Five Great Pop Songs That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
fun. /Photo Credit: Mito Habe-Evans/NPR
“Somewhere In Brooklyn” - Bruno Mars
As the bonus track on Doo-Wops and Hooligans, “Somewhere in Brooklyn” may have been outshined by classics like “Just the Way You Are,” “The Lazy Song,” and “Grenade”; however, what it lacks in popularity is matched by one of Bruno’s greatest songwriting efforts to date. I’d like to highlight the simplicity of his lyrics as the artist croons over a girl that he is desperate to find. “I lost her in the crowd, It's unfair, she's out there...Somewhere in Brooklyn,” the artist sings. This is a track that exemplifies vintage Bruno Mars: perfectly pop, carries a timeless hook, and serves as a wonderful throwback to the 2010’s era of music making.
“One Tribe” - Black Eyed Peas
This one right here should have been the second coming of “Where Is The Love” but was unfortunately outshined by the rest of THE E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies). “One Tribe” is a song with clear Afro-Carribean influence, promoting a message of positivity and understanding amongst all people. “One tribe, one time, one planet, one race...It's all one blood, don't care about your face,” the group proclaims. In these polarizing times, I can think of no better song (maybe with the exception of “Where Is The Love'') that can tackle today’s most pressing social issues. THE E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies) was the first album released by the Black Eyed Peas following Fergie’s solo success, so it's no surprise that songs like “I Gotta Feeling” and “Boom Boom Pow” took the main stage.
“Back to Your Heart” - Backstreet Boys
Backstreet’s Back? For me, they never left. I wasn’t even a toddler when the Millenium album was released in 1999, and somehow, I still found my way back to this neglected masterpiece. A 90’s ballad at its fullest, “Back to Your Heart” can easily match up with any of the songs from the boy band era. Noted, the release did have its fair share of competition. Millennium is widely known to be the best album for the boys, including hits like “Larger Than Life,” “Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely”, and most notably, “I Want It That Way.” The song is a showcase of the band’s impeccable vocal chops: ones that are often overlooked due to the typical boy band stereotypes. For the big fan of 90’s pop, this is a song that will definitely get you “in your feels.”
“Looking For America” - Lana Del Rey
Okay, I get it. Some people just don’t like Lana Del Rey. But let's just focus on the music for once and acknowledge that the artist is still incredibly talented. Many often forget that she is a lot more than that “Summertime Sadness” number, which was criminally overplayed following its 2013 release. “Looking For America'' is a slower, more acoustic track, one that hits all the notes of an Americana classic. The heavy reverb is staple for Lana; but other aspects of the song-- a mixture of strings, wind instruments, and I think even a theremin-- make this one of her best releases in a long time. It’s a shame that “Looking For America” served only as a lonely promotional single. If this was released anytime in the 1960’s, I firmly believe that the song would be an indie chart-topper.
“Sight of the Sun” - fun.
For as long as I live, I will always regard the permanent hiatus of fun. as one of the great tragedies in American popular music. Their sudden dissolve was something that I never could understand, especially following the wild success of Some Nights. As a New Yorker, there is no other line that hits harder these days than “Give me a second I, I need to get my story straight, My friends are in the bathroom getting higher than the Empire State”. And still, “Sight of the Sun” comes through as an incredible finale of their tenure. The track, which would’ve been the teaser to an eventual project, was cancelled due to the band’s break up in 2014. Upbeat and buoyant, the song is the perfect pick-me-up for any occasion. And of course, Nate Ruess, is brilliant as expected.