Top 5 compositions in Pop/Rock Music

[Karl Henning]

assume much?

No, it is unfortunately a matter of public record.

[springrite]

Karl, I never knew that you know/like Michael Jackson's music! Some of Hall and Oates' music sound like Hall have studied music and/or composition at college.

P.s. Do you happen to know that Jeff Beck Group recorded Superstition?

Some of the credit probably should also go to Quincy Jones, no?

[DaveF]

I can see there won't be much of a consensus developed in this thread (which is a good thing, as it means a wide range of music will be mentioned), but here goes with an early-morning, top-of-the-head selection:

Led Zeppelin: When the levee breaks
Nick Drake: From the morning
The Beatles: For no one
Gentle Giant: The house, the street, the room
Dylan: Tangled up in blue

[71 dB]

The best five compositions in popular music? How could I know? I don't care if the music I'm enjoying myself is composed well or not if I enjoy it anyway. It doesn't matter to me WHY I enjoy the music, but of course good composition may help in the enjoyment. Popular music in general isn't based on good composition. Rather, it is an added bonus. A pop song which is banal/simple from composition point of view may have strong hooks, memorable lyrics and driving fun energy to it making it most enjoyable. Newer pop songs can have stunning production creating a sonic world of wonders to the listener.

Another problem with this question to me is that there is so much of popular music out there. Should I select the best composition from each of the last 5 decades? How about the genres?

[San Antone]

Waterloo Sunset - Kinks
Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
Surf's Up - Brian Wilson
Strawberry Fields Forever - Beatles

My 5th choice is

Boots of Spanish Leather - Bob Dylan

[Iota]

The best five compositions in popular music? How could I know? I don't care if the music I'm enjoying myself is composed well or not if I enjoy it anyway. It doesn't matter to me WHY I enjoy the music, but of course good composition may help in the enjoyment. Popular music in general isn't based on good composition. Rather, it is an added bonus. A pop song which is banal/simple from composition point of view may have strong hooks, memorable lyrics and driving fun energy to it making it most enjoyable. Newer pop songs can have stunning production creating a sonic world of wonders to the listener.

Yes, I kind of agree with that. Classical and rock/pop do different things to me and I've never really thought about whether a rock song was 'well-composed' or not, as I do with some classical music. I guess I could bring some thoughts to bear on the matter, but have no desire to do so. Though I'm more analytical about classical sometimes, it's always the least important part of the equation (an added bonus as 71 dB says), music is primarily an emotional experience for me.

Having said that, I'm enjoying the thread, many sensational tracks mentioned I love, and others which I'll be checking out. Nice idea.

[Florestan]

Please explain the difference between best and favorite. To my mind there IS no objective criteria, especially in pop/rock music, except what you admire.

I'm with you all the way.

Here are five perennial favorites:

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Dire Straits - Ticket to Heaven
Metallica - The Unforgiven
Manowar - Heart of Steel
Ray Charles - Seven Spanish Angels (don't know if it's his own composition, but boy does he sing it heavenly!)


 

[Karl Henning]

I can see there won't be much of a consensus developed in this thread (which is a good thing)

Yes, and arriving at a consensus isn't really the goal, although my five differing from what came before doesn't mean that I have any objections to any other set of five (or five-plus)

[Karl Henning]

The best five compositions in popular music? How could I know? I don't care if the music I'm enjoying myself is composed well or not if I enjoy it anyway. It doesn't matter to me WHY I enjoy the music, but of course good composition may help in the enjoyment. Popular music in general isn't based on good composition. Rather, it is an added bonus. A pop song which is banal/simple from composition point of view may have strong hooks, memorable lyrics and driving fun energy to it making it most enjoyable. Newer pop songs can have stunning production creating a sonic world of wonders to the listener.

Another problem with this question to me is that there is so much of popular music out there. Should I select the best composition from each of the last 5 decades? How about the genres?

In a way, it's no more or less impossible (ultimately) than our traditional "20 best symphonies" type of poll. If you like, list five that you happen to regard highly.

[Karl Henning]

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Dire Straits - Ticket to Heaven
Metallica - The Unforgiven
Manowar - Heart of Steel
Ray Charles - Seven Spanish Angels (don't know if it's his own composition, but boy does he sing it heavenly!)

Nice list. I could easily have included a Dire Straits track.

[Florestan]

Nice list. I could easily have included a Dire Straits track.

One of the best rock bands ever and Mark Knopffler one of the most accomplished rock musicians ever.

[Florestan]

list five that you happen to regard highly.

Crux of the matter, really.

[Karl Henning]

... and Mark Knopffler one of the most accomplished rock musicians ever.

He scored Rob Reiner's classic The Princess Bride.

[ritter]

There is a wide world outside of English-speaking countries, you know..

One from Spain. El Último de la Fila: Como un burro amarrado en la puerta del baile ("Like a Donkey tied at the Door of the Dance") (1993).

One from Italy. Lucio Dalla: Futura, (1980).

One from Brazil. João Bosco and Aldir Blanc: O Bêbado e a Equilibrista ("The Drunkard and the Tightrope Walker"), as performed by Elis Regina (1979)

And now back to the English-speaking world:

Working Week: Venceremos ("We Will Win") (1985)

Prince & The New Power Generation: Diamonds and Pearls (1991)

[Karl Henning]

here is a wide world outside of English-peaking countries, you know....

Seguro!

[Brian]

I don't have loads of knowledge of this genre but two songs I thought of immediately have already been suggested: Good Vibrations and For No One.

[Karl Henning]

I don't have loads of knowledge of this genre ....

In case it opens things up for you, I did consider inclusion of numbers from the Great American Songbook.

[Szykneij]

I don't have loads of knowledge of this genre but two songs I thought of immediately have already been suggested: Good Vibrations and For No One.

Interesting that "For No One" has been mentioned multiple times because it's not one of the most well known Beatles tunes, and I don't believe it was released as a single. It's definitely one of my Beatles favorites.

[DaveF]

Interesting that "For No One" has been mentioned multiple times because it's not one of the most well known Beatles tunes, and I don't believe it was released as a single. It's definitely one of my Beatles favorites.

Nominated by me not just as a favourite, but as a (IMHO) particularly brilliant piece of composition: the melody just going up and down a C major triad, the accompaniment wandering off into flatter keys - F, B flat - but the resulting dissonances always managing to resolve.  And Alan Civil's wonderful horn solo (for which he was apparently paid £5), which of course fits against the melody of the verse, and the final half-close... And heartbreaking lyrics as well.  2½ minutes of genius.  It's by Paul, of course, and even John had something complimentary to say about it.

[Karl Henning]

Alan Civil's wonderful horn solo (for which he was apparently paid £5)

That five quid'orth of work is always what I think of first on recollecting the song.