BY ALLISON RECHT
We all know about the one hit wonders. Vanessa Carlton, The Temper Trap and countless others all seem to have one hit, while the rest of their songs fail commercially. But what about all the great tunes that just don’t seem to become successful? Here’s a guide to some of the best unheard pop songs today:
1. “By My Side,” David Choi – Probably my favorite one on the list, “By My Side” is just a sweet love song with an equally charming music video.
2. “Rough Gem,” Islands –Although no one has ever heard of this indie rock group from Canada, they should have. This track is upbeat and bubbly with hints of techno. (Unfortunately, the music video isn’t as good.)
3. “I Hear the Bells,” Mike Doughty – Widely known because it was featured on the TV show “Veronica Mars,” “I Hear the Bells” is way more than just a background song with witty lyrics and great vocals.
4. “Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia),” Patrick Stump – Aside from his role as the lead singer of Fall Out Boy, Patrick Stump is more than capable of producing catchy, likable songs on his own. Besides, the music video is incredible. His album came out on October 18th, which included the new hit single “This City” featuring Lupe Fiasco.
5. “Come On! Come On!,” Morgan Laurence – This unsigned singer doesn’t put his music on iTunes, so this extremely cheerful and melodic song can only be found on either YouTube or MySpace.
6. “Fine by Me,” Andy Grammer- Most people recognize Andy Grammer from his song “Keep Your Head Up,” a pop song with a hilarious music video (Rainn Wilson makes a great creeper). Unfortunately, the rest of his music, which is often just as good, tends to get ignored.
7. “Faster Ride,” Cartel – A classic boy band with a classic pop song, “Faster Ride” is an infectious song that’s perfect if you’re ever craving something simple and fun.
8. “Hey Julie,” Fountains of Wayne – From the band that brought us the summer classic “Stacy’s Mom,” comes this super sweet song that tells a simple love story relatable to everyone.
