With Josh on extended vacation for the holidays and all of you clamoring for music, he graciously asked if I would play C&B “guest poster” this week. I was all too happy to oblige. So without further ado, I give you Super Pop 00′s – some of the best in rare, pure, and unadulterated pop music over the past decade.
For those who like their hooks infectious but worry about damaging their indie cred, you can have it all in Annie. This Norweigan-born Berliner has been churning out some really catchy, understated electropop hits across the pond in a decade when all the cool kids had already switched the station. “Chewing Gum,” the lead single from her debut album “Anniemal,” is a nice tongue-in-cheek nod to the vanity of the 90′s with all the signature Annie elements – light high-register vocals, some vocalizing on the intro, and some slick production.
mp3 download: Annie – Chewing Gum (Vocal Mix) (2004)
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It was a struggle to pick a single contribution from Ms. Spears for this list – but I’ve always liked this as it’s something different for her. “Over to You Now” is a track that didn’t make the cut from her “In The Zone” sessions. Written by Guy Sigsworth (“Everytime”), Imogen Heap, and Robyn, is a fast-paced electroromp that is half-video game, half-Pure Moods, and 100% danceable. With producers like Fernando Garibay (“Quicksand,” Lady GaGa – “Dance in the Dark”) and David Guetta (“When Love Takes Over”) already working on her seventh album, we can look forward to even more dance-heavy tracks from Ms. Spears next year. In the meantime, enjoy.
mp3 download: Britney Spears – Over To You Now (2005)
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Gwen has always proven herself to be ahead of the curve when it comes to fashion and music. This track screams “80′s comeback” and was one of the first mainstream artists of this decade to predict the decade’s resurgence. This is a oft-ignored track from her “Love.Angel.Music.Baby” solo debut. Light strings give way to some Banarama-esque synth and build to a three-layer chorus/bridge/hook. I’m gonna need the doctor.
mp3 download: Stefani – Serious (2004)
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There’s not much to dislike about Kate Ryan. This Belgian artist’s third studio album generated a stream of hits including “All for You” and the title track, “Alive.” Put on your roller skates, because “Je t’adore,” the song that won her the Belgian Eurovision crown, is a disco-driven builder guaranteed to have you moving by the third chorus. Francophones, be sure to check out her album on iTunes, which has the French version of this and other great tunes. It’s even better in a second language.
mp3 download: Kate Ryan – Je t’adore (2006)
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This is not Madonna’s best song. The lyrics are pretty typical for her (read: bad) but I still really like it and yes, the title fits well with the theme of this post. This B-side from “Confessions on a Dance Floor” leaves any Kabbalah-inspired modesty at the door and encourages you to reach the top, even if it means employing all the sound effect clips in your arsenal. Really though… President Madge?
mp3 download: Madonna – Super Pop (2005)
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I bet you didn’t know that electropop was alive and well in Nashville, Tennessee. Venus Hum, named after a rare heart condition, has released a handful of songs and albums over the past decade ranging from tried and true to truly unconventional. “Soul Sloshing” lands somewhere squarely in the middle. Once you get past the organic beat (which is uncomfortably cardiac) and bizarre laughter, it’s an undoubtedly enjoyable 3:47 of pop goodness.
mp3 download: Venus Hum – Soul Sloshing (2003)
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