Music help?

[scribblinlenore]

Hey guys, I did this once before, and I'm hoping you can help me again. We're working on ideas for a TV spot at work. It's a music video thing, and we're looking for music samples. We originally wanted to go in a kind of pop-ish hiphop direction, but the client thinks that it's too similar to something else we did, even though it's really not. But let's just ignore that. They asked for something more "mainstream", which just shows that they have no idea what mainstream is, but let's also ignore that.

As you all know, I have no idea what the young people are listening to. Do you have any suggestions for upbeat, pop-ish kind of songs? I'm planning to recommend "Thnks fr th Mmrs" by Fall Out Boy, just because I really like that song. Otherwise, I got nothing.

Help?

ETA:
I should explain that we'll hire a composer to write original music for us. We're just looking for references, so we can show the client the direction we want to go in. We're not going to turn your favorite song into a commercial, I promise!

Comments

[fragilistikal.livejournal.com]

The most mainstream right now I can think of is Katy Perry's I Kissed a Girl, which is making waves in a lot of ways, love her or hate her. Very poppy and upbeat.

Mika also has very happy, upbeat songs like Lollipop and Love Today. (On a personal recommendation, I love Grace Kelly because Mika chnnels great Freddy Mercury.)

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'll check out those songs. I really appreciate the help!

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Mika is great! I think that could work. And I just find him really fun myself. Thanks again!

[fragilistikal.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Glad I could help. And good luck with your client--they sound like the type I'd like to smack over the head and ask, "Then why did you hire us in the first place?!"

[littledrop.livejournal.com]

You could try Fascination by Alphabeat or Sweet About Me by Gabriella Cilmi. Black & Gold by Sam Sparro is AWESOME. Or In My Arms by Kylie Minogue. Or if you want something more guitar-y, maybe Cops and Robbers by The Hoosiers. I don't know, I don't listen to the radio any more!

*points at Kylie icon* :-D

[littledrop.livejournal.com]

Or! Crashed the Wedding by Busted is great fun, if sort of crap. :-)

[katkim.livejournal.com]

*snickers* *points* Busted Fan! You are now no longer allowed to laugh at me over Hollyoaks or Doctor Who ;)

[littledrop.livejournal.com]

YOU! I DID NOT THINK TO SEE YOU HERE!!!

If I'd known you were going to be lurking here I never would've posted that comment!I cannot take the mocking!

HOWEVER. I am so not a Busted fan! One song does not make a fan! I HAD TO GOOGLE IT!

[littledrop.livejournal.com]

Or! Shine by Take That, which is actually used to advertise a supermarket in the UK :-/

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Thank you, thank you for all the suggestions! I don't listen to the radio, either. I'm totally out of it. I really appreciate the help!

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Alphabeat! I think that's just what we're looking for. Thanks so much!

[littledrop.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Alphabeat are really great, aren't they? I think they might be Danish or something. Their new single is called Boyfriend and just as good as Fascination.

[vertigo66.livejournal.com]

Mika is good. I love "Love Today." I like Katy Perry's "Hot and Cold" better than "I Kissed a Girl." There's always Rihanna, who's always got a single in rotation. I love the song "American Boy" by Estelle (not the Kanye West part, though...I found a single that's just her singing)--it's super upbeat.

Don't laugh but I love the song "See You Again" by Miley Cyrus.
"Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven.
"Love Song" by Sara Bareilles.
"Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield.

Uh, that's probably all I know. I find most "mainstream" music very annoying.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the suggestions! I like "Paralyzer" in particular.

[katkim.livejournal.com]

Elbow are white hot at the moment, they've won the Mercury Music prize a couple of days ago
One Day Like This
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hooPU2mdsH4

I second Take That, especially Shine or Rule the World
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WVxgLiNGBvI
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KII1ruAfvsg

Orson
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5i6Q-Ip4Uzk

Arcade Fire have been doing the festival circuit and are making a mark on the mainstream
Keep the Car Running
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NNfWC4Sgkcs
Rebellion
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NNfWC4Sgkcs

Same with Bloc Party, and the band always seem to be happy!
So Here We Are
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dzZQJZdcCU4

Kaiser Chiefs always seem to be in the charts these days.
Ruby (linking to one of their older songs just because this one is one of my favourites. But all their tunes are pretty good)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=00gaovhrIWc

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Thank you for coming to the rescue! I especially liked the Orson song, but a lot of these could work for us. I really appreciate the help!

[sypher798.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite songs that is both poppy and upbeat is Valerie--off the Mark Ronson Album with Amy Winehouse.

Good luck!

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

I love that song! Thanks so much for suggesting it.

[pun.livejournal.com]

How about "The Young Folks" by Peter, Bjorn and John (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51V1VMkuyx0)?

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

What a fun song! I put it on my list of suggestions. Thanks so much for the help, Punny.

[meret.livejournal.com]

Pocketful of Sunshine is popular right now.
http://www.last.fm/music/Natasha+Bedingfield/_/Pocketful+Of+Sunshine

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the suggestion, doll! I like that song, and it could work for our spot. I put it on my list of recommendations.

[medea-aries.livejournal.com]

I´m not that clear on what they are listening on your side of the world, but to my understanding, two big hits have been Madonna´s "4 minutes to save the world", and Rihanna´s "Shut up and drive". I´d go for the second, since I´ve even heard a piece in some movie.

Best of lucks, love!

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Oh, Madonna. Yeah. That could work! Thanks so much for the recommendation.

[medea-aries.livejournal.com]

No problem.
And yep, she´s still going around. Amazing, I know. Plus, she sings with Justin Timberlake on that one.

Good luck!

[astrothsknot.livejournal.com]

My thirteen year old boy likes the Ting-Tings and Black Kids as well as a lot of metal and hard rock. (Disturbed, A7X, Slipknott, Dragonforce)

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'll check out those bands. I'm definitely looking for what the teenagers are listening to.

[hellpenguin.livejournal.com]

my little brother goes to high school dances, and he tells me the two most 'mainstream' of songs out there right now are "Kissed A Girl" By Kate Perry (sp?) and "Paralyzed" by Finger Eleven. And apparently all the girls are still dancing to "Jump On It" by Sugarhill Gang (<3)