Hmm, I’m not sure if you could call Orange Juice and Edwyn Collins poptastic in the strictest sense of the term. These three songs aren’t knock-your-socks off cheesy. You know, the kind either so poptastic you can’t help but smile or so cringe-worthy they deserve a place in the Poptastic Pantheon. On the other hand, “Rip It Up” - Orange Juice’s only bonafide charter - does push the needle a bit with the blurp-blurps and sax when they take it to the bridge.
Orange Juice - Rip It Up (Intermediate Edit)
And, if cheesy pop songs are those that, once heard, bury themselves deep in your brain like that slug-worm thing in the Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, well, then Collins’ 1994 beats-bells-guitar hit “A Girl Like You” is a wicked one. I listened to it a few times while preparing for Poptastic Day and I almost regret it. And regret it. And regret it. Oh, the torture of the poptastic!
Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You
Finally, few things approach popasticism like Austin Powers and Collins’ contribute to the 1997 Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery soundtrack - “The Magic Piper (Of Love)” - features many classicly poptastic accouterments. Flute jams almost always garner a few poptastic points. But, when horns, slightly oddball lyrics, and a light-hearted feel are added to the mix a strong case is made for Poptasitc Day qualification.
Edwyn Collins - The Magic Piper (Of Love)
Well, once again, I’ve walked up to the precipice of rule-breaking here at 100b. I’m not sure if these selections completely meet our stringent poptastic criteria. I can only hope our readers will forgive me and enjoy the music!
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November 5, 2007 at 2:57 pm
emalyse
I was one of the many that saw ‘Stop making sense’ at the cinema (actually The Dominion Theatre , London-which in those days would have been a rock venue too) and people did applaud between numbers, so immersed were we/they in the experience. First talking heads track I ever heard was ‘Warning sign’ and I guess that ‘Once in a lifetime’ is the big hit that will be played (audio and video) for a long time yet (even though Brian Eno’s vocals permeate the backing track).