History AwesomeMusic / Pop

* Norwegian singer-songwriter Tor Endresen has plenty of awesome songs befitting his powerful voice: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86a-AlHmIYY&list=OLAK5uy_npu5aCnOPUL0nMWsA012RTjtBH07z3dpE&index=13 Radio Luxembourg]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZScD42UGIMc&list=OLAK5uy_mQTfdVsfoK67w2_pGK8oBj4RM9Uv4R_Rw&index=4 I den syvende himmel]] (In the Seventh Heaven), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYdBrbmhOFc&list=OLAK5uy_mrpsSeDZ3PrqewgL-cj0h5-pRCsBG2vvo&index=10 La regnet øse ned]] (Let the Rain Pour Down) and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGxBCo7u7Nk his cover of Please Mr. Postman]] (based on [[Music/TheCarpenters The Carpenters]]' version).

* The gloriously gospel-esque "Stay With Me" by Sam Smith. He's so good that when he performed the song on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', he sounded exactly like he did on the recording. And this was LIVE!

* Faye Wong's [[https://youtu.be/pH_up_8Hv4U "浮躁"]][[note]]"Fuzhao", English translation is either "Restless" or "Anxiety"[[/note]] happens to be a nice, relaxing [[TheNineties 90's]] DreamPop/C-pop song guaranteed to put your mind at anxiety-free peace.

* [[https://youtu.be/zIh5AHxh-Ok "Party Rock Anthem"]] by LMFAO all the way. The insanely crazy melody and memorable lyrics make it worthy of any party...and worthy of holding the title "anthem".

** Her EP ''Once Upon Another Time'' is the best thing she's ever done. With [[DreamTeam Ben Folds]] producing, and every song in a different genre, it should be a classic. Especially "Lie To Me".

%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l5yajhtPk4 "Alligator Sky"]].

** For a lesson in obscure songs by popular bands, try out [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDHyWj5tFQU "A Day"]]. Despite the eventual popularity of "Lady", ''Styx II'' wasn't a heavy seller, but this song more than makes up for it.

** From ''Prism'', we have "Roar", "This is How We Do", "Birthday", and almost ALL of the inspirational second half of the album. It's also hard to believe an artist like Katy Perry could churn out songs like "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8bkHBIRhT8 By the Grace of God]]" and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT0fBGY47-s Ghost]]" (WARNING: the latter is a TearJerker of epic proportions).
** Perry also has the uplifting album closer "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ewTkrfaWtA Not Like the Movies]]".

** "Aha!" is even better live. There's also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYG3svfvJ_I "Earth"]].
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pbski39k9M "Just For Now"]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeLQOfb6IBU "Thank]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG6zsHUCum4 you]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6FMTf2LRew Based]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuP1E02CBSw God"]]. And she didn't [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFEpnkGIRrM stop]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REPUjb3ppXc there.]]

* Most of you have probably heard of Pink's song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTlWqW6fSYc "Get This Party Started"]], yes? Well, Music/ShirleyBassey recorded a cover of that song. Add a hundred-musician orchestra and a heaping helping of {{Camp}}, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTlWqW6fSYc that song]] became... [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqNcyFNMfLM this]]. EPIC.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE_1tCasi_Q "History Repeating"]] Shirley Bassey is a ''goddess.''
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEAWlUKRHHk She's still got it]].
* "Gimme Gimme Gimme!" [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibtOshtX7T0 by ABBA]] becomes [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIFFk6PNyog "Gimme Gimme Gimme!"]] ''by Music/YngwieMalmsteen!''

** "Umbrella". Oh, so good... And the Manic Street Preachers' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inzGVKxPajI cover.]] And the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3qrgqpX2Ho cover]] by the acapella group The Duke's Men of Yale. Also a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}} if you can see them do it live with choreography.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTKY5GTQ1HQ Throw on your break lights! We're in the city of wonder/Ain't gonna play nice! Watch out, you might just go under~]]

* Welcome a challenger from the Sinosphere, ladies and gentlemen. Jacky Cheung's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad1f3bddnIg "A Thousand Heartbreaking Reasons"]]. It's not... ''awesome'' in the conventional sense, but it is awfully emotive.

** "You Oughta Know" was only the song that put Alanis on the map. Such aggression. And then there was the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EPLb4KYpck performance of it at the 38th Grammy Awards in 1996,]] [[note]](she won 2 Grammys out of 3 nominations for the song itself, and went 2 for 3 on the album as well.)[[/note]] which dials it down to a simple rhythm section, piano, and strings. The album version is great, but that performance is superb.

** "I Want You Back". Not only did it hit #1 (as did the next four Jackson 5 singles), not only has it been sampled and sampled and sampled ("Izzo" and "Jump" and "My Baby" and "Take Me There"), not only did KT Tunstall put together [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xANiW9yWvGE a staggering SOLO live performance of it]], but the "all I need!" at the end of the breakdown is as pure as pop has ever gotten, or likely ever will.
** Jackson 5. "Dancing Machine". The Paul Oakenfold remix. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_IgkBimG7M EPIC WIN.]]

* Andy Williams singing "Impossible Dream". Oh good god. It's beautiful. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytGkkWj30kg To Fight for the Right without question or Pause!]] Tears.
* Say what you want about J-pop, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3Zb5hukgo "Shining Star"]] by Music/NamiTamaki is pure SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}} awesome.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f_HsjpSVaI "Holding Out for a Hero"]]. Awesome by itself but quite possibly '''the''' best driving song ever.
** When it comes to Bonnie Tyler, it rarely gets more awesome than [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxhH8N3Bo "Total Eclipse of the Heart"]].
** "Faster Than the Speed of Night." [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe5WF4qCSkQ Best heard live]] with speakers on full blast.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBPtP4t2J1k "Biology"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2rZVOdOCPY "Sexy! No No No..."]]. The songs' lyrics and structure might not make any sense but by the time the songs are over, it has wormed your way into your heard and you just want to listen again to figure out what just hit you.

%%* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v0o27BPIIk "I Believe"]]. Just... ''I Believe''.

* Music/{{XTC}}. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0dXZfcw34Q "Chalkhills and Children"]] is especially epic, but there's also some strong contenders in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C6bVckO_CM "Making Plans for Nigel"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk41Gbjljfo "Dear God"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCW6Kte2o1A "Generals and Majors"]], just about everything from ''Skylarking'' or ''Apple Venus Volume 1'', etc. etc. ...

