Pop

July 5, 2024

Here you will find my ever-growing list of perfect pop songs in no particular order. After browsing this list for a short time, you may start to ask something like, “how is MF Doom 'pop?' How is this guy defining 'pop?' Is this dude on hard drugs?” And my answer to that is as follows:

At this turn in the Earth’s rotation, “pop” is a nebulous term. Some may think of “pop” as Diana Ross, Madonna , or Carly Rae Jepsen; while others may think of The Beatles, The Smiths, or The Smashing Pumpkins. However, the moment someone called Metallica a ‘pop metal band,’ the label solidified as (pretty much) entirely meaningless. So, how do I define “pop?” Well, pop is the ephemeral dream stuff that makes up whatever I happen to enjoy listening to – it means everything and it means nothing.

Please send all grievances to f0rrest@protonmail.com (and they will be promptly deleted).

Forrest's Perfect List of Perfect Pop Songs:

In My Life (The Beatles, 1965)
It's My Life (Talk Talk, 1984)
Waters of March (Antonio Carlos Jobim, performed by Art Garfunkel, 1975)

Velocity Girl (Primal Scream, 1986)
Pendulum (Guided By Voices, 1990)
Take It Away (Paul McCartney, 1982)
Nothing to Be Done (The Pastels, 1989)
Spanish House (Felt, 1984)
Isn't She Lovely (Stevie Wonder, 1976)
Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder, 1976)
Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing (Stevie Wonder, 1973)
Gotta Broken Heart Again (Prince, 1980)
About a Girl (Nirvana, 1989)
Four Out of Five (Arctic Monkeys, 2018)
Comin' Through (The Pastels, 1987)
Peg (Steely Dan, 1977)
Boy Problems (Carly Rae Jepsen, 2016)
Generation Sex (The Divine Comedy, 1998)
Excitable Boy (Warren Zevon, 1979)
Gold Star for Robot Boy (Guided By Voices, 1994)
The Loneliest Time (Carly Rae Jepsen, 2022)
Since Yesterday (Strawberry Switchblade, 1985)
Game of Pricks (Guided By Voices, 1995)
Freaking Out the Neighborhood (Mac DeMarco, 2012)
Borderline (Madonna, 1983)
Superball (Helium, 1995)
Solitude Standing (Suzanne Vega, 1987)
Surfin' U.S.A. (The Beach Boys, 1963)
Sunday Morning (The Velvet Underground, 1966)
And Your Bird Can Sing (The Beatles, 1966)
Teenage FBI (Guided By Voices, 1999)
I Am a Scientist (Guided By Voices, 1994)
Marlene On the Wall (Suzanne Vega, 1985)
Sister I'm a Poet (Morrissey, 1988)
This is the Day (The The, 1983)
Wuthering Heights (Kate Bush, 1978)
Thy Mission (The Garden, 2019)
Thorn (My Bloody Valentine, 1990)
Off Your Face (My Bloody Valentine, 1990)
Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? (Prince, 1979)
I Saw Her Standing There (The Beatles, 1963)
Help! (The Beatles, 1965)
Party Fears Two (The Associates, 1982)
Michelle (The Beatles, 1965)
The Official Ironman Rally Song (Guided By Voices, 1996)
Can't Be Sure (The Sundays, 1990)
Here's Where the Story Ends (The Sundays, 1990)
Everlong (Foo Fighters, 1997)
Goodbye (The Sundays, 1992)
Rhymes Like Dimes (MF DOOM, 1999)
Young Americans (David Bowie, 1975)
Rapp Snitch Knishes (MF DOOM, 2004)
This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us (Sparks, 1974)
Here In Heaven (Sparks, 1974)
Hasta Manana, Monsieur (Sparks, 1974)
(When I Kiss You) I Hear Charlie Parker Playing (Sparks, 1994)
The Number One Song in Heaven (Sparks, 1979)
Balloon Man (Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians, 1988)
The Cabbage (Teenage Fanclub, 1993)
Coming Up (Paul McCartney, 1980)
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (Prince, 1987)
Picture Book (The Kinks, 1968)
I Want the One I Can't Have (The Smiths, 1985)
Rio (Duran Duran, 1982)
My Boo (Ghost Town DJs, 1996)
Eighteen and Dreaming (Peter Ivers, 1976)
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (Arctic Monkeys, 2018)
William, It Was Really Nothing (The Smiths, 1984)
Doctor Worm (They Might Be Giants, 1998)
You've Got Everything Now (The Smiths, 1984)
18 Carat Love Affair (The Associates, 1982)
