When the wind is blowing in a certain direction I often champion this tune as being the greatest pop song of the 80’s. It’s certainly up there.
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Fergie is an absolute nut, and I hated this song/entire album when it came out, but there is something so divinely catchy about it. I played it at my wedding and it was the best reaction of the night.
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My favorite MJ-related thing:
Whereas Miss Jackson it is and will always be:
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Obviously the Ashley Beedle mix is a blinder but here’s the original in all its pure pop glory, albeit retro lofi pop.
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Is that ‘Young Gun Silver Fox’ Shawn Lee? Dude has changed a lot if it is.
Cracking tune regardless. I’ve never heard the original mix up until now.
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Yeah, he’s the Silver Fox 
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Really an underrated band, in the States at least…play “Bye Bye Pride” at my funeral please
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Was this a hit was it? I used to shamelessly play commercial rnb for money to avoid a day job, 90s and noughties, but I’m not even sure I ever heard this. I think I used to avoid Fergie tho. Awful arrangement.
It wasn’t as frequently played as her much worse songs (ahem, my humps…) but this was well-known in the states. At least the west coast at the time .
I used to hear a lot of requests for Fergie and I’d have a listen at home but, the beats just… aren’t right for the club… or the vocal cadence is off or… I dunno. Kinda love pop/rnb sets though, it’s like taking a prozac or something. Escapism and nostalgia at their finest.
Did you ever hear this? https://www.mixcloud.com/jonathan-cruz10/goin-uptown-a-new-jack-swing-era-mix/
And speaking of perfect pop music:
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When I first moved to Australia, this was being played on independant radio. I remember being on busses driving around the city listening to my walkman and this song somehow felt exactly like Sydney felt to me back then. Always triggers those early memories.
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Young Gun Silver Fox are new to me, might have to immerse myself this morning, thanks.
Another great track from the same era as ‘Happiness’:
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Speaking of Estelle and perfect pop music,
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She’s very good isn’t she. Proper class.
I always thought these two tracks were close to perfect in a similar vein:
*Edit - just listened back to Jill Scott - Golden because I was thinking it is a contender also. However, it’s a really, really great song but not perfect, and probably more in the jazz/soul/rnb tradition than pop.
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Love that Estelle track. This is a great version too:
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Walk On By is pretty unsurpassable
This is the version of Golden for me
I heard this again the other night and remembered how wonderful it is:
Gladys Knight & The Pips - Midnight Train to Georgia (Official Audio)
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“I’d rather live in his world, than live without him in mine” is beautiful, innit?
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his cover of “river man” is my favorite. he turned it into a banger!
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