airtaco Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Both of these songs have been stuck in my head for a few years now and both get listed as among the most perfect pop songs ever written. Which do you like more? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Impossible to choose. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GtrPlyr Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Impossible to choose.This. Love them both too much to chose. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Nobody loves Big Star more than I do, but the answer is "Waterloo Sunset." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Nobody loves Big Star Kinks more than I do, but the answer is "Waterloo Sunset" "September Gurls" There. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 It really is a toss-up, but I had to take a stand. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
embiggen Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 I can't decide. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Exactly, no fence sitting allowed. But that really is a tough decision. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
embiggen Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 I'm sitting and that's that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Today it's SG, but only because I heard it more recently. Next time I hear WS, it'll be my favorite. Until I hear SG again, at which point SG will be my favorite. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 I'm sitting and that's that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
howdjadoo Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 A dedicated follower of September Gurls Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Nobody loves Big Star more than I do, but the answer is "Waterloo Sunset."No question. Waterloo Sunset is one of the best songs ever written. September Gurls pales in comparison. The words, the tune, the sentiment. All perfect!! September gurls do so muchI was your butch and you were touchedI loved you well never mindI've been crying all the timeDecember boys got it bad. September gurls I don't know whyhow can I deny what's insideeven thought I keep awaymaybe we'll love all our days.When I get to bedlate at nightthat's the timeshe makes things rightooh when she makes luv to me vs. Dirty old river, must you keep rolling Flowing into the night People so busy, makes me feel dizzy Taxi light shines so bright But I don't need no friends As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset I am in paradise Every day I look at the world from my window But chilly, chilly is evening time Waterloo sunset's fine Terry meets Julie, Waterloo Station Every Friday night But I am so lazy, don't want to wander I stay at home at night But I don't feel afraid As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset I am in paradise Every day I look at the world from my window But chilly, chilly is evening time Waterloo sunset's fine Millions of people swarming like flies 'round Waterloo underground But Terry and Julie cross over the river Where they feel safe and sound And they don't need no friends As long as they gaze on Waterloo sunset They are in paradise Waterloo sunset's fine September Gurls is a great sounding song, but lyrically...not so great...Waterloo sunset tells a wonderful story with great images. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I'm sitting and that's that. Fine! And now Louie B throwing them lyrics out there has got me thinking I made the wrong choice...can I go back on the fence? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmait Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 >September Gurls is a great sounding song That's why it wins for me. I'll take the overall sound and groove over lyrics, as long as they're not pathetically horrible like a bad Warrant song. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
airtaco Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 I'm glad to see that most of you are having as much trouble as me : ) I would definitely say that the lyrics in Waterloo and superior. However, imo Chilton's vocal is more affecting and SG has a better chorus. So I still don't think it's clear cut. EDIT: Well, actually WS does have a great chorus too. But the guitars in SG are so goddamn catchy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stooka Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Waterloo Sunset, of course! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Jon Brion says that if there is one song he wished he had written it would be Waterloo Sunset. A great song can be sung by anyone and still retain it's majesty. WS is one of those songs. Any two bit guitar slinger can fire it up and catch people's attention. It has this wonderful tension and atmosphere. It stands on its own in any setting with great tune and words and doesn't need much else. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 a bad Warrant songThis is redundant. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dagwave Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 waterloo in a landslide, though i luv me sum big star. oh wait, sg is winning??? WHAT THE? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 September Gurls Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Artifice Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I love SG, but WS wins, and heresy though it may be, I prefer Elliott Smith singing it. Just affects me more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I love SG, but WS wins, and heresy though it may be, I prefer Elliott Smith singing it. Just affects me more.The question is which is the better song, not which is the better record. Waterloo Sunset can be sung effectively by any number of singers because it is a great song; September Gurls is not widely covered and the references to what a great song it is are mostly to the recording made by Big Star itself. (Can anyone name a cover of it??) There are some clear glitches on the original Kinks recording, but the over all effect of the song is still pretty powerful. Much of what we all like about the Big Star song is the excellent production and arrangement. SG was recorded from 1974 after Alex Chilton had already been a fairly sucessful rock star and learned alot about production. WS is from 1967 and frankly there are still some rough patches in the Kinks recordings during the Reprise years. (In the original recording the transition to the chorus/bridge is a somewhat awkward.) Alex Chilton was enamored of groups like the Kinks and channeling the British invasion, and with the extra years of recording experience that working with Dan Penn as producer of the Box Tops afforded him, he was quite the studio master on his BS recordings. No matter how many times I hear the "song" Waterloo Sunset (sung by just about anyone) I get goosebumps. There are just such wonderful turn arounds in it. Sorry to belabor these points, but this is an intersting topic to discuss. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 The question is which is the better song, not which is the better record. Waterloo Sunset can be sung effectively by any number of singers because it is a great song; September Gurls is not widely covered and the references to what a great song it is are mostly to the recording made by Big Star itself. (Can anyone name a cover of it??)The Bangles did a great version of it.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS_zOdfVBMM Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 That is a good version. (Thanks for reminding me..i do have this in my collection.) They also kicked ass on Paul Simon's Hazy Shade of Winter. (another song that stands up to cover versions...) The Bangles are one of the great cover bands of all time... LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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