This Charming Man (The Smiths, 1984)
Rubber Ring (The Smiths, 1985)
One Point Perspective (Arctic Monkeys, 2018)
A Swallow On My Neck (Morrissey, 1994)
Girl Afraid (The Smiths, 1984)
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (The Smiths, 1986)
Long Long Journey (Bill Wurtz, 2018)
My Ever Changing Moods (The Style Council, 1984)
Moonage Daydream (David Bowie, 1972)
Drive-In Saturday (David Bowie, 1973)
That's Entertainment (The Jam, 1981)
Radio Free Europe (R.E.M., 1983)
Interesting Drug (Morrissey, 1989)
Babies (Pulp, 1993)
I Am The Resurrection (The Stone Roses, 1989)
White Flag (Guided By Voices, 2012)
I Would Die 4 U (Prince, 1984)
Desire Lines (Deerhunter, 2010)
Cruel to be Kind (Nick Lowe, 1978)
She Loves You No Less (My Bloody Valentine, 1989)
Never Say Goodbye (My Bloody Valentine, 1989)
Let's Go Crazy (Prince, 1984)
Bye Bye Bad Man (The Stone Roses, 1989)
She Bangs the Drum (The Stone Roses, 1989)
Gold (Spandau Ballet, 1983)
Don't Stop Now (Guided By Voices, 1996)
Chocolate Boy (Guided By Voices, 2012)
Little Red Corvette (Prince, 1982)
Delirious (Prince, 1982)
Queen Bitch (David Bowie, 1971)
Oh! You Pretty Things (David Bowie, 1971)
Changes (David Bowie, 1971)
Life on Mars? (David Bowie, 1971)
Twee (Tullycraft, 2002)
Ivy Ivy Ivy (Primal Scream, 1989)
Come Together (Primal Scream, 1990)
Dream Kitchen (Frazier Chorus, 1989)
Divine Thing (The Soup Dragons, 1992)
At Your Funeral (Saves The Day, 2001)
Run For Your Life (The Beatles, 1965)
Goodbye, Our Pastels Badges (Flipper's Guitar, 1989)
Haircut 100 (Flipper's Guitar, 1990)
My Golden Years (The Lemon Twigs, 2024)
In My Head (The Lemon Twigs, 2023)
So. Central Rain (R.E.M., 1984)
Walk on the Wild Side (Lou Reed, 1972)
Sprawl II (Arcade Fire, 2010)
Ready to Start (Arcade Fire, 2010)
Drag Days (Guided By Voices, 1996)
After Hours (Swing Out Sister, 1986)
Breakout (Swing Out Sister, 1986)
We Don't Care (Kanye West, 2004)
You On My Mind (Swing Out Sister, 1989)
Do You Have to Break My Heart? (The Darling Buds, 1990)
Sweetness and Light (Lush, 1990)
Wood Beez (Scritti Politti, 1985)
Toxic (Britney Spears, 2003)
Perfect Way (Scritti Politti, 1985)
Absolute (Scritti Politti, 1985)
Ready for the Floor (Hot Chip, 2009)
Bittersweet Poetry (Kanye West, 2007)
Material Girl (Madonna, 1984)
Madonna of the Wasps (Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians, 1989)
Agoraphobia (Deerhunter, 2008)
Walk Out to Winter (Aztec Camera, 1983)
All I Need is Everything (Aztec Camera, 1984)
John the Birdman (David Sylvian & Robert Fripp, 1993)
Hairdresser on Fire (Morrissey, 1988)
Things I Will Keep (Guided By Voices, 1999)
Surgical Focus (Guided By Voices, 1999)
Slow Emotion Replay (The The, 1993)
Taxman (The Beatles, 1966)
Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles, 1966)
Sloop John B (The Beach Boys, 1966)
Helena (My Chemical Romance, 2004)
What About Me (The Cribs, 2004)
Girl Anachronism (The Dresden Dolls, 2003)
You Gotta Be (Des'ree, 1995)
Ma Baker (Boney M., 1977)
So It Goes (Nick Lowe, 1978)
I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass (Nick Lowe, 1978)
Controversy (Prince, 1981)
Prune, You Talk Funny (Gus Dapperton, 2017)
3AM (Thundercat, 2017)
Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston, 2007)
Rock 'n' Roll (The Sounds, 2003)
Do It All Night (Prince, 1980)
Them Changes (Thundercat, 2017)
I'm Not Okay (My Chemical Romance, 2004)
Hazey Jane II (Nick Drake, 1970)
A Complete History of Sexual Jealousy Pt. 17-24 (Momus, 1988)
Cramps (Slow Pulp, 2023)
Falling Apart (Slow Pulp, 2020)
You Didn't Love Me Then (The Hit Parade, 1988)
Emasculate Me (The Cribs, 2009)
Shimmer (Fuel, 1998)
A Day in the Life (The Beatles, 1967)
Dear Boy (Paul McCartney, 1971)
Made You Look (Meghan Trainor, 2022)
Teddy Picker (Arctic Monkeys, 2007)
Neon (John Mayer, 1999)
No Such Thing (John Mayer, 2001)
Sing Your Life (Morrissey, 1991)
A Certain Romance (Arctic Monkeys, 2006)