* Music/{{Mika}}. Try to listen to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEhutIEUq8k "We Are Golden"]] and not start dancing! Not to mention [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF_w7oaBHNo "Blame It On The Girls"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWiccrTB4LM "Love Today"]], and the heart-breaking [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFkSMHle8-M "Happy Ending"]]! Oh, did we mention [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awfPFIKZDf4 "Grace Kelly"]] yet?
* Two reasons to love the soulful sounds of Tavares: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI3YcjKBhQQ "More Than a Woman"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6WwvBaJmGQ "It Only Takes a Minute"]].
* Five reasons why disco doesn't suck, but the people who say it does, do: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNQYDXjXc6I Kat Mandu, "The Break"]]; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sLjBWK7bys Change, "Angel in My Pocket"]]; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUqBstdkklw Shalamar, "Right in the Socket"]]; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixQkdY8C87M Donna Summer, "I Feel Love"]]; and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FACTx6fhpLc SOS Band, "Take Your Time"]].

** In 2009, she released [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZGhQEtb9xM "My Life Would Suck Without You"]]. It not only kicked ridiculous amounts of ass, it rocketed from #97 to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 within two weeks. '''Two''' weeks! That's what you call an overnight success and if that doesn't scream SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic, nothing does.

* It doesn't matter if it's in Spanish, you HAVE to listen Tino Casal's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppbjY4wL5kg "Eloise".]]
* Anya Marina's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0BPnJUx_Yw cover of "Whatever You Like" by T.I.]] She made it sound way better than the original.

** Say what you want about the quality of the TV show, but Series/HannahMontana's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t93u0qg5q_M "Nobody's Perfect"]] is just plain awesome.
** Cyrus got a similar reaction to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RSlhNJFohI "Fly on the Wall"]]. It was seen as the turning point where she stopped doing the rather generic songs Disney was giving her and was growing into a true artist.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY "Somebody That I Used To Know"]]. The entire song is amazing and haunting, with great production and lyrics. And then Kimbra comes in. The song pretty much needs its own trope page. Not to mention the music video, which compliments the song beautifully.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyVJsg0XIIk "Eyes Wide Open"]] is just as haunting as "Somebody", if not more. That music video is great too.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4_lBT1OG_Y "Save Me"]] is a surprisingly dark song about a depressed and possibly suicidal person, who finds help in a lover who saves him from himself. And the operatic background is amazing!
* Rachel Stevens' album ''Come and Get It'' was something of a commercial bomb, however, music critics have recently been asking people to not let it become a forgotten classic. When you hear [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z46DmaGCpW0 "So Good"]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-tts0dzvp4 "I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)]], you understand why.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyVZ4uVHYRw "Something To Believe In"]] by Parachute. If anything, their next album will be a [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel Surprisingly Improved]] / [[EvenBetterSequel Better Sequel]], what with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kq9aROOVSs "What I Know"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRV1LHi-Sdw "White Dress"]].

* O-Zone's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMGWYd7lvQU "Dragostea din tei"]]. It. Is. Just. So. AWESOME!

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIh5AHxh-Ok "Party Rock Anthem"]] by LMFAO all the way. The insanely crazy melody and memorable lyrics make it worthy of any party...and worthy of holding the title "anthem".

* Eurovision 2011 produced this gem: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy2MSddSL3M "Caroban"]] by Nina.

** Oh, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KII1ruAfvsg "Rule the World"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=273eSvOwpKk "Patience"]]. Goosebumps, every time. But all of it, really, especially [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPWJ3r2CBOU live]].
** Calling "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCHg5r6rFoI The Flood]]" "epic" would be ''understating'' it.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ScjucUV8v0 "Candyman"]] is a [[GenreThrowback old-school]], jazzy, raunchy good time. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86W8gLaRm24 "Still Dirrty"]] is friggin awesome too.

* While a lot of the Spice Girls discography was derided for being saccharine and repetitive, a lot of those people have never heard [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VxCi7eUSPI "Walk of Life"]], a slow Ode to London Nightlife with hints of Jazz and Reggae. If you love your mother then [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsNbhwSXDB8 Mama]] will be NarmCharm to you. It's saccharine but it's still a sweet song. There's also the lesser known [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFBWbH5CeRE "Holler"]] which has the girls dabbling in R&B.
%%* I Blame Coco's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j6VoW6vv9Y "Selfmachine"]].

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XjNlpe7hII "Good Intent"]] by Kimbra. That and its equally fantastic music video.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRsZ_PjPyVw "Karma Killer"]] by Music/RobbieWilliams, is a spectacular, vicious TakeThat against... somebody. Possibly Music/TakeThatBand, which would be JustForFun/MadeOfWin.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtXQ31F1A-k "Sukiyaki"]] by Kyu Sakamoto. (Its actual title is "Ue o muite arukou", but the American distributor changed it for [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign whatever reason.]]) And as covered by Selena.
* "Music/WeAreTheWorld". You got Music/LionelRichie, Music/RayCharles, Music/StevieWonder, Music/BruceSpringsteen, Music/MichaelJackson, Music/BillyJoel, Music/WillieNelson, numerous others, and a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9BNoNFKCBI HUGE backing choir of well known names]]. And twenty-five years later, they released [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glny4jSciVI another version]] with another all-star line-up.
* VanillaNinja: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq-vQalhFnY "Blue Tattoo"]]. Beautiful... just beautiful.
* Undoubtedly the most EPIC foreign pop song ever (it's in ''Swedish'') is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lahvBhZ_mOU Hall Om Mig]], attached to a quite well-known and equally incredible ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' vid.
* What do you get if you combine an indie rock singer-songwriter whose music has been featured on many movies and shows and an incredible female singer who's known for "Love Song"? You get [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzOjhur-VdQ an amazing duet.]]

%%** "Time After Time" also has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWy0DhVgZn0 the Quietdrive cover.]]

* Music/SClub7 may be cheesy teen pop, but [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FR0SBQd4X4 "Have You Ever"]] is pretty good.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U41KPUfOSFk "Mirrors"]] is amazing. It gives us many reasons to welcome him back to mainstream pop.
** Before that, he sure did bring [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKuzyO0WykI sexy back]].

