Your most irritating pop songs ever...

[Anthony Darby]

I'm afraid in my book "pop music" is an oxymoron and just demonstrates how we celebrate and reward mediocrity, and that is giving them the benefit of the of the doubt. Most of them couldn't sing if their life depended on it! It's just a noise, and mostly emanating from the perpetrator's nose!

Anthony, bet you were a real Wow in your teenage years!

Aye right! I did dance to 'Brown Sugar' at my 21st, but then Mick Jagger was a chorister. My first pop record was "Dowadiddydiddydumdididoo" and my first LP was "A Hard day's Night". Mostly I listened to Wagner, Purcell and Beethoven though, as they were required for the music course at school when you needed to be able to read music, harmonise on the piano, write three part harmony and play two instruments to grade 7 standard to pass the Scottish Higher. I remember my dad taking me to hear Beethoven's violin concerto (complete with Kreisler cadenza) and being blown away by it.

[David Nicholson]

Whatever turns you on mate

[ranunculus]

dad taking me to hear Beethoven's violin concerto (complete with Kreisler cadenza) and being blown away by it.

David, I was certain that you would reply with; 'My uncle used to drive one of those, Anthony!'  

[David Nicholson]

 

[Casalima]

In solidarity with Anthony, I can say that I first heard non-classical music when I was about 9! And until then the only radio station I knew how to find on the dial was Radio 3. First record purchase confessions ... LP: either Shadows or Abba Greatest Hits  - first single: Gerry Rafferty, Baker Street, which I got a friend to buy because I was too shy to go into a record shop.
My 13 year old daughter's favourite music at the moment is the Doors, the Rolling Stones and Bach piano music - which I think is quite cool 

[Anthony Darby]

I'm still chuckling about Cliff's comment.

[Darren]

My 13 year old daughter's favourite music at the moment is the Doors, the Rolling Stones and Bach piano music - which I think is quite cool 

I think that is quite cool too! Bravo to her for having such good, and eclectic, taste.

[ranunculus]

I'm still chuckling about Cliff's comment.

I'm still chuckling about Cliff ...   

[Anthony Darby]

This morning radio 3 played the adagio from Serenade No. 10 for winds in B flat major ("Gran Partita") by Mozart. When the oboe came in the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. What pop music can do that!?

[Darren]

Depends on your definition of pop music I guess Anthony, and the music and sounds that speak to you most. Certainly the anodyne rubbish that makes the charts these days would be more likely to induce vomiting.

But... I can think of a number of non-classical performances that have the same effect on me. Kurt Cobain's performance of Leadbelly's 'In the Pines' (aka 'Where did you sleep last night') on Nirvana's MTV Unplugged show, Radiohead's 'Street Spirit', John Lennon's vocal on 'Twist and shout' on the first Beatles album, the harmonies in Mamas & Papas 'California Dreaming' or Crosby, Stills & Nash's 'Southern Cross', Simon & Garfunkel's 'Sound of Silence'.

 Speaking of the Nirvana show, the other thing that stood out was their use of a classical cellist for the set. The sound of the Cello always makes those hairs on my neck rise, there is just something really evocative about it.

Even more up-to-date, there is some lovely piano work on the Florence and the Machine album 'Lungs'

I've also noticed that I have a strong preference for music in minor keys.

[Anthony Darby]

Yes Darren I see what you mean. Some of those come close.

[ranunculus]

For me it has always been Roy Orbison with 'In Dreams' and ' Mystery Girl'.   The hairs on my kneecaps do a double-flip!

[Anthony Darby]

I play this when I feel down.

[daveyp1970]

 

Even more up-to-date, there is some lovely piano work on the Florence and the Machine album 'Lungs'

I've also noticed that I have a strong preference for music in minor keys.

Darren they are my favourite band of the moment her vocals are incredible.

[Darren]

agree Davey - that album was my favourite of last year by miles. I stupidly missed the chance of seeing them play a show in our local library just before they got big. Think they are recording a follow-up but Lungs is going to be hard to top!