My reason: Common People is an important song for the group and music in the UK, but This is Harcore is the grup pushing the boundaries as far as they could. Amazing that it got in the top twenty.
Their two definitive "statements" but TIH is a mini-symphony as well as a morality tale which bites hard and rocks with the right amount at just the right moment. Structured brilliantly with beautiful pacing executed flawlessly. Never gets old and is the song that cemented their greatness.
When asked, under pressure and in front of a camera (there's another factor to this which I can't mention.) what my favourite Pulp song is I said this without much hesitation. I think it's perfect in every way.
Common People deserved to get further than this because of its importance and brilliance, but up against Hardcore it didnt stand a chance with me.
-- Edited by Jarvgirl on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 01:11:57 PM
Reason: Although I agree with what others have said about TIH and can see why it would deservedly win, if I had to make a personal choice, I'd have to pick Common People. It's not my favourite song or even my favourite Pulp song, but it's been the soundtrack for so many memories and the atmosphere when I've heard it live has been fantastic, euphoric almost - Glasto '95 was an immense moment for many others (not me, sadly, as I was 12 at the time and only just starting to get into music). To me, it's the song that best bridges the gap between Pulp and the rest of the non-Pulp-loving world and it's featured at memorable moments in my life partly for that reason - dancing with friends to it at weddings (full-length version of course), at birthdays, various other parties, as youngsters, etc. I was running a marathon and towards the end, it came on my iPod and just hearing it gave me such a psychological boost, I actually sped up (from very slow to not quite as slow) despite being knackered, I felt like it was carrying me along. Obviously, all these reasons are personal and won't apply to anyone else so aware I'm being really subjective. On a non-personal note, it opened a whole new section of the population up to Pulp, set the band's lives on a different course, and without it, all that followed could have been very different (for better or worse). I'd like to think I'd have discovered Pulp without it (it was actually Sorted that made me want to delve into the band further) but who knows?
Reason: it's a toughie and to be honest my choice isn't based on which song is 'better' (they are both so great and important landmarks for the band that I could never decide between them in that respect), I just remember always loving Common People as a kid and watching it's video on the Vault music channel when it was still around. Also quite emotional hearing particularly any live rendition of common people which just reminds me of seeing them play live a long last during the reunion
I was going to with TIH - for the gorgeousness but I'm going with Common People
For a lot of the same reasons as Chasing Newspapers. I was 23 and working in a record shop when it came out, that era was just so exciting for me. I was a Glastonbury 1995 but was sadly too twatted to go see them. I remember hearing Common People in the background and nearly crying because i'd been too drunk to remember to see them! how gutting is that!
Also the Ben Folds/William Shatner version just shows what an amazing writer Jarvis is, when the song is sung in a different way
Because it's got warmth, wit, euphoria, emotional punch and something to say for itself. Some of these things are also true of Hardcore but it's just not as enjoyable for me.
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"Yes I saw her in the chip shop / so I said get yer top off"
Common People is THE ultimate pop song, but this is hardcore is a lot more musically interesting and lyrically raw which makes for a better song in my opinion
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The trees, those useless trees, produce the air that I am breathing
I've been letting this question lurk in the back of my mind for a few days as it is so difficult. I was minded for most of that time to go with Hardcore for many of the same reasons people have already mentioned, it is beautiful, different and takes you off into some kind of dreamland. But I had the Arena show on all morning at work and you then realise that that Common People is ultimately forged in the crucible of the live environment (gratuitous steel reference unavoidable), whether literally live at a gig or down the indie disco, it is not a song, it is a phenomenon. So Common People it is.
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We'll use the one thing we've got more of, that's our minds.
Common People gets by on sheer chutzpah but I really can't listen to it anymore. Is it just a case of overfamiliarity? Perhaps, but I very soon found that Common People failed to keep me interested as a song, it is very one dimensional. This is Hardcore on the other hand seems to ebb and flow and always offers up a new perspective or a new way of interpretation. Therefore, I must choose This is Hardcore.
Common People. Musically it's one of the most confident sounding songs I've ever heard, while still being completely unique. Its Pulp just being themselves and managing to take everyone else with them. An amazing achievement for them, especially considering their history. Also, it was the first song I studied the lyrics to (this was 5 years or so after I first heard it), and they have had a huge effect on the direction my life has taken. Some very wise words and brutal truths in there.