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN2tHv8gPm8 RELAX! DON'T DO IT!]]
* This qualifies as power-pop but pop nonetheless: Everclear. The entirety of ''So Much for the Afterglow'' counts as the best of its genre, but in terms of a single song, go with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUfgAbFY4CA "Wonderful"]]. The lyrics are what make it really awesome.
* Jessie Ware. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyY5upiRO8Q "Night Light"]] will never leave your head, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u03f5Wnwff0 "Imagine It Was Us"]] will make you dance. That qualifies as awesome, right?
* Maria Willson might have been unlucky enough to have her record company go under when she was just starting out but she was still able to release the awesome [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF8wgxzBnVc Mr Alibi]].
* Emma Bunton's solo career was topped off by the ridiculously catchy [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX1Df_sjdzY "What Took You So Long?"]] which also proved that she had one of the best voices in the Spice Girls.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_MGWio-vc This]] version of "Little Drummer Boy" by Pentatonix certainly qualifies as "awesome".

* They may have been criticized for their use of synthesizers for some of their music, but Music/AceOfBase do have songs that fit this category, like the catchy reggae of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OB28fTKSds All That She Wants]]" and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNPjeIamsck The Sign]]", which can even perk up the grumpiest person on Earth.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7_KzwT2f7k Push Away]] is deeply emotional. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FjUpAA0a1M demo]] might be even more so.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJoGkj-mFXc Out of Touch]] is darkly energetic, with wildly fluctuating tones. Special mention goes to the short guitar riff after the first chorus.

** His soulful, energetic performance on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGy9i8vvCxk The Man]] makes you feel warm all over.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7jVqok1bqw Ticking Bomb]] lends his vocals to a dark beat as he croons apocalyptic, which was awesome enough for a Battlefield 4 commercial.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFZP8zQ5kzk I Need A Dollar]]. The instrumentation makes it sounds like he's having such fun, even as he comments on the poor state of the economy.
* Olly Murs' "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdHOxdrJzNQ Army of Two]]". With an [[EpicInstrumentalOpener opening section of strings]], lyrics about [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments how much Murs loves his fans]], the epic marching band-styled beat and those ''sweet'' synths in the background, it's certainly a winning moment in pop music.

** If you think that's catchy, wait til you hear [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqY I Love It]], featuring Charli XCX.

* In the world of KPop, the undisputed queens are hands-down Music/GirlsGeneration. Love them or hate them, SNSD consistently attains an ''all-kill'' (#1 on each of the Top 7 music charts in Asia) with every single or album they make... usually [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome within a few hours of release]]. To date, their most famous song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7mPqycQ0tQ Gee]] has ''over 152 million + views'' on Website/YouTube. Not as high as, say, Taylor Swift, but they are still the most popular girl group in Asia ''ever.''
* Heidi Montag's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKcXiR8qUkI Body Language]] is a really catchy song that proves that not all reality TV stars are bad at singing.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq3Q3FfJkK4n Footloose]]" by Music/KennyLoggins is just made up of awesome.
* Music/KylieMinogue's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNNAkCyCyBw Light Years]]"; a dazzling piece of dance, and a perfect conclusion to the album of the same name.
* Dannii Minogue isn't called 'Queen of Clubs' for nothing. Try "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5zwZaIIv3Y I Begin to Wonder]]", "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sw-ASUnPYA Who Do You Love Now?]]", and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqFi8kqVxMA On the Loop]]"; all great dance songs.
* Faye Wong's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH_up_8Hv4U "浮躁"]][[note]]"Fuzhao", English translation is either "Restless" or "Anxiety"[[/note]] happens to be a nice, relaxing [[TheNineties 90's]] DreamPop/C-pop song guaranteed to put your mind at anxiety-free peace.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY "Somebody That I Used To Know"]]. The entire song is amazing and haunting, with great production and lyrics. [[UpToEleven And then Kimbra comes in.]] The song pretty much needs its own trope page. Not to mention the music video, which compliments the song beautifully.

* [[https://youtu.be/5VflcETEN0E 公館遊樂園]] is a very fitting tune to the GrandFinale which is the graduation of the top university of Taiwan. As of this writing, it is the most viewed graduation song in Taiwan.

** U + Ur Hand is the ultimate anthem for anybody who can't get someone to leave them alone, especially in a social setting, and just a generally badass song.

** Her rendition of "Reflection" from ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'' is also an honorable mention, considering she was only a teenager at the time. Whether you like her or not, you have to admit she put on a hell of a performance.

** "''Faster Than the Speed of Night''." [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe5WF4qCSkQ Best heard live]] with speakers on full blast.

** "''Faster Than the Speed of Night''." [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm4CgwRxw3Y Best heard live]] with speakers on full blast.

** Everything about "Love Song", from the clever lyrics to the EarWorm chorus to her confident vocals.

** Also "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)". It's only four minutes long, but it's ridiculously unforgettable. [[EarWorm And infectious]].

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIh5AHxh-Ok "Party Rock Anthem"]] by LMFAO all the way. The [[EarWorm insanely crazy melody and memorable lyrics]] make it worthy of any party...and worthy of holding the title "anthem".

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN2tHv8gPm8 RELAX!]] [[EarWorm DON'T DO IT!]]

** "On a Roll" is perhaps the most [[EarWorm awesomely catchy]] electropop song ever created.

* Madleen Kane's "Forbidden Love" is a brilliantly dramatic disco song with a top-notch piano opener. The album and extended mixes have hauntingly beautiful violin strings at each of their last acts (it's a reprisal in the case of the album).

* Ollie Wride, discovered by fellow UsefulNotes/{{Synthwave}} artist FM-84, exudes awesomeness throughout his solo debut ''Thanks in Advance'', especially "Never Live Without You", [[https://youtu.be/T3zEMQ12Ya0 "Back to Life"]] (paying homage to Steve Winwood), "Miracle Mile", "Luna" (the obligatory PowerBallad), and [[https://youtu.be/T6cemDuAAao "I'm a Believer"]] (a SuspiciouslySimilarSong to "Run With Us" from ''WesternAnimation/TheRaccoons'').

* Faye Wong's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH_up_8Hv4U "浮躁"]][[note]]"Fuzhao", English translation is either "Restless" or "Anxiety"[[/note]] happens to be a nice, relaxing [[TheNineties 90's]] dream pop/C-pop song guaranteed to put your mind at anxiety-free peace.

* Faye Wong's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH_up_8Hv4U "浮躁"]][[note]]"Fuzhao", English translation is either "Restless" or "Anxiety"[[/note]] happens to be a nice, relaxing [[TheNineties 90's]] dream pop/C-pop song guaranteed to put your mind at anxiety-induced peace.

