Miley was the one I thought would spark controversy, but it really does hit the mark in the power pop evolution. Her vocals, diversity, and rock n roll spirit elevate her above Swift and Bey in my book. And I know those are fightin’ words! 😄🤘🏻🎶
When I was little, my room was plastered with posters of rock bands. My sister and I used to duel with competing stereos across the hall. I turned up heavy rock, while she cranked Shaun Cassidy. However, in 1981, she bought the Go-Gos album, and I have to admit that every time she turned up "Our Lips Are Sealed," I let her win because secretly (at the time, I couldn't show my cards), I loved that track!
She passed away in 2010, and not long after she died, I bought a copy of that Go-Gos album. Every time I listen to it, it brings both a smile and a tear.
Great list Thea! It's helping me to further understand this "power pop" genre. "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "Flowers" definitely have the power and they are very poppy! I agree that there was a LOT of "power" or "soft rock" in the late 70s and early 80s. It seems like anything that energy (besides disco) that had energy in that era might qualify: some Kenny Loggins, the Doobie Brothers, Linda Ronstadt...right?!
100% The vibe was so prevalent during that time as fans were so taken with the British and So Cal influences. Even Linda Ronstadt’s little backup band (HAIM reference and all) set her power pop vibe before they set out on their own.
"Mad Love" is my favorite Linda Ronstadt album! It's such an interesting record with some great covers. I'll be talking about it in an upcoming podcast with Andres!
Love that Sheryl Crow song, which I'd never heard before.
I won't argue with your list because I still don't get 'power pop' despite Steve's excellent posts - my 1960s head cannot absorb the distinctions between genres and sub-genres. It's all rock 'n' roll to me and these are all great songs!
These are all great choices, Thea. Miley in particular, because it is absolutely true to the form while also working as a kind of disco pop song, so straddling two genres. And there are so many more great examples of women making power pop from the heyday, like Josie Cotton, Divinyls, Nikki and the Corvettes, Holly and the Italians, or my personal faves The Voice of the Beehive who never get enough love
You had me at Nikki and the Corvettes! “Tell That Girl To Shut Up” is a power pop classic. And I was lucky enough to see Voice of the Beehive open for That Petrol Emotion way back when.
Nicki and The Corvettes!! I met her at a club in Detroit a couple years ago when she sat in for a song with a local punk band. She’s still as cool as it gets!
Brava, Thea! Fabulous picks! A couple of the gals (and the songs and how they recorded them) I think would look great added to your list include Tracey Ullman and her 1983 "They Don't Know"! I'd mention the writer, Kirsty McColl and her version, but Tracey's arrangement is what propels this song into the power pop stratospHEAR (IMO)!
Jackie DeShannon's "When You Walk in the Room" (1963) became the template for more power pop forward arrangements by The Searchers (1964), and Paul Carrack super-charged it in 1987, complete with a heart-stopping modulation 2/3 through! And, don't sleep on ABBA's Agnetha Faltskog's 2004 entry, which brings Jackie's original Spector-ish arrangement to full and glorious Spector bombast!👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzE5akQDSEo
And, we can't leave out the wonderful Dusty Springfield, whose "I Only Want to Be With You" (Mike Hawker, Ivor Raymonde) in 1963 set off another batch of power poppy covers, with The Bay City Rollers' 1976 arrangement being among the tops! Three years later, The Tourists (hello, Annie Lennox!) topped them with an even more guitar-forward turn!
Hey, let's start a nasty rumor, Thea: 'Twas the gals who properly propelled power pop!!😲You in?
I’m in! And these are all excellent additions to the list! Tracy Ullman = lost track for me. I loved it but totally forgot about that song. Playing it today!
Woo-hoo! I've already made a post form for it....if I don't do that, it's likely to be lost forever, knowing my short-term memory and all! I've got you in there, as well, and as I progress with it, I'll let you know how we can loop you into it, too!
I've already got a working title: "The Ladies Who Lunch....Over Power Pop," taking a cue from the 1970 "The Ladies Who Lunch" song (another one I used to do in karaoke!) by the wonderful Elaine Stritch from the musical, "Company"!
Looks like I’ve got some homework listening assignments for the weekend! Thanks for the heads up on the Ladies Who Lunch project. Can’t wait to see it!
This is terrific, Thea. You are the perfect Substacker to write it and your song choices (even Miley) are spot on.
Glad you dig it! We’re thrilled to have Thea as part of this series.
Thank you so much! 🙏🏻
Miley was the one I thought would spark controversy, but it really does hit the mark in the power pop evolution. Her vocals, diversity, and rock n roll spirit elevate her above Swift and Bey in my book. And I know those are fightin’ words! 😄🤘🏻🎶
When I was little, my room was plastered with posters of rock bands. My sister and I used to duel with competing stereos across the hall. I turned up heavy rock, while she cranked Shaun Cassidy. However, in 1981, she bought the Go-Gos album, and I have to admit that every time she turned up "Our Lips Are Sealed," I let her win because secretly (at the time, I couldn't show my cards), I loved that track!
