New Wave Outpost Forum

Right now Kaiser Chiefs "I Predict a Riot" (a song with an amazing hook) has got me wondering what some of the classic hooks of the NW era were. You know, those to rival Hey Ya, MMMBop and the Macarena. Ones that had everyone singing, including geezers and grannies.

The first that come to mind are Burning Down the House, Whip It, and Safety Dance which, by the way, all confirm my theory. My theory, which is based on endless research, is this... (and here is my theory... by me... A. Elk):

"the deeper the hook sinks in (in the short term), the more the song will suck (in the long term)".

I think the clocks already running on I Predict a Riot... matter of hours now. Maybe that's the message - a hook will leave you feeling gutted and filleted in the long run.

Thoughts? Or is this just mindless rambling?

I'm a crack whore for a good hook. I hate to be so pedestrian, but I Melt With You might have the alltime greatest new wave hook in my book. Some other hooks that just grab me, again mostly pretty popular (which seems to predicate a good hook)...

Nowhere Girl - B-Movie
Under the Milky Way - The Church
Up the Down Escalator - Chameleons
True Faith - New Order
Number with Wings - The Bongos
Inbetween Days - The Cure
New Years Day - U2
Mystery Acheivement - The Pretenders
Town Called Malice - The Jam

I think these have stood the test of time but maybe suffered the ravages of elitist scorn?

Toni Basil - Mickey
Maddness - Our House
A Flock Of Seagulls - I Ran
Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy
Men at Work - Who Can It Be Now


---------------------------
"Photography with a Vision"
http://www.cooganphoto.com

[quote]Originally posted by Dave...
(and here is my theory... by me... A. Elk):
[/quote]

Well played!!

[i].....excellent Python reference....[/i]

What about Motors''Airport''?Doesn't bring you a Deja vu?

A-ha, Take On Me

The Cars - Just What I Needed.

But what are peoples' thoughts on Dave's points? True...not? I think it applies to those big crossover hits that get killed on radio, but there's also great hooky tracks that get overplayed and are all too easy to discount, but do indeed stand the test of time. Like the Cars track! Tony Basil...not so much.

This reminds me of a related thread I thought about posting, but never did: The "so catchy they're annoying" songs. The all-time champ: Wide Boy Awake - Chicken Outlaw

Honorable Mention:
Blancmange - Don't Tell Me
Haysi Phantazee - Shiny Shiny
The Polecats - Make a Circuit With Me
Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Right Round
The B-52's - Rock Lobster
The Knack - My Sharona
M - Pop Musik
And the ones that have been mentioned - Safety Dance, Mickey, Take On Me, etc.

I think whether a hooky song manages to stand the test of time depends on whether it manages to be catchy & hooky in a unique and original way (no easy task) or just repackages tried and true formulas (like Mickey and the millions of 3-chord rock & pop songs).

I have to admit- I love all this kind of stuff, though. I'm a sucker for a good pop hook.

[quote][i]Originally posted by scramjet[/i]
<br>This reminds me of a related thread I thought about posting, but never did: The "so catchy they're annoying" songs. The all-time champ: Wide Boy Awake - Chicken Outlaw
[/quote]

Ha ha! I love that song..../ducks for cover and hides

I'm suprised no one has mentioned the king of them all-

Turning Japanese by The Vapors

for the last 20 years there hasn't been a week when those lyrics don't resurface..."Help me Obi Wan, I'm in meme hell".

A-ha's "Minor Earth, Major Sky" has a hook so big, it'll rip your face off. I love that song. Also "Say You Will" by Blanket Of Secrecy is another gem.

[|)]

I agree with Blir. Hooks don't necessarily make a song disposable.

Look at how many hooks the Beatles catalogue has...and those guys have stood the test of time fairly well (massive understatement, of course).

I dunno...it just strikes me as pretty elitist to say a pop hook makes something disposable.

When I opened this thread, the first ones I thought of were "Don't Go" and "Situation" by Yaz. Those not only have vocal hooks but killer synth hooks as well.

[quote][i]Originally posted by General Boy[/i]
<br>I agree with Blir. Hooks don't necessarily make a song disposable.

Look at how many hooks the Beatles catalogue has...and those guys have stood the test of time fairly well (massive understatement, of course).

I dunno...it just strikes me as pretty elitist to say a pop hook makes something disposable.

When I opened this thread, the first ones I thought of were "Don't Go" and "Situation" by Yaz. Those not only have vocal hooks but killer synth hooks as well.


[/quote]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. I could have done without the 'elitist' comment though.

MOAR hooks!

- The intro to "How Soon Is Now?" by The Smiths
- The upbeat synths in "Just Can't Get Enough" by Depeche Mode
- The intro to "Don't You Want Me?" by The Human League
- The "Ooo Oooo O Oo O" howling in "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora
- The synth hook for Soft Cell's cover of "Tainted Love"
- "Rockit" has some memorable hooks that you can tada-da to people, so do quite a few of Kraftwerk's songs (I guess they're specifically made with a hook in mind... "Boing boing boom tschak!")