Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
Performance and song transformed the 80’s and was the catalyst for black artists on MTV which had been devoid of them up until then.[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Ph_MXIP1o[/video]

It even tells you in the song.
[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xy5S8s6rTH0[/video]

I’m a sucker for a bit of perfect pop, how about a couple more 90s candidates. Two obvious one and one that didn’t really fly in UK.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Q3mHyzn78[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL7-CKirWZE[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah5gAkna3jI[/video]

The Beach Boys ‘God Only Knows’, quite possibly the most perfect pop/rock song ever written.
And there are many great pop/rock songs out there. ‘American Pie’ is another.

I thought the OP was a patriotic Canadian, how can he ignore his fellow country(wo)men quite reasonable claims to the accolade: Celine Dion, Bryan Adams but Justin Bieber is the strongest candidate.

Where’s the like button for aP?

My vote:

[video]https://youtu.be/I1wg1DNHbNU[/video]

Perfect pop? Of course it is. Introspective, life affirming, infectiously catchy.

+1 for loads already mentioned – Undertones, Buzzcocks, Beach Boys.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZXLLMbJdZ4[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyfRRYlEn68[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v4AAd00dSQ[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Dg2xGxl74[/video]

Good call on the Gin Blossoms.
🙂

[video]https://youtu.be/N_MqfF0WBsU[/video]

Or very possibly

[video]https://youtu.be/QYsQcIMPOnQ[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvoy9GSIrVc[/video]

Good shout on

Gin Blossoms & Kate Nash

Not cool but great choices

Perfect pop though may be diminutive & Australian 🙂

Tiny Dancer?

Hey Jude?

Thriller?

The Beach Boys ‘God Only Knows’, quite possibly the most perfect pop/rock song ever written.

+1 I’d put ‘Don’t Worry Baby’ up there as well.

‘Like a Rolling Stone’ has to get a look in as well. Apparently ‘they’ say that it’s the best song ever written!!
I have to agree with midlifecrashes that a lot of 80’s pop is quite underrated.

Oh, and this:

[video]https://youtu.be/UHK-C62nzYE[/video]

Or this?
[video]https://youtu.be/gKfMlQ7KWFE[/video]

Well the good news is that as this is completely subjective, then I’m right.
May as well close thread.
Where are those bloody mods when you need them?

Not a fan in the slightest, but Suspicious Minds by Elvis is a well constructed pop song and the ‘fat Elvis, jumpsuit combo’ live performance just tops it.

Surely something from the Beach Boys or Beetles would be a contender. Sloop John B, wouldn’t it be nice Twist and Shout, Come Together. Again, I’m not really a fan of either.

Bringing personal feelings in to it I’d say, on the rock front, any of CCR’s stuff. Mr Fogerty had a crazy three album run, full of amazing songs that still stand up today and are liked by fans of metal, rock and pop. Pity he burned out. The quality output in such a short time was phenomenal.

For me a rock / pop song needs to be 3 mins, have a catchy hook or riff and tell a tale of teenage angst

Yup

[video]https://youtu.be/8I8mWG6HlmU[/video]

A few suggestions from me, including my fave pure pop song of all time…
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFrmapGCuhs[/video]

Edging into dance territory here, but the combination of Roxy Music’s yacht rock and the subtle re-work by the Glimmers is sublime…
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YdfyD8U_Fw[/video]

I love a bit of feedback, and it doesn’t get better than this…
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2bzrCCKDwc[/video]

But if I had to just choose one track…
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvRkJzVQBP0[/video]

PS. American Pie? Really?

For me a rock / pop song needs to be 3 mins, have a catchy hook or riff and tell a tale of teenage angst

Or

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lnRJuUGEvI[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCfRcgoPxTw[/video]

it’s Lenny Kravitz’s Are you Gonna Go My Way.

Love will tear us apart

This version oldmanmtb?
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3GVd4DFFPA[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIdIqbv7SPo[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUkTzQ7-RN4[/video] Dearly missed David Bowie.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxDv_RTdLQo[/video] Manchesters finest.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEVi0IxC0yM[/video]

obvz:

[video]https://youtu.be/qwyWwVUg1fE[/video]

You can’t beat a bit of ‘French Disco’ by Stereolab.

Perfect pop

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJXPTnPmm78[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8r-tXRLazs[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTKORcr1jhY[/video] shall we end it here?

Echo Beach – Martha and the Muffins

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEQkIEkxm7k[/video]

If it’s The Beach Boys then must be…

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqyx4TW4Ptw[/video]

You can’t beat a bit of ‘French Disco’ by Stereolab.

You’re not wrong, but I can’t see it either. Put a link in you lazy sod!

Some good ones so far.

I give you a mini smorgasbord……
River Deep Mountain High – Ike & Tina Turner
Hanging on the telephone & Heart of Glass – Blondie
Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
Come together – The Beatles
My generation, Summertime Blues, Pinball Wizard, The Seeker – The Who

Too late & too lazy for links tonight.

I would say that all of these still sound good today – maybe not timeless; have a hook in them; are suitably short – not all sub 3 minutes.

Choose one?
River deep mountain high.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0wPrN_Y_4[/video]

One Metallica…

There’s only one greatest song in the world…….and this is just a tribute

[video]https://youtu.be/_lK4cX5xGiQ[/video]

Sorry, I don’t know how to put a link in.
I’ll learn, then start a new thread entitled ‘French Disco’….Just how amazing is this song?

Sorry, can’t see it above but has Queen – We Will Rock You made it onto the shortlist? Gotta be in with a good shout…

Some good suggestions, TJ nearly had it with Boston – More than a feeling.

John Peel introduced me to this piece of pop rock perfection:

The Knack. My Sharona.

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=Q9TRujWtgFg

[video]http://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=Q9TRujWtgFg[/video]

Or Buzzcocks “ever fallen in love”

I saw them a few of months ago, 2 hours of non stop fantastic pop songs still delivered with all the energy and bite of youth. A really brilliant gig.

sas – Boston was not me! can’t stand them