Hi
What are your thoughts about todays short pop songs?
I like that e.g. this track is only 2:20 - it's to the point and I can replay it if I want:

Even though I was raised in 90s, when I listen now to a 4-minute song that repeats the same motif too many times I often get bored, so I'd prefer shorter/straight-to-the-point arrangements...

Feel free to post examples of good pop arrangements (that are spot-on for you, especially length-wise)

(I'm not talking here about long, evolving, underground/trance electronic tracks - I'm talking about mainstream pop and alt pop)

 

If you have something to say as a musician, 3:40 is not always enough and Klaus Schulze needs a little longer for the topic he is presenting to us - listen for yourself. Please also remember that we live in a fast-moving time. Try to listen for 1 hour!

Klaus Schulze - Moonlake (1std 15min)

Klaus Schulze - Moondawn (1std 14min)

 

T.Rex - Ride a White Swan
2.15

 

my homie Jack White, such a great songwriter

Fell in Love with a Girl by The White Stripes - 01:50

thats the way to write short pop songs imo, its both undeniable and sticky with a lot of energy. its physical in its groove with a very retro swing at a fast pace and everything enforces it strongly, but in a way thats catchy; with the guitar riff or the rhythm of is vocal melody, then like the retro surf vocal refrain: pure sugar rush. what i really admire about him as an artist in genral is how developed his artistic voice is, its very genuine and true to him. it doesnt sound like hes trying to play dress up in a style, its his skin. even in such an old genre and writing a love song, all of which has had a lot of contribution in music culturally. his perspective and sound is still distinct in that space, especially on this album and Elephant

 

Elvis Costello and the Attractions LP Get Happy

 

FEAR: The Record

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nyHdpES1ImVo52Ix_QHsaPXmVNcPpjp2o&feature=shared

 

Nothing wrong with the good solid short pop song. The Beatles did great ones, Todd Rundgren has done some great ones, pretty much the whole early '80s power pop scene... it's like, there's room in the cinema world for a solid 5 to 7 minute short subject as well as the 3-hour epic; the trick is simply to say what you need to say IN THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME, whatever length it needs to be. Don't unnecessarily trim a large concept and don't unnecessarily pad a short concept. People just like to tie themselves up into philosophical knots over this kind of stuff.

 

I like a lot of 7" 60's Motown and a lot of stuff produced by Phil Spector (yeah, let's not go into his personality here)

"a Wagnerian approach to rock & roll: little symphonies for the kids"

*edit:* Ok, one more, and as an exercise in short form this is an excellent tune, but there are other reasons as well, wonder why?

 

Last edited: Feb 20, 2025

Fischer Z - Limbo (2:23)

 

Let's not forget what Brian Wilson was able to pack into 3 minutes... considering the genius I think he's worth granting an extra 30 seconds.

 

My wife complains about any of my songs if they're over two and a half minutes, and they all are! Who does she think she is, a reincarnated radio DJ from 1958 or something?

Saw these guys at CBGB's, they played a bunch of under 30 second tunes. I passed out in the mosh and woke up looking at my friend El Jefe saying "Good Morning".

 

There is a guy that wrote a decent book on this. Jason, somebody or other. He's got YT's up as well. He red pills it so be prepared. Also, he's not a guy that looks like he'd red pill anything. Kindah funny. Nice, honest, direct, no sugarcoating. Well known quantity in the business too. FWIW.

 

Five seconds are enough for an iconic riff and a message:

 

Not going to search up any songs but I'll throw out They Might Be Giants as some guys that can get across a lot in a short amount of time.

 

yep, very wise. thats also something that comes with maturity as a songwriter though. its very easy to let your ego get in the way of the song and block it from what its suppose to be, till you learn that

 

You may enjoy this...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C90uAbMS219

 

That's practically drawn out and meandering compared to the 2 second "You Suffer by Napalm Death:

 

Wasn't rock and roll like this when it was born?
Less than 3 min?

 

OMG genius