Submarine (L'Impératrice, 2021)
Good Vibrations (The Beach Boys, 1966)
Little Dark Age (MGMT, 2018)
Wild Blue (John Mayer, 2021)
When You Die (MGMT, 2018)
Don't Know Why (Norah Jones, 2002)
Unspirited (Guided By Voices, 2001)
Girls Like Mystery (The Cribs, 2007)
When You Sleep (My Bloody Valentine, 1991)
Jaded Youth (The Cribs, 2012)
Diamonds and Pearls (Prince, 1991)
Vapour Trail (Ride, 1990)
Falling and Laughing (Orange Juice, 1980)
Dying Day (Orange Juice, 1982)
Not Too Soon (Throwing Muses, 1991)
I See You (Juliana Hatfield, 1992)
Just Like Heaven (The Cure, 1987)
Lovesong (The Cure, 1989)
It's Yer Money, I'm After Baby (The Wonder Stuff, 1988)
Popscene (Blur, 1992)
Sick of Myself (Matthew Sweet, 1995)
Polyester Bride (Liz Phair, 1991)
Crazy Town (Velocity Girl, 1993)
Sugarcube (Yo La Tengo, 1997)
Buddy Holly (Weezer, 1994)
Train in Vain (The Clash, 1979)
Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite At :17 (Pavement, 1992)
Ready to Go (Republica, 1996)
Two of Hearts (Stacey Q, 1986)
I Love Perth (Pavement, 1995)
Stereo (Pavement, 1997)
Wouldn't It Be Nice (The Beach Boys, 1966)
Phantasies (Stephen Malkmus, 2001)
Jo Jo's Jacket (Stephen Malkmus, 2001)
Do You Want to Know a Secret? (The Beatles, 1963)
In Bloom (Nirvana, 1991)
Paperback Writer (The Beatles, 1966)
The Hairstyle of the Devil (Momus, 1989)
Lifestyles of the Rich And Famous (Revisted) (Momus, 1995)
All I Want (Toad The Wet Sprocket, 1991)
Who Says (John Mayer, 2009)
Band on the Run (Paul McCartney, 1973)
Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell, 1970)
Big Me (Foo Fighters, 1995)
Sunlight in a Jar (The Lucksmiths, 2005)
Jar of Cardinals (Guided By Voices, 1993)
Echos Myron (Guided By Voice, 1994)
Told You So (Depeche Mode, 1983)
Everything Counts (Depeche Mode, 1983)
12:51 (The Strokes, 2003)
Reptilia (The Strokes, 2003)
I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus (Beabadoobee, 2019)
Cabin Essence (The Beach Boys, 1966)
Rhythm Section Want Ad (They Might Be Giants, 1986)
Ana Ng (They Might Be Giants, 1988)
Surf's Up (The Beach Boys, 1966)
Soma (The Strokes, 2001)
Automatic Stop (The Strokes, 2003)
Barely Legal (The Strokes, 2001)
People Are People (Depeche Mode, 1984)
Coffee and TV (Blur, 1999)
Subspace Biographies (Robert Pollard, 1998)
World in My Eyes (Depeche Mode, 1990)
God Only Knows (The Beach Boys, 1966)
You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want) (Joe Jackson, 1984)
Down But Not Yet Out (Felt, 1986)
Ballad of the Band (Felt, 1990)
Dismantled King is Off the Throne (Felt, 1984)
Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode, 1990)
Policy of Truth (Depeche Mode, 1990)
Shine (Collective Soul, 1993)
Supalonely (Benee, 2020)
Sister (Prince, 1980)
Ping Pong (Stereolab, 1994)
Barbara Ann (The Beach Boys, 1965)
Together Again (Janet Jackson, 1997)
Stick Figures In Love (Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, 2011)
Ginger (Lilys, 1993)
Day of the Monkey (Lilys, 1994)
Will My Lord Be Gardening (Lilys, 2002)
The Generator (Lilys, 1999)
A Nanny in Manhattan (Lilys, 1996)
Don't Let's Start (They Might Be Giants, 1987)
Wake Up Boo! (The Boo Radleys, 1995)
Make Believe (Kero Kero Bonito, 2018)
Lazarus (The Boo Radleys, 1993)
Cohesive Scoops (Guided By Voices, 2019)
Head On (The Jesus and Mary Chain, 1989)
My Little Underground (The Jesus and Mary Chain, 1985)
Confessions Part 1 (Usher, 2004)
Confessions Part 2 (Usher, 2004)
All My Life (K-Ci & Jojo, 1998)
An Orgy of Critics (Say Anything, 2004)
Always Be My Baby (Mariah Carey, 1995)
The Headmaster Ritual (The Smiths, 1985)
Barbarism Begins at Home (The Smiths, 1985)
New You (My Bloody Valentine, 2013)
Mixed Bizness (Beck, 1999)
How Soon Is Now? (The Smiths, 1985)
Evergreen (Brian Jonestown Massacre, 1995)
Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, 2003)
Wrapped Around Your Finger (The Police, 1983)
I Love Kangaroos (Guided By Voices, 2018)