Acrylic Afternoons because it's always been one of my favorite songs on that album and I like the imagery in the lyrics, though honestly this is a hard one since Babies has one of the best melodies of all time.
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The trees, those useless trees, produce the air that I am breathing
Acrylic Afternoons. Was when I started to discover Pulp, and this was on that had just so much going on behind the scenes. Babies is great too, but AA just created an atmosphere all of its own, and it was ultimately atmosphere that won me round to Pulp. Absolutely Acrylic Afternoons.
Acrylic Afternoons, by a long way. I was never a huge fan of Babies, too cheesy.
I love the atmosphere, bass line, sound effects, it sounds more like some exotic animal than a song. And Jarvis' scream into the chorus is one of the greatest Pulp moments ever recorded. Just listened to it now and it still blows me away after nearly 20 years!
Babies suffers from the same extreme familiarity problem as Common People, which I find makes it really hard to choose between these 2. My natural instant response to hearing the start of Acrylic Afternoons is more excited than, "oh, it's Babies again". but then it only has to get into those first few notes that are so distinctive to drag you right in, then you're into the chaotic narrative of the song. I find the juxtaposition of those different roles of adult life that are summed up in finishing with lovers, then calling the kids in for their teas so striking. And Acrylic Babies is not an allowed answer?
ABABAB.... Acrylic Afternoons
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We'll use the one thing we've got more of, that's our minds.
My vote: Countdown. This is an easy one as they are almost next to each-other on Separations and I've had many years to compare them. As great as Death II is, it wasn't a single for a reason.
Death II
that is HARD. I chose death 2 because my friend covered it with his old band cafe eletrique. And also because I love cheesy disco when pulp do it.
and also because I can't even remember your face any more.
Death II. I like the beginning, this klimpering on the keyboard and suddenly you feel like sitting on an a horse and the shadows play guitar for you. And I like Jarvis's "Hey"
And there are more changes in the melody, "Countdown" has great lyrics but sometimes I find it a little bit boring, because it's so long. And I like that Jarvis sings in two voices.
-- Edited by maidmarian on Tuesday 11th of February 2014 05:16:46 PM
This is too hard. Can they tie? They're my two favorite songs on the album, but I think I'm going to go with Death II because I like the intro better and actually I think I like the chorus better as well. I don't have any good "serious" reasons why. They're both really amazing songs.
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The trees, those useless trees, produce the air that I am breathing
Countdown
Because I'm 17 and don't know a thing at all. (Does that count?) In fact I spent many days (instead of many years, so not a repetition of weej's reason, right?) to compare my two favourites on Separations and I've chosen Countdown. Both versions on the single sound great.
Been listening to them on repeat all morning. I naively thought this was going to get easier after the first 1/4 final. Finally come down on the side of Death II. Like various others, it's the tune, plus the beepy bits at the beginning.
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We'll use the one thing we've got more of, that's our minds.
Can I change my mind? Like Fran I listened to them repeatedly. Now I've come downon the side of Countdown! OK still prefer tune of Death II but now I prefer the lyrics...
I'm finding this all too tough for words but I'm going to have to go for Countdown. Some songs just get you on a fundamental level and Countdown is just one of those songs. No logic, no well thought out arguments just sheer emotion and heart pulling intensity.
This has been the hardest so far. However, forced to choose I'd go for Countdown because to me, it seems more passionate and powerful... I dunno - think saw119 put it better than I could. It just grabs me more, perhaps it's because I identify with it, now and at various times in the past.
Do You Remember The First Time: Picture the scene, it goes dark with neon 'PULP' letters behind a curtain. Suddenly a grunt from Jarvis and Russell starts the song as the lights lift, the confetti falls and we all go mental that Pulp are back, that's why.
My vote is for S:SC for its depth & sophistry, but DYRTFT is one of the few tracks that seem to define Pulp in the public imagination (alongside Common People, Babies, Sorted, etc) that I can still get a dependable kick out of listening to. Great video too.
Do you Remember the First time because we've all been there and bought a toy that can reach the places he never goes (well those of us who love that sort of body/sex anyway)
. But this song is so exhilerating. And the title holds so much.