She passed away in 2010, and not long after she died, I bought a copy of that Go-Gos album. Every time I listen to it, it brings both a smile and a tear.
Very sorry for your loss.
I’ve gotten to a place in my life where I never underestimate the important connections and powerful memories music creates.
I love this story, thank you for sharing! Your sister would be thrilled to know that song and album still influence young women and men today!
Thank you, Thea and S.W.
I appreciate you both.
Great list Thea! It's helping me to further understand this "power pop" genre. "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "Flowers" definitely have the power and they are very poppy! I agree that there was a LOT of "power" or "soft rock" in the late 70s and early 80s. It seems like anything that energy (besides disco) that had energy in that era might qualify: some Kenny Loggins, the Doobie Brothers, Linda Ronstadt...right?!
100% The vibe was so prevalent during that time as fans were so taken with the British and So Cal influences. Even Linda Ronstadt’s little backup band (HAIM reference and all) set her power pop vibe before they set out on their own.
Ronstadt’s “Mad Love” has some power pop elements to it, including the covers she chose.
She always did the best covers!
"Mad Love" is my favorite Linda Ronstadt album! It's such an interesting record with some great covers. I'll be talking about it in an upcoming podcast with Andres!
Fantastic. That will be a good show.
Nice!
Love that Sheryl Crow song, which I'd never heard before.
I won't argue with your list because I still don't get 'power pop' despite Steve's excellent posts - my 1960s head cannot absorb the distinctions between genres and sub-genres. It's all rock 'n' roll to me and these are all great songs!
“It’s all rock and roll to me…” There’s a song somewhere in that 😄
These are all great choices, Thea. Miley in particular, because it is absolutely true to the form while also working as a kind of disco pop song, so straddling two genres. And there are so many more great examples of women making power pop from the heyday, like Josie Cotton, Divinyls, Nikki and the Corvettes, Holly and the Italians, or my personal faves The Voice of the Beehive who never get enough love
You had me at Nikki and the Corvettes! “Tell That Girl To Shut Up” is a power pop classic. And I was lucky enough to see Voice of the Beehive open for That Petrol Emotion way back when.
Lucky is an understatement. I keep mulling over an essay on that Voice of the Beehive album, which deserves a much bigger audience.
Nicki and The Corvettes!! I met her at a club in Detroit a couple years ago when she sat in for a song with a local punk band. She’s still as cool as it gets!
I love this on so many levels. Thank you!
Now I know why I love Flowers so much.
Right? When it first came out I was floored. Have you heard the original demo? Piano and vocal, more of a love song. Hot damn did they amp it up!
I have not heard the demo. Might have to look around for it. Thank you 👊🤘🎸
Brava, Thea! Fabulous picks! A couple of the gals (and the songs and how they recorded them) I think would look great added to your list include Tracey Ullman and her 1983 "They Don't Know"! I'd mention the writer, Kirsty McColl and her version, but Tracey's arrangement is what propels this song into the power pop stratospHEAR (IMO)!
Jackie DeShannon's "When You Walk in the Room" (1963) became the template for more power pop forward arrangements by The Searchers (1964), and Paul Carrack super-charged it in 1987, complete with a heart-stopping modulation 2/3 through! And, don't sleep on ABBA's Agnetha Faltskog's 2004 entry, which brings Jackie's original Spector-ish arrangement to full and glorious Spector bombast!👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzE5akQDSEo
And, we can't leave out the wonderful Dusty Springfield, whose "I Only Want to Be With You" (Mike Hawker, Ivor Raymonde) in 1963 set off another batch of power poppy covers, with The Bay City Rollers' 1976 arrangement being among the tops! Three years later, The Tourists (hello, Annie Lennox!) topped them with an even more guitar-forward turn!
Hey, let's start a nasty rumor, Thea: 'Twas the gals who properly propelled power pop!!😲You in?
I’m in! And these are all excellent additions to the list! Tracy Ullman = lost track for me. I loved it but totally forgot about that song. Playing it today!
Woo-hoo! I've already made a post form for it....if I don't do that, it's likely to be lost forever, knowing my short-term memory and all! I've got you in there, as well, and as I progress with it, I'll let you know how we can loop you into it, too!
I've already got a working title: "The Ladies Who Lunch....Over Power Pop," taking a cue from the 1970 "The Ladies Who Lunch" song (another one I used to do in karaoke!) by the wonderful Elaine Stritch from the musical, "Company"!
As for Tracey, if you haven't seen my rave about her and her Kirsty MacColl cover, here it is: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-1983-they-dont-know?utm_source=publication-search
Thanks, Thea!
Go team!
Looks like I’ve got some homework listening assignments for the weekend! Thanks for the heads up on the Ladies Who Lunch project. Can’t wait to see it!