%%** [[https://youtu.be/9l5yajhtPk4 "Alligator Sky"]].

** For a lesson in obscure songs by popular bands, try out [[https://youtu.be/PDHyWj5tFQU "A Day"]]. Despite the eventual popularity of "Lady", ''Styx II'' wasn't a heavy seller, but this song more than makes up for it.

** From ''Prism'', we have "Roar", "This is How We Do", "Birthday", and almost ALL of the inspirational second half of the album. It's also hard to believe an artist like Katy Perry could churn out songs like "[[https://youtu.be/f8bkHBIRhT8 By the Grace of God]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/RT0fBGY47-s Ghost]]" (WARNING: the latter is a TearJerker of epic proportions).
** Perry also has the uplifting album closer "[[https://youtu.be/9ewTkrfaWtA Not Like the Movies]]".

** "Aha!" is even better live. There's also [[https://youtu.be/JYG3svfvJ_I "Earth"]].
** [[https://youtu.be/3pbski39k9M "Just For Now"]]. [[https://youtu.be/OeLQOfb6IBU "Thank]] [[https://youtu.be/ZG6zsHUCum4 you]] [[https://youtu.be/j6FMTf2LRew Based]] [[https://youtu.be/HuP1E02CBSw God"]]. And she didn't [[https://youtu.be/wFEpnkGIRrM stop]] [[https://youtu.be/REPUjb3ppXc there.]]

* Most of you have probably heard of Pink's song [[https://youtu.be/rTlWqW6fSYc "Get This Party Started"]], yes? Well, Music/ShirleyBassey recorded a cover of that song. Add a hundred-musician orchestra and a heaping helping of {{Camp}}, and [[https://youtu.be/rTlWqW6fSYc that song]] became... [[https://youtu.be/vqNcyFNMfLM this]]. EPIC.
** [[https://youtu.be/bE_1tCasi_Q "History Repeating"]] Shirley Bassey is a ''goddess.''
** [[https://youtu.be/nEAWlUKRHHk She's still got it]].
* "Gimme Gimme Gimme!" [[https://youtu.be/ibtOshtX7T0 by ABBA]] becomes [[https://youtu.be/YIFFk6PNyog "Gimme Gimme Gimme!"]] ''by Music/YngwieMalmsteen!''

** "Umbrella". Oh, so good... And the Manic Street Preachers' [[https://youtu.be/inzGVKxPajI cover.]] And the [[https://youtu.be/-3qrgqpX2Ho cover]] by the acapella group The Duke's Men of Yale. Also a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}} if you can see them do it live with choreography.

** [[https://youtu.be/sTKY5GTQ1HQ Throw on your break lights! We're in the city of wonder/Ain't gonna play nice! Watch out, you might just go under~]]

* Welcome a challenger from the Sinosphere, ladies and gentlemen. Jacky Cheung's [[https://youtu.be/ad1f3bddnIg "A Thousand Heartbreaking Reasons"]]. It's not... ''awesome'' in the conventional sense, but it is awfully emotive.

** "You Oughta Know" was only the song that put Alanis on the map. Such aggression. And then there was the [[https://youtu.be/7EPLb4KYpck performance of it at the 38th Grammy Awards in 1996,]] [[note]](she won 2 Grammys out of 3 nominations for the song itself, and went 2 for 3 on the album as well.)[[/note]] which dials it down to a simple rhythm section, piano, and strings. The album version is great, but that performance is superb.

** "I Want You Back". Not only did it hit #1 (as did the next four Jackson 5 singles), not only has it been sampled and sampled and sampled ("Izzo" and "Jump" and "My Baby" and "Take Me There"), not only did KT Tunstall put together [[https://youtu.be/xANiW9yWvGE a staggering SOLO live performance of it]], but the "all I need!" at the end of the breakdown is as pure as pop has ever gotten, or likely ever will.
** Jackson 5. "Dancing Machine". The Paul Oakenfold remix. [[https://youtu.be/X_IgkBimG7M EPIC WIN.]]

* Andy Williams singing "Impossible Dream". Oh good god. It's beautiful. [[https://youtu.be/ytGkkWj30kg To Fight for the Right without question or Pause!]] Tears.
* Say what you want about J-pop, [[https://youtu.be/eH3Zb5hukgo "Shining Star"]] by Music/NamiTamaki is pure SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}} awesome.

** [[https://youtu.be/7f_HsjpSVaI "Holding Out for a Hero"]]. Awesome by itself but quite possibly '''the''' best driving song ever.
** When it comes to Bonnie Tyler, it rarely gets more awesome than [[https://youtu.be/lcOxhH8N3Bo "Total Eclipse of the Heart"]].

** [[https://youtu.be/bBPtP4t2J1k "Biology"]] and [[https://youtu.be/T2rZVOdOCPY "Sexy! No No No..."]]. The songs' lyrics and structure might not make any sense but by the time the songs are over, it has wormed your way into your heard and you just want to listen again to figure out what just hit you.

%%* [[https://youtu.be/7v0o27BPIIk "I Believe"]]. Just... ''I Believe''.

* Music/{{XTC}}. [[https://youtu.be/D0dXZfcw34Q "Chalkhills and Children"]] is especially epic, but there's also some strong contenders in [[https://youtu.be/0C6bVckO_CM "Making Plans for Nigel"]], [[https://youtu.be/hk41Gbjljfo "Dear God"]], [[https://youtu.be/LCW6Kte2o1A "Generals and Majors"]], just about everything from ''Skylarking'' or ''Apple Venus Volume 1'', etc. etc. ...

* Music/{{Mika}}. Try to listen to [[https://youtu.be/hEhutIEUq8k "We Are Golden"]] and not start dancing! Not to mention [[https://youtu.be/iF_w7oaBHNo "Blame It On The Girls"]], [[https://youtu.be/AWiccrTB4LM "Love Today"]], and the heart-breaking [[https://youtu.be/oFkSMHle8-M "Happy Ending"]]! Oh, did we mention [[https://youtu.be/awfPFIKZDf4 "Grace Kelly"]] yet?
* Two reasons to love the soulful sounds of Tavares: [[https://youtu.be/UI3YcjKBhQQ "More Than a Woman"]] and [[https://youtu.be/N6WwvBaJmGQ "It Only Takes a Minute"]].
* Five reasons why disco doesn't suck, but the people who say it does, do: [[https://youtu.be/GNQYDXjXc6I Kat Mandu, "The Break"]]; [[https://youtu.be/4sLjBWK7bys Change, "Angel in My Pocket"]]; [[https://youtu.be/kUqBstdkklw Shalamar, "Right in the Socket"]]; [[https://youtu.be/ixQkdY8C87M Donna Summer, "I Feel Love"]]; and [[https://youtu.be/FACTx6fhpLc SOS Band, "Take Your Time"]].

