"If there were any justice several of these songs would be radio hits."

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Claim that used to turn up in all power pop album reviews. Ever think it yourself? (Not necessarily indicting what is on the radio.) Ever think, "Yeah but it'll never happen" - then see it happen?

― Curt, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

You know, this really deserves to be on New Answers.

― Curt, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

When I bought _Superunknown_ (as a wee barren git, blimey (sic)), I thought to myself, "Why the hell did they release "Spoonman" as the 1st single, when "Black Hole Sun" should be ALL over the radio?" Lo and behold.

The closest power pop is ever gonna get to smelling radio stardom (outside of all those "punk" bands) is "I Want You To Want Me". The best PP (huh huh, check it out, Beavis) song to not receive any radio glory is "September Gurls" - of course, the song sounds like shit. Clearly, you can be melodic as a chorus of nightingales and ostracize a good portion of the listening public if you ain't got no BALLS. "Yeah, I write namby-pamby la la crap, but I DRINK BEER and SCREW CHICKS!"

― Daver, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought that about "Pilot" by the Notwist and "Red Hot Car" by Squarepusher. These could have been huge chart hits if they'd been given any commerical airplay... but no.

― dog latin, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Whenever I hear Marshall Crenshaw's "Someday Someway" I always wonder why it wasn't a really big hit.

― J Blount, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Come Anytime" and "Miss Free Love '69" by The Hoodoo Gurus.
"Winona" and "Evangeline" by Matthew Sweet.
"Nitro Burning Funny Bong" by GWAR.
These songs never get played on the radio.

― Lord Custos 2.0 beta, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Attack of the Gabber Robots.

― Sterling Clover, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

There are loads of records that I'm convinced could've been big hits, but weren't. There are loads that sell millions that I'm convinced no one will like. I just don't have a clue, basically.

― Martin Skidmore, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I remember being shocked that Husker's "Could You Be the One" didn't break out of the 120 Minutes ghetto... it was hard and heavy but still basically a catchy pop song, with bright, modern production (as opposed to "Makes No Sense At All," probably a better song but cursed with murkier production)... but alas, 1987 was too early for pop-punk, I'm afraid. Now I think the production on that record is bogus.... the dreaded 80's gated snare.

― Andy, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Glad Girls by Guided By Voices.

I hardly know any of their music, but if gbv were younger and photogenic and had had a "performance" video, this single would have charted. They might very well be crap, but that single should have been a pop hit.

― mt, Tuesday, 7 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

What puzzles me, slightly at a tangent, is why Wilco or Nonesuch are seeing fit to issue "War on war" as a single in the UK when any idiot with ears can hear "Heavy metal drummer" being a freak summer hit. Why? WHY?

― Rob M, Wednesday, 8 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah; I remember when I heard that Tweedy had been forced to add a radio-friendly single to Summer Teeth and just assuming it had to have been "ELT". In actuality it was "Can't Stand It", which was the first single and did get a little airplay though not nearly as much as I think "ELT" would've.

― J Blount, Wednesday, 8 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

One thing that really annoys me about "War on War" (and, for the record, I *really* like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot) is that when I first heard late last summer it's pseudoprofundity was ignorable on the level of "Dust In The Wind", but since Sept. 11 it (and YHF) has this whole other level of empty meaning lent to it that Tweedy seems to be playing into (playing "War on War" on tv appearances, the album cover). It's bad enough when critics read post-Sept. 11 meaning into songs written pre-Sept 11; it's just embarassing when the actual musician does it.

― J Blount, Wednesday, 8 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Can I add that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is really rather excellent. Album of the year so far. Summerteeth is a classic also. More power to Wilco!

― Shane, Wednesday, 8 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i used to think that heatmiser's "mock up" would have been a good radio song (like Mtv2 or that kind of station) you can hear it here

― Ron, Wednesday, 8 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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