# Give me some really catchy and/or hooky up-tempo songs. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 6, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295 "2008-05-06T14:58:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/1 "2008-05-06T14:58:53Z")
I’ve had a bit of a sweet-tooth, acoustically speaking, the last few months. Little help? It doesn’t have to be anything original or great, just something I can bob my head to on the L train. I’ll start: [Letter From an Occupant](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBAUQaj6EJo), The New Pornographers [Go](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpMoKU1mqKg), Apples In Stereo [Show Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KyrzxKiGIg), Mint Royale [Church On Sunday](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzhcPdVGxS0&feature=related), Green Day [Step Aside](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCla38opsDQ), Sleater-Kinney [Hey Ya](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGnYw-OuCnI), Outkast (for those just waking up from comas) [She’s Electric](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V6DkWec35k), Oasis ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/2 "2008-05-06T15:22:23Z")
**Heart** by Rockpile, from the Seconds of Pleasure LP. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/3 "2008-05-06T16:02:31Z")
[QUOTE=Sigmagirl] **Heart** by Rockpile, from the Seconds of Pleasure LP. [/QUOTE] Perfect, $.99 to iTunes. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/4 "2008-05-06T16:13:31Z")
\*\*Subaru \*\* and **Bright Future in Sales** by Fountains of Wayne **Are You Gonna Be My Girl** by Jet **What I like About You** by the Romantics - quite the standard by now… **Platinum Blonde Life** by No Doubt **My Sharona** by - well you know **Dancing with Myself** - Billy Idol \*\*Sedated, Rockaway Beach \*\* and my fave \*\*Sheena is a Punk Rocker \*\* by the Ramones I don’t know the names of all the songs on the new Raconteurs album, but a few songs qualify… bazillions of others, but you get the idea…oh, and I would add \*\*Sugar \*\* by Rockpile… ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/5 "2008-05-06T16:21:33Z")
I’m thinking of a bunch of songs by XTC: Statue of Liberty Mayor of Simpleton All You Pretty Girls No Thugs in our House Ball and Chain Sgt Rock ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/6 "2008-05-06T16:22:24Z")
Rockpile got me thinking of Nick Lowe, which led me to She Don’t Love Nobody and Ragin’ Eyes. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/7 "2008-05-06T16:22:45Z")
Do Your Thing, by Basement Jaxx. I can’t hear it without chair-dancing. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/8 "2008-05-06T16:25:52Z")
“Choked Up” by Whiskeytown, which I recently found out isn’t on any of their records but some compilation. “How Will You Shine” by the Gourds. I think you can listen [here.](http://www.thegourds.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/9 "2008-05-06T16:47:03Z")
Chick Habit and Hold Tight off the soundtrack for Death Proof. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/10 "2008-05-06T17:07:32Z")
\*It Will Stand \* by the Showmen. ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/11 "2008-05-06T17:10:01Z")
Grace Kelly by MIKA This has been in my head since yesterday… ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/12 "2008-05-06T17:31:16Z")
Paper Planes by M.I.A