** In 2009, she released [[https://youtu.be/HZGhQEtb9xM "My Life Would Suck Without You"]]. It not only kicked ridiculous amounts of ass, it rocketed from #97 to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 within two weeks. '''Two''' weeks! That's what you call an overnight success and if that doesn't scream SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic, nothing does.

* It doesn't matter if it's in Spanish, you HAVE to listen Tino Casal's [[https://youtu.be/ppbjY4wL5kg "Eloise".]]
* Anya Marina's [[https://youtu.be/_0BPnJUx_Yw cover of "Whatever You Like" by T.I.]] She made it sound way better than the original.

** Say what you want about the quality of the TV show, but Series/HannahMontana's [[https://youtu.be/t93u0qg5q_M "Nobody's Perfect"]] is just plain awesome.
** Cyrus got a similar reaction to [[https://youtu.be/3RSlhNJFohI "Fly on the Wall"]]. It was seen as the turning point where she stopped doing the rather generic songs Disney was giving her and was growing into a true artist.

** [[https://youtu.be/8UVNT4wvIGY "Somebody That I Used To Know"]]. The entire song is amazing and haunting, with great production and lyrics. [[UpToEleven And then Kimbra comes in.]] The song pretty much needs its own trope page. Not to mention the music video, which compliments the song beautifully.
** [[https://youtu.be/oyVJsg0XIIk "Eyes Wide Open"]] is just as haunting as "Somebody", if not more. That music video is great too.
** [[https://youtu.be/O4_lBT1OG_Y "Save Me"]] is a surprisingly dark song about a depressed and possibly suicidal person, who finds help in a lover who saves him from himself. And the operatic background is amazing!
* Rachel Stevens' album ''Come and Get It'' was something of a commercial bomb, however, music critics have recently been asking people to not let it become a forgotten classic. When you hear [[https://youtu.be/Z46DmaGCpW0 "So Good"]] or [[https://youtu.be/8-tts0dzvp4 "I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)]], you understand why.
* [[https://youtu.be/zyVZ4uVHYRw "Something To Believe In"]] by Parachute. If anything, their next album will be a [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel Surprisingly Improved]] / [[EvenBetterSequel Better Sequel]], what with [[https://youtu.be/9kq9aROOVSs "What I Know"]] and [[https://youtu.be/sRV1LHi-Sdw "White Dress"]].

* O-Zone's [[https://youtu.be/UMGWYd7lvQU "Dragostea din tei"]]. It. Is. Just. So. AWESOME!

* [[https://youtu.be/zIh5AHxh-Ok "Party Rock Anthem"]] by LMFAO all the way. The [[EarWorm insanely crazy melody and memorable lyrics]] make it worthy of any party...and worthy of holding the title "anthem".

* Eurovision 2011 produced this gem: [[https://youtu.be/Gy2MSddSL3M "Caroban"]] by Nina.

** Oh, [[https://youtu.be/KII1ruAfvsg "Rule the World"]] and [[https://youtu.be/273eSvOwpKk "Patience"]]. Goosebumps, every time. But all of it, really, especially [[https://youtu.be/jPWJ3r2CBOU live]].
** Calling "[[https://youtu.be/aCHg5r6rFoI The Flood]]" "epic" would be ''understating'' it.

** [[https://youtu.be/-ScjucUV8v0 "Candyman"]] is a [[GenreThrowback old-school]], jazzy, raunchy good time. [[https://youtu.be/86W8gLaRm24 "Still Dirrty"]] is friggin awesome too.

* While a lot of the Spice Girls discography was derided for being saccharine and repetitive, a lot of those people have never heard [[https://youtu.be/9VxCi7eUSPI "Walk of Life"]], a slow Ode to London Nightlife with hints of Jazz and Reggae. If you love your mother then [[https://youtu.be/VsNbhwSXDB8 Mama]] will be NarmCharm to you. It's saccharine but it's still a sweet song. There's also the lesser known [[https://youtu.be/gFBWbH5CeRE "Holler"]] which has the girls dabbling in R&B.
%%* I Blame Coco's [[https://youtu.be/0j6VoW6vv9Y "Selfmachine"]].

* [[https://youtu.be/5XjNlpe7hII "Good Intent"]] by Kimbra. That and its equally fantastic music video.

* [[https://youtu.be/SRsZ_PjPyVw "Karma Killer"]] by Music/RobbieWilliams, is a spectacular, vicious TakeThat against... somebody. Possibly Music/TakeThatBand, which would be JustForFun/MadeOfWin.

* [[https://youtu.be/RtXQ31F1A-k "Sukiyaki"]] by Kyu Sakamoto. (Its actual title is "Ue o muite arukou", but the American distributor changed it for [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign whatever reason.]]) And as covered by Selena.
* "Music/WeAreTheWorld". You got Music/LionelRichie, Music/RayCharles, Music/StevieWonder, Music/BruceSpringsteen, Music/MichaelJackson, Music/BillyJoel, Music/WillieNelson, numerous others, and a [[https://youtu.be/M9BNoNFKCBI HUGE backing choir of well known names]]. And twenty-five years later, they released [[https://youtu.be/Glny4jSciVI another version]] with another all-star line-up.
* VanillaNinja: [[https://youtu.be/yq-vQalhFnY "Blue Tattoo"]]. Beautiful... just beautiful.
* Undoubtedly the most EPIC foreign pop song ever (it's in ''Swedish'') is [[https://youtu.be/lahvBhZ_mOU Hall Om Mig]], attached to a quite well-known and equally incredible ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' vid.
* What do you get if you combine an indie rock singer-songwriter whose music has been featured on many movies and shows and an incredible female singer who's known for "Love Song"? You get [[https://youtu.be/MzOjhur-VdQ an amazing duet.]]

%%** "Time After Time" also has [[https://youtu.be/jWy0DhVgZn0 the Quietdrive cover.]]

* Music/SClub7 may be cheesy teen pop, but [[https://youtu.be/8FR0SBQd4X4 "Have You Ever"]] is pretty good.

