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Is Baker Street the perfect pop song?

Biffo the BearBiffo the Bear Posts: 25,859
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in Music #1
Now, you lot know me. I'm a bit of a perfectionist as it stands.

However, the other day I revisited 'Baker Street' as a musical entity in its own right, and what occurred to me was that it's actually perfect.

I cannot find a single fault in the song in respect of its beat, pitch or meter; it just flows from beginning to end.

Is it the perfect pop song perhaps?

Link for the uneducated:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSIw09oqsYo&feature=youtu.be
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Comments

  • floogfloog Posts: 981
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    #2
    Biffo the Bear wrote: »
    Now, you lot know me. I'm a bit of a perfectionist as it stands.

    However, the other day I revisited 'Baker Street' as a musical entity in its own right, and what occurred to me was that it's actually perfect.

    I cannot find a single fault in the song in respect of its beat, pitch or meter; it just flows from beginning to end.

    Is it the perfect pop song perhaps?

    Link for the uneducated:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSIw09oqsYo&feature=youtu.be

    No doubt to some people it's a classic but to me it's too slow, funkless and a bit bland.
  • performingmonkperformingmonk Posts: 20,086
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    #3
    Nope, the greatest pop record ever is Safety Dance - http://youtu.be/T7hHx7gdN68 :D
  • PointyPointy Posts: 1,762
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    #4
    It's always been far too drab for my tastes.
  • mgvsmithmgvsmith Posts: 16,458
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    #5
    It has a fabulous sax riff and some sweet sounds on the verses but the lack of any real interesting lyrical hooks spoils the overall effect.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    #6
    floog wrote: »
    No doubt to some people it's a classic but to me it's too slow, funkless and a bit bland.

    thank goodness im not the only one who thinks like this....

    i always thought it was music for 'squares', falling in between the cool sounds of punk/new wave, of no interest to the disco dancers, too bland for the rockers, and too 'adult' for pop lovers. so who did like it?.... think it was mums n dads or christians (lol) who had little interest in what was going on in the bigger scene.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    #7
    ps...id nominate spencer davis groups 'keep on running' as the best pop song ever!
  • floogfloog Posts: 981
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    #8
    I'm going to say The Isley Brothers This Old Heart of Mine.
  • mgvsmithmgvsmith Posts: 16,458
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    #9
    I know there are a few contenders but this is hard to beat.
    A wondrous riff that builds and could last forever, a brilliant melody,
    a bit of melodrama, a kiss, a girl group, awesome, pop at its best....

    This is top Premier League compared to Baker Street's mid-table Championship!

    The Crystals 'Then He Kissed Me'

    ( The Ronettes - 'Be My Baby' is up there too.)
  • GulftasticGulftastic Posts: 127,400
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    #10
    I think 'Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)' by Steve Harley is pretty perfect pop.

    Not to mention 'Dancing Queen' by Abba.

    They should have the iconic sax riff played on every tube train as it approaches Baker Street station.
  • starry_runestarry_rune Posts: 9,006
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    #11
    What do people define as the perfect pop song?

    catchy?
    http://youtu.be/0coygxMWniU?t=1m1s

    able to dance to it?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k

    Sing along to?
    http://youtu.be/moSFlvxnbgk?t=46s

    envoke emotions from deep inside?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNyKDI9pn0Q
  • mgvsmithmgvsmith Posts: 16,458
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    #12
    starry_rune wrote: »
    What do people define as the perfect pop song?

    catchy?
    http://youtu.be/0coygxMWniU?t=1m1s

    able to dance to it?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k

    Sing along to?
    http://youtu.be/moSFlvxnbgk?t=46s

    envoke emotions from deep inside?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNyKDI9pn0Q


    All of those things and maybe none of them.
    The perfect pop song has to have a hook of some sort.
    A hook that will stand up to repeating to different audiences over time.

    Like this - The Temptations - 'My Girl'
  • cody jarrettcody jarrett Posts: 1,945
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    #13
    Biffo the Bear wrote: »
    Now, you lot know me. I'm a bit of a perfectionist as it stands.

    However, the other day I revisited 'Baker Street' as a musical entity in its own right, and what occurred to me was that it's actually perfect.

    I cannot find a single fault in the song in respect of its beat, pitch or meter; it just flows from beginning to end.

    Is it the perfect pop song perhaps?

    Link for the uneducated:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSIw09oqsYo&feature=youtu.be

    ....do we?
  • starry_runestarry_rune Posts: 9,006
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    #14
    mgvsmith wrote: »
    All of those things and maybe none of them.
    The perfect pop song has to have a hook of some sort.
    A hook that will stand up to repeating to different audiences over time.

    Like this - The Temptations - 'My Girl'

    Thanks :) So what the OP meant was " A perfect pop song" as opposed to "THE perfect pop song" which suggests there is only one. :p
  • Ollie_h19Ollie_h19 Posts: 8,548
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    #15
    Its good but a bit 'of its time'. I think the sax solo ages it a bit (as classic as it is)

    IMO, the most perfect pop song is One Day Like This by Elbow, closely followed by Never Forget by Take That.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    #16
    mgvsmith wrote: »
    All of those things and maybe none of them.
    The perfect pop song has to have a hook of some sort.
    A hook that will stand up to repeating to different audiences over time.

    Like this - The Temptations - 'My Girl'

    prefer otis reddings version! :p
  • Deep PurpleDeep Purple Posts: 63,255
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    #17
    Dreaming by Blondie.
  • Pea1Pea1 Posts: 383
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    #18
    It has a brilliant intro.

    I love "Sittin' on the dock of the bay" - Otis Redding.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PyxLaHmOaYM
  • ArcanaArcana Posts: 37,521
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    #19
    I'm old enough to remember it being in the charts and as I recall it was massively overplayed on the radio. I can appreciate it more now.
  • MaksonMakson Posts: 30,481
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    #20
    Blimey, I feel like a proper spring chicken here:D
  • JessTheCatJessTheCat Posts: 1,202
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    #21
    Foo Fighters version of Baker Street is fabulous :)
  • barbelerbarbeler Posts: 23,827
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    #22
    The saxophonist in Baker Street admitted that his playing was out of tune. Apart from that it's a bit dreary anyway.
  • ML11ML11 Posts: 888
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    #23
    Undercover's version of Baker Street is more upbeat and makes a good pop song.
  • LaVieEnRoseLaVieEnRose Posts: 12,836
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    #24
    mushymanrob wrote: »
    i always thought it was music for 'squares', falling in between the cool sounds of punk/new wave, of no interest to the disco dancers, too bland for the rockers, and too 'adult' for pop lovers. so who did like it?.... think it was mums n dads or christians (lol) who had little interest in what was going on in the bigger scene.

    I liked it! and certainly didn't fall into any of those categories.

    While I had been a rock fan, embraced punk/new wave and enjoyed a bit of disco (not so keen on the pop of the time), I liked "Baker Street" as a laid-back track, something to chill out to. It's the sax that does it, mind.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    #25
    LaVieEnRose wrote: »
    I liked it! and certainly didn't fall into any of those categories.

    While I had been a rock fan, embraced punk/new wave and enjoyed a bit of disco (not so keen on the pop of the time), I liked "Baker Street" as a laid-back track, something to chill out to. It's the sax that does it, mind.

    you must have been one of the few exceptions1 :p:D
  • barbelerbarbeler Posts: 23,827
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    #26
    The perfect pop song is obviously Teenage Kicks by The Undertones, although The Cure's Just Like Heaven and Friday I'm In Love come very close.
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