing that emotive, and also in tune and rhytmic.

My compaint about the ultra-produced modern style of a lot of pop music is that it is so often rather terrible from a technical view-point, whilst not bringing any increase in happiness of emtional state either.

Thanks for a bit of fun here. ATB from George

Posted on: 10 January 2010 by u5227470736789439

Stuart!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrr! Actually the Vida Loca was catchy!

Posted on: 11 January 2010 by bhaagensen

quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
Norwegian bands like Burzum are not for me.

Don't know about the plural in bands, but Burzum shouldn't be for anybody IMO. I'm sure its been covered before; the man behind Burzum has been convicted for among other things: murder and burning churches. Really, there is freedom of speech and expression, but this...