** [[https://youtu.be/U41KPUfOSFk "Mirrors"]] is amazing. It gives us many reasons to welcome him back to mainstream pop.
** Before that, he sure did bring [[https://youtu.be/kKuzyO0WykI sexy back]].

** [[https://youtu.be/wN2tHv8gPm8 RELAX!]] [[EarWorm DON'T DO IT!]]
* This qualifies as power-pop but pop nonetheless: Everclear. The entirety of ''So Much for the Afterglow'' counts as the best of its genre, but in terms of a single song, go with [[https://youtu.be/MUfgAbFY4CA "Wonderful"]]. The lyrics are what make it really awesome.
* Jessie Ware. [[https://youtu.be/YyY5upiRO8Q "Night Light"]] will never leave your head, and [[https://youtu.be/u03f5Wnwff0 "Imagine It Was Us"]] will make you dance. That qualifies as awesome, right?
* Maria Willson might have been unlucky enough to have her record company go under when she was just starting out but she was still able to release the awesome [[https://youtu.be/CF8wgxzBnVc Mr Alibi]].
* Emma Bunton's solo career was topped off by the ridiculously catchy [[https://youtu.be/yX1Df_sjdzY "What Took You So Long?"]] which also proved that she had one of the best voices in the Spice Girls.
* [[https://youtu.be/qJ_MGWio-vc This]] version of "Little Drummer Boy" by Pentatonix certainly qualifies as "awesome".

* They may have been criticized for their use of synthesizers for some of their music, but Music/AceOfBase do have songs that fit this category, like the catchy reggae of "[[https://youtu.be/8OB28fTKSds All That She Wants]]" and "[[https://youtu.be/DNPjeIamsck The Sign]]", which can even perk up the grumpiest person on Earth.

** [[https://youtu.be/G7_KzwT2f7k Push Away]] is deeply emotional. The [[https://youtu.be/2FjUpAA0a1M demo]] might be even more so.
** [[https://youtu.be/LJoGkj-mFXc Out of Touch]] is darkly energetic, with wildly fluctuating tones. Special mention goes to the short guitar riff after the first chorus.

** His soulful, energetic performance on [[https://youtu.be/HGy9i8vvCxk The Man]] makes you feel warm all over.
** [[https://youtu.be/D7jVqok1bqw Ticking Bomb]] lends his vocals to a dark beat as he croons apocalyptic, which was awesome enough for a Battlefield 4 commercial.
** [[https://youtu.be/nFZP8zQ5kzk I Need A Dollar]]. The instrumentation makes it sounds like he's having such fun, even as he comments on the poor state of the economy.
* Olly Murs' "[[https://youtu.be/mdHOxdrJzNQ Army of Two]]". With an [[EpicInstrumentalOpener opening section of strings]], lyrics about [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments how much Murs loves his fans]], the epic marching band-styled beat and those ''sweet'' synths in the background, it's certainly a winning moment in pop music.

** If you think that's catchy, wait til you hear [[https://youtu.be/UxxajLWwzqY I Love It]], featuring Charli XCX.

* In the world of KPop, the undisputed queens are hands-down Music/GirlsGeneration. Love them or hate them, SNSD consistently attains an ''all-kill'' (#1 on each of the Top 7 music charts in Asia) with every single or album they make... usually [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome within a few hours of release]]. To date, their most famous song [[https://youtu.be/U7mPqycQ0tQ Gee]] has ''over 152 million + views'' on Website/YouTube. Not as high as, say, Taylor Swift, but they are still the most popular girl group in Asia ''ever.''
* Heidi Montag's [[https://youtu.be/CKcXiR8qUkI Body Language]] is a really catchy song that proves that not all reality TV stars are bad at singing.
* "[[https://youtu.be/hq3Q3FfJkK4n Footloose]]" by Music/KennyLoggins is just made up of awesome.
* Music/KylieMinogue's "[[https://youtu.be/aNNAkCyCyBw Light Years]]"; a dazzling piece of dance, and a perfect conclusion to the album of the same name.
* Dannii Minogue isn't called 'Queen of Clubs' for nothing. Try "[[https://youtu.be/C5zwZaIIv3Y I Begin to Wonder]]", "[[https://youtu.be/2Sw-ASUnPYA Who Do You Love Now?]]", and "[[https://youtu.be/tqFi8kqVxMA On the Loop]]"; all great dance songs.

%%** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l5yajhtPk4 "Alligator Sky"]].

** For a lesson in obscure songs by popular bands, try out [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDHyWj5tFQU "A Day"]]. Despite the eventual popularity of "Lady", ''Styx II'' wasn't a heavy seller, but this song more than makes up for it.

** From ''Prism'', we have "Roar", "This is How We Do", "Birthday", and almost ALL of the inspirational second half of the album. It's also hard to believe an artist like Katy Perry could churn out songs like "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8bkHBIRhT8 By the Grace of God]]" and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT0fBGY47-s Ghost]]" (WARNING: the latter is a TearJerker of epic proportions).
** Perry also has the uplifting album closer "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ewTkrfaWtA Not Like the Movies]]".

** "Aha!" is even better live. There's also [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYG3svfvJ_I "Earth"]].
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pbski39k9M "Just For Now"]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeLQOfb6IBU "Thank]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG6zsHUCum4 you]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6FMTf2LRew Based]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuP1E02CBSw God"]]. And she didn't [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFEpnkGIRrM stop]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REPUjb3ppXc there.]]

* Most of you have probably heard of Pink's song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTlWqW6fSYc "Get This Party Started"]], yes? Well, Music/ShirleyBassey recorded a cover of that song. Add a hundred-musician orchestra and a heaping helping of {{Camp}}, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTlWqW6fSYc that song]] became... [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqNcyFNMfLM this]]. EPIC.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE_1tCasi_Q "History Repeating"]] Shirley Bassey is a ''goddess.''
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEAWlUKRHHk She's still got it]].
* "Gimme Gimme Gimme!" [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibtOshtX7T0 by ABBA]] becomes [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIFFk6PNyog "Gimme Gimme Gimme!"]] ''by Music/YngwieMalmsteen!''

** "Umbrella". Oh, so good... And the Manic Street Preachers' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inzGVKxPajI cover.]] And the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3qrgqpX2Ho cover]] by the acapella group The Duke's Men of Yale. Also a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}} if you can see them do it live with choreography.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTKY5GTQ1HQ Throw on your break lights! We're in the city of wonder/Ain't gonna play nice! Watch out, you might just go under~]]

* Welcome a challenger from the Sinosphere, ladies and gentlemen. Jacky Cheung's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad1f3bddnIg "A Thousand Heartbreaking Reasons"]]. It's not... ''awesome'' in the conventional sense, but it is awfully emotive.

