Contrary to popular belief, I don't think it is easy to write a pop song. I think you have to know what ingredients to put in and be a master of your craft to have it come out the way you envisioned it. A good upbeat pop song needs an element of danceability, a smidgeon of novelty value (not too much or you end up in one hit wondersville), a chorus so powerful it needs it's own generator, a middle eight that provides a few seconds respite while keeping you anticipating the all important final crescendo and finish. Many songs have parts of these and are good, but it's the inclusion of all that elevates a song to greatness. Xenomania do it well, as does Richard X and often tinker with the formula to stop their various acts sounding staid. At the risk of repeating myself, Jadion also does it incredibly well. This year I have been bowled over by the work he, Fayden and Simon Curtis have produced – it embraces the elements listed above, pays a healthy homage to the very best of Swedish pop productions and still manages to come out sounding cutting edge and contemporary. I was most interested to see how the work with girl group Bliss would go. I came across some songs on their site that were run of the mill euro pop, yet something shone through that indicated the girls were destined for greater things. In the hands of Jadion, it's been achieved. Think how bracing and thrilling listening to Sugababes' Freak Like Me was the first time you heard it and you are pretty much there. Bliss have taken an Eddie Money song no less and turned it into a 3 minute collage of seductive harmonies, electro-beats, Spector-ish throwbacks (LOVE the subtle 'be my baby' refrain) and a chorus so sinfully catchy you feel guilty listening to it. In my alternate reality of pop, the charts would be full of songs like this and Simon's Broken ranking alongside Scissor Sisters, Jamelia's Beware of the Dog and Rachel Steven's Crazy Boys. It's what pop in 2007 should sound like. Now if only I could get him to revitalise Deborah Gibson's career…
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LINK: Bliss myspace site
LINK: Jadion's myspace site
