Jam of the Week

I love music, especially pop(ular) music, e.g. true pop music, R&B, hip hop, rock or country. If it's playing on the Top 40 radio station, I can generally at least stand it. I thought about what my first Jam of the Week would be. I know there will be a lot of songs from the 80s and the 90s featured because that's how I roll, but I decided to go with a current song because it allows me to discuss the pop scene and what it takes (and doesn't take) to have a hit. So without further ado, the inaugural Jam of the Week is... E.T  by Katy Perry.

Yes, I'm serious. I love this song. I don't love Katy.

To be perfectly honest, she rubbed me the wrong way a few seasons ago on American Idol when she acted as a guest judge. I thought she came across as bitchy and I found it laughable that she was judging other people's vocal ability when hers is less than stellar.

But back to the point. I love this song for several reasons. It has a great beat. The chorus gets stuck in your head. It makes me want to dance. Kanye West adds a nice touch and gives the song some street cred.

Basically, it has all the trademarks of a great pop song. It's a formula that has stood the test of time and will continue to do so, regardless of the singer. Sometimes this annoys me and I find it very hard to overlook the singer's shortcomings (i.e. anything by Miley Cyrus), but if the production is great and the singer's role is limited, sometimes I don't mind as much.

Katy Perry herself is almost incidental in the song's success. Her vocals are the least important part of the song. The producers made a great decision when they replaced her sung bridge in with a Kanye rap in the radio edit because she sounds strained and it's unpleasant to my ear.

What do you think? Do you like the song? Do singers with limited vocal ability annoy you or don't you care as long as the song is catchy?