** "You Oughta Know" was only the song that put Alanis on the map. Such aggression. And then there was the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EPLb4KYpck performance of it at the 38th Grammy Awards in 1996,]] [[note]](she won 2 Grammys out of 3 nominations for the song itself, and went 2 for 3 on the album as well.)[[/note]] which dials it down to a simple rhythm section, piano, and strings. The album version is great, but that performance is superb.

** "I Want You Back". Not only did it hit #1 (as did the next four Jackson 5 singles), not only has it been sampled and sampled and sampled ("Izzo" and "Jump" and "My Baby" and "Take Me There"), not only did KT Tunstall put together [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xANiW9yWvGE a staggering SOLO live performance of it]], but the "all I need!" at the end of the breakdown is as pure as pop has ever gotten, or likely ever will.
** Jackson 5. "Dancing Machine". The Paul Oakenfold remix. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_IgkBimG7M EPIC WIN.]]

* Andy Williams singing "Impossible Dream". Oh good god. It's beautiful. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytGkkWj30kg To Fight for the Right without question or Pause!]] Tears.
* Say what you want about J-pop, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3Zb5hukgo "Shining Star"]] by Music/NamiTamaki is pure SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming|Moments}} awesome.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f_HsjpSVaI "Holding Out for a Hero"]]. Awesome by itself but quite possibly '''the''' best driving song ever.
** When it comes to Bonnie Tyler, it rarely gets more awesome than [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxhH8N3Bo "Total Eclipse of the Heart"]].

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBPtP4t2J1k "Biology"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2rZVOdOCPY "Sexy! No No No..."]]. The songs' lyrics and structure might not make any sense but by the time the songs are over, it has wormed your way into your heard and you just want to listen again to figure out what just hit you.

** Her rendition of the National Anthem at the 2017 Superbowl has been heralded as one of the best performances of the song ever, possibly even greater than Whitney Houston's legendary one at the 1991 game. As one YouTube commentor put it, "[She] could make an American out of an ISIS member with these vocals."

%%* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v0o27BPIIk "I Believe"]]. Just... ''I Believe''.

* Music/{{XTC}}. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0dXZfcw34Q "Chalkhills and Children"]] is especially epic, but there's also some strong contenders in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C6bVckO_CM "Making Plans for Nigel"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk41Gbjljfo "Dear God"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCW6Kte2o1A "Generals and Majors"]], just about everything from ''Skylarking'' or ''Apple Venus Volume 1'', etc. etc. ...

* Music/{{Mika}}. Try to listen to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEhutIEUq8k "We Are Golden"]] and not start dancing! Not to mention [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF_w7oaBHNo "Blame It On The Girls"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWiccrTB4LM "Love Today"]], and the heart-breaking [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFkSMHle8-M "Happy Ending"]]! Oh, did we mention [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awfPFIKZDf4 "Grace Kelly"]] yet?
* Two reasons to love the soulful sounds of Tavares: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI3YcjKBhQQ "More Than a Woman"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6WwvBaJmGQ "It Only Takes a Minute"]].
* Five reasons why disco doesn't suck, but the people who say it does, do: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNQYDXjXc6I Kat Mandu, "The Break"]]; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sLjBWK7bys Change, "Angel in My Pocket"]]; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUqBstdkklw Shalamar, "Right in the Socket"]]; [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixQkdY8C87M Donna Summer, "I Feel Love"]]; and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FACTx6fhpLc SOS Band, "Take Your Time"]].

** In 2009, she released [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZGhQEtb9xM "My Life Would Suck Without You"]]. It not only kicked ridiculous amounts of ass, it rocketed from #97 to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 within two weeks. '''Two''' weeks! That's what you call an overnight success and if that doesn't scream SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic, nothing does.

* It doesn't matter if it's in Spanish, you HAVE to listen Tino Casal's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppbjY4wL5kg "Eloise".]]
* Anya Marina's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0BPnJUx_Yw cover of "Whatever You Like" by T.I.]] She made it sound way better than the original.

** Say what you want about the quality of the TV show, but Series/HannahMontana's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t93u0qg5q_M "Nobody's Perfect"]] is just plain awesome.
** Cyrus got a similar reaction to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RSlhNJFohI "Fly on the Wall"]]. It was seen as the turning point where she stopped doing the rather generic songs Disney was giving her and was growing into a true artist.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY "Somebody That I Used To Know"]]. The entire song is amazing and haunting, with great production and lyrics. [[UpToEleven And then Kimbra comes in.]] The song pretty much needs its own trope page. Not to mention the music video, which compliments the song beautifully.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyVJsg0XIIk "Eyes Wide Open"]] is just as haunting as "Somebody", if not more. That music video is great too.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4_lBT1OG_Y "Save Me"]] is a surprisingly dark song about a depressed and possibly suicidal person, who finds help in a lover who saves him from himself. And the operatic background is amazing!
* Rachel Stevens' album ''Come and Get It'' was something of a commercial bomb, however, music critics have recently been asking people to not let it become a forgotten classic. When you hear [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z46DmaGCpW0 "So Good"]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-tts0dzvp4 "I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)]], you understand why.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyVZ4uVHYRw "Something To Believe In"]] by Parachute. If anything, their next album will be a [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel Surprisingly Improved]] / [[EvenBetterSequel Better Sequel]], what with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kq9aROOVSs "What I Know"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRV1LHi-Sdw "White Dress"]].

* O-Zone's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMGWYd7lvQU "Dragostea din tei"]]. It. Is. Just. So. AWESOME!

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIh5AHxh-Ok "Party Rock Anthem"]] by LMFAO all the way. The [[EarWorm insanely crazy melody and memorable lyrics]] make it worthy of any party...and worthy of holding the title "anthem".

* Eurovision 2011 produced this gem: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy2MSddSL3M "Caroban"]] by Nina.

** Oh, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KII1ruAfvsg "Rule the World"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=273eSvOwpKk "Patience"]]. Goosebumps, every time. But all of it, really, especially [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPWJ3r2CBOU live]].
** Calling "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCHg5r6rFoI The Flood]]" "epic" would be ''understating'' it.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ScjucUV8v0 "Candyman"]] is a [[GenreThrowback old-school]], jazzy, raunchy good time. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86W8gLaRm24 "Still Dirrty"]] is friggin awesome too.

