"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" is SOOO epic. It wasn't ever released as a single I guess, so doesn't appear on the charts (which are admittedly a VERY imperfect way of judging what makes something a pop song) — but it's clearly had the longevity and popularity to qualify!
And "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" classic. I think I'm going to have to do a whole episode on Bat Out of Hell sometime. Probably the most epic pop ALBUM of all-time, and remained on the charts for like 10 years (at least in the UK).
I'm not certain I understand what this "epic" concept means. The examples cited seem over-produced, over-dramatized and like eating an entire meal of disastrously sweet sugar. Of course I'm familiar with, for example McArthur Park. Is there any person who is actually a musician find that song and it's screamingly overly-dramatic performance performance more interesting and relatable than Webb's songs Wichita Lineman, Galveston, or By the Time I Get To Phoenix.
It's just some fun :). I love those songs too. Not saying "MacArthur Park" is better — it's just more interested in being "epic" (i.e. a grand narrative that goes far beyond the ordinary scope of things). I think it's pretty surprising it was as successful as it was. It turns out a lot of people like overly-dramatic performances!
I don’t think popularity is an index of musical quality nor does it disqualify an artist from being musically significant. It certainly brings about. the temptation for an artist to essentially do the same thing, over and over. Of course actors, dancers and authors are subject to the same illness.
There are many other factors-image, artist’s appeal, artist’s skills (wow,she really sings high notes!);not to mention the money that Joni’s star-making machinery spends on making it all happen. As well as luck, timing and endorsements by well-known artists.
A lot of people like a lot of things. Sounds like an epic quote from J Donald Trump! I;m just one of those crass fools who thinks John Coltrane is more significant than Kenny G.
It's true, but also, being popular is kinda important to being a pop song. That's why I started with Irving Berlin and his rules of pop, which are all about making something to be popular.
Also, I agree that Coltrane is more significant to the history of music and culture than Kenny G — but I'm not talking about significance here, and neither of those are pop. I was simply curious if there was much pop music that could be classified as "epic" in some way, so I came up with a rubric and went looking, and this article is what i found. I thought it was fun, but it's totally cool if you don't!
Fun article! Great job defining what makes a song epic. Here are a few more I'd add to the list:
Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel
Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
Paradise By the Dashboard Light - Meat Loaf
You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette
Ray of Light - Madonna
Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin
Smooth - Santana/Rob Thomas
"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" is SOOO epic. It wasn't ever released as a single I guess, so doesn't appear on the charts (which are admittedly a VERY imperfect way of judging what makes something a pop song) — but it's clearly had the longevity and popularity to qualify!
And "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" classic. I think I'm going to have to do a whole episode on Bat Out of Hell sometime. Probably the most epic pop ALBUM of all-time, and remained on the charts for like 10 years (at least in the UK).
Great examples!
I'm not certain I understand what this "epic" concept means. The examples cited seem over-produced, over-dramatized and like eating an entire meal of disastrously sweet sugar. Of course I'm familiar with, for example McArthur Park. Is there any person who is actually a musician find that song and it's screamingly overly-dramatic performance performance more interesting and relatable than Webb's songs Wichita Lineman, Galveston, or By the Time I Get To Phoenix.
It's just some fun :). I love those songs too. Not saying "MacArthur Park" is better — it's just more interested in being "epic" (i.e. a grand narrative that goes far beyond the ordinary scope of things). I think it's pretty surprising it was as successful as it was. It turns out a lot of people like overly-dramatic performances!
I don’t think popularity is an index of musical quality nor does it disqualify an artist from being musically significant. It certainly brings about. the temptation for an artist to essentially do the same thing, over and over. Of course actors, dancers and authors are subject to the same illness.
There are many other factors-image, artist’s appeal, artist’s skills (wow,she really sings high notes!);not to mention the money that Joni’s star-making machinery spends on making it all happen. As well as luck, timing and endorsements by well-known artists.
Yeah, exactly! Agreed across the board! That's why I thought this was an interesting topic.
A lot of people like a lot of things. Sounds like an epic quote from J Donald Trump! I;m just one of those crass fools who thinks John Coltrane is more significant than Kenny G.
It's true, but also, being popular is kinda important to being a pop song. That's why I started with Irving Berlin and his rules of pop, which are all about making something to be popular.
Also, I agree that Coltrane is more significant to the history of music and culture than Kenny G — but I'm not talking about significance here, and neither of those are pop. I was simply curious if there was much pop music that could be classified as "epic" in some way, so I came up with a rubric and went looking, and this article is what i found. I thought it was fun, but it's totally cool if you don't!