That would be this one, of course.
Don’t insult my intelligence by trying to claim you never heard this one before, you liar. Part of what makes this a veritably flawless pop song is that 1) EVERYBODY has heard it before; 2) everybody likes it; and 3) everybody remembers it well.
There ya go, those three fulfill pretty much all the requirements.
The melody is so catchy and infectious it never really leaves your head, provided you aren’t a complete music-hater…which almost nobody actuallly is. The central guitar riff and fills are ditto, same-same with the vocal harmonizing and the call-and-response-style backing vocal in the turnaround. The rhythm is bouncy and eminently danceable, checking the last remaining box in confirmation of the song’s GOAT status.
Helping to advance the case still further is that all the performances are spot on, both instrumental and vocal, as are the mix, the editing, and the mastering. The lone questionable aspect here is the subject matter, which even so makes the whole enchilada stand out in the average person’s mind as unusual, even unique, thereby turning what might have been a minus into a plus. More proof, as if any were needed, is this YT commenter’s assessment:
@warpig4942
5 years ago (edited)Almost 40 years…. still the most famous phone number on Earth.
Yep, no argument from me.
Lightning sure struck in a big way this time, not just for Tommy Heath and his band but for all of us.
- Entries
Well damn, haven’t heard that in a long time.
“Almost 40 years…. still the most famous phone number on Earth.”
For sure.
I like it. I would have sworn it was released much earlier than late ’81, just a few months shy of my 29th Bday.
Mike, I think you’re right about it being the greatest pop-rock song. And it will be damn hard to beat.
What a classic. I dialed the number in my current and former area codes: Call Failed! 🙁
I wondered how they came up with that number:
“I started playing 10 in the morning trying to write a song. I just came up with this number, I don’t know where it came from, it came out of the blue.””
The origin of the number “867-5309” from the famous Tommy Tutone song
Being a shy high schooler when this one hit was absolute torture. But yeah, it sticks with you like that Mickey one.
🙂
I guess with your name it was not the same as everyone else…
Lies! Nothing but lies! Everyone knows that “I’ve Never Been to Me” is the greatest pop song of all time!
Wait a second…are you SERIOUS??!
Hi. I’m SteveF. It appears that we haven’t met. I’m heavily sarcastic and I joke about everything.
Well, I’m glad you aren’t a troll. You really had me going, there!
About that…
NO! It’s ‘Sugar’ by The Archies.
My preference would be American Pie, or Mr. Bojangles.
I guess I don’t know the definition of “pop-rock” as I don’t put the two in the same class.
Pop-music songwriting with elements of hard-rock production?
I wouldn’t gainsay Mike’s judgment in matters musical, but here’s a real pop-rock contender: Fantasy, by Aldo Nova.
Me neither, but I would guess the Who’s Won’t Get Fooled Again is rock, while ABBA’s Dancing Queen is pop.
Walking On Sunshine is another fave of mine.
Or Please Go All The Way by the Raspberries.
Or Might As Well Be Walkin On the Sun by Smash Mouth
And anybody whos ever heard it remembers the number
Following my joke about “I’ve Never Been to Me” being the GOAT, see if anyone can guess what’s been stuck in my head for a few days?
This calls for a “Congratulations! You played yourself!”
Hey, don’t knock I’ve Never Been To Me! That song taught me how to cry.