* While a lot of the Spice Girls discography was derided for being saccharine and repetitive, a lot of those people have never heard [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VxCi7eUSPI "Walk of Life"]], a slow Ode to London Nightlife with hints of Jazz and Reggae. If you love your mother then [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsNbhwSXDB8 Mama]] will be NarmCharm to you. It's saccharine but it's still a sweet song. There's also the lesser known [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFBWbH5CeRE "Holler"]] which has the girls dabbling in R&B.
%%* I Blame Coco's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j6VoW6vv9Y "Selfmachine"]].

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XjNlpe7hII "Good Intent"]] by Kimbra. That and its equally fantastic music video.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRsZ_PjPyVw "Karma Killer"]] by Music/RobbieWilliams, is a spectacular, vicious TakeThat against... somebody. Possibly Music/TakeThatBand, which would be JustForFun/MadeOfWin.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtXQ31F1A-k "Sukiyaki"]] by Kyu Sakamoto. (Its actual title is "Ue o muite arukou", but the American distributor changed it for [[AsLongAsItSoundsForeign whatever reason.]]) And as covered by Selena.
* "Music/WeAreTheWorld". You got Music/LionelRichie, Music/RayCharles, Music/StevieWonder, Music/BruceSpringsteen, Music/MichaelJackson, Music/BillyJoel, Music/WillieNelson, numerous others, and a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9BNoNFKCBI HUGE backing choir of well known names]]. And twenty-five years later, they released [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glny4jSciVI another version]] with another all-star line-up.
* VanillaNinja: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq-vQalhFnY "Blue Tattoo"]]. Beautiful... just beautiful.
* Undoubtedly the most EPIC foreign pop song ever (it's in ''Swedish'') is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lahvBhZ_mOU Hall Om Mig]], attached to a quite well-known and equally incredible ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' vid.
* What do you get if you combine an indie rock singer-songwriter whose music has been featured on many movies and shows and an incredible female singer who's known for "Love Song"? You get [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzOjhur-VdQ an amazing duet.]]

%%** "Time After Time" also has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWy0DhVgZn0 the Quietdrive cover.]]

* Music/SClub7 may be cheesy teen pop, but [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FR0SBQd4X4 "Have You Ever"]] is pretty good.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U41KPUfOSFk "Mirrors"]] is amazing. It gives us many reasons to welcome him back to mainstream pop.
** Before that, he sure did bring [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKuzyO0WykI sexy back]].

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN2tHv8gPm8 RELAX!]] [[EarWorm DON'T DO IT!]]
* This qualifies as power-pop but pop nonetheless: Everclear. The entirety of ''So Much for the Afterglow'' counts as the best of its genre, but in terms of a single song, go with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUfgAbFY4CA "Wonderful"]]. The lyrics are what make it really awesome.
* Jessie Ware. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyY5upiRO8Q "Night Light"]] will never leave your head, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u03f5Wnwff0 "Imagine It Was Us"]] will make you dance. That qualifies as awesome, right?
* Maria Willson might have been unlucky enough to have her record company go under when she was just starting out but she was still able to release the awesome [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF8wgxzBnVc Mr Alibi]].
* Emma Bunton's solo career was topped off by the ridiculously catchy [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX1Df_sjdzY "What Took You So Long?"]] which also proved that she had one of the best voices in the Spice Girls.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_MGWio-vc This]] version of "Little Drummer Boy" by Pentatonix certainly qualifies as "awesome".

* They may have been criticized for their use of synthesizers for some of their music, but Music/AceOfBase do have songs that fit this category, like the catchy reggae of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OB28fTKSds All That She Wants]]" and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNPjeIamsck The Sign]]", which can even perk up the grumpiest person on Earth.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7_KzwT2f7k Push Away]] is deeply emotional. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FjUpAA0a1M demo]] might be even more so.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJoGkj-mFXc Out of Touch]] is darkly energetic, with wildly fluctuating tones. Special mention goes to the short guitar riff after the first chorus.

** His soulful, energetic performance on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGy9i8vvCxk The Man]] makes you feel warm all over.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7jVqok1bqw Ticking Bomb]] lends his vocals to a dark beat as he croons apocalyptic, which was awesome enough for a Battlefield 4 commercial.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFZP8zQ5kzk I Need A Dollar]]. The instrumentation makes it sounds like he's having such fun, even as he comments on the poor state of the economy.
* Olly Murs' "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdHOxdrJzNQ Army of Two]]". With an [[EpicInstrumentalOpener opening section of strings]], lyrics about [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments how much Murs loves his fans]], the epic marching band-styled beat and those ''sweet'' synths in the background, it's certainly a winning moment in pop music.

** If you think that's catchy, wait til you hear [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqY I Love It]], featuring Charli XCX.

* In the world of KPop, the undisputed queens are hands-down Music/GirlsGeneration. Love them or hate them, SNSD consistently attains an ''all-kill'' (#1 on each of the Top 7 music charts in Asia) with every single or album they make... usually [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome within a few hours of release]]. To date, their most famous song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7mPqycQ0tQ Gee]] has ''over 152 million + views'' on YouTube. Not as high as, say, Taylor Swift, but they are still the most popular girl group in Asia ''ever.''
* Heidi Montag's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKcXiR8qUkI Body Language]] is a really catchy song that proves that not all reality TV stars are bad at singing.
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq3Q3FfJkK4n Footloose]]" by Music/KennyLoggins is just made up of awesome.
* Music/KylieMinogue's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNNAkCyCyBw Light Years]]"; a dazzling piece of dance, and a perfect conclusion to the album of the same name.
* Dannii Minogue isn't called 'Queen of Clubs' for nothing. Try "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5zwZaIIv3Y I Begin to Wonder]]", "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sw-ASUnPYA Who Do You Love Now?]]", and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqFi8kqVxMA On the Loop]]"; all great dance songs.

** "Gravity", putting it's amazing music video aside, is just SugarWiki/SweetDreamsFuel, despite the TearJerker lyrics.

** "Gravity", putting it's amazing music video aside, is just SweetDreamsFuel, despite the TearJerker lyrics.

** "Daydreamer" is SweetDreamsFuel in song form.

-->'''Noel Gallagher:''' If it touches people, it's a good song. You know, people go on about Take That – but 'Back for Good' said something to me. And if it touches me...