Perfect Pop Songs

Art by: Phil Fung

Hi Friends,


Much like a delicious treat - the perfect pop song can stir-up feelings of guilt, regret and even embarrassment.  Perhaps a bit of an exaggeration - but I'm guilty of turning my own headphones down on the subway from fear that the people around me might be judging.  I do it less and less these days.


It's sometimes called a guilty pleasure and can even be classified as an ear-worm.  At the end of the day they're simply AMAZING songs designed for mass appeal and make people happy.


Be it a whistling hook like in Peter Bjorn and John's 'Young Folk' or Foster The People's 'Pumped Up Kicks' - an anthem like Jay Z's 'Empire State of Mind' or something with repetition like Martin Solveig's 'Hello' or Rihanna's 'Umbrella'.  These are all PERFECT pop songs.


Here are a few that have come out in recent years I love...

• Carly Rae Jepsen - 'Call Me Maybe' so big and about to get bigger :)
• Miley Cyrus - 'Party In The U.S.A.'
• LMFAO - 'Party Rock Anthem'
• Pitbull feat Neyo, Afro Jack and Nayer - 'Give Me Everything'
• The Backstreet Boys - 'I Want It That Way' *my personal favourite perfect pop song

Creating hits is no easy task and so if there's a secret formula then so be it.  Keep it coming - this stuff makes the masses sing, dance and smile.

Thanks for reading/listening

Gregg Stewart

New Music

Hi Friends,


I'm not sure what's going on - but 2012 has already started on a high note when it comes to new music releases.  Maybe it's The Grammys, The Brit Awards or just the time of year in general - but right now there's some damn good music coming out.


I'm going to keep this short and simply recommend 5 awesome tracks to you.  


Here they are...

Bahamas - 'Lost In The Light'

Emeli Sande - 'Heaven'

Lana Del Rey - 'This Is What Makes Us Girls'

Childish Gambino - 'Heartbeat'

Morning Parade - 'Us & Ourselves'

Thanks for reading/listening.

Gregg

The Cure Mixed Up

Hi Friends,

I heard The Cure's 'Pictures of You' on NME radio today and was instantly transported back to 1990.  It was the summer between grade 8 and 9 for me when music was everything.

The Cure 'Mixed-Up' was a cassette in my older brother's collection at that time.  I remember fondly reading each and every lyric while playing the hell out of it on his ghetto blaster.  The strange thing was this was my first introduction to The Cure but the whole album was remixed.  This version of 'Pictures of You' was actually and 'Extended dub mix'.

I was already a massive fan of Depeche Mode at the time - so this was an easy addition to my repertoire.  Robert Smith was scary, daring and down right sad.  I loved every note of this album.

It's amazing how music has the ability to take you back, spark old emotions and do so in the most innocent of ways.  It's truly what keeps me going each day.

This is also why radio, television and a voice behind the music will always play a vital role in the business.  It's human emotion and recommendations that bring these memories and help create new ones.  My brother was my DJ and gateway to music growing up - I can't thank him enough for that.

This is a just a quick nostalgic post as I reflect upon the 13 year old version of myself.

Thanks for reading/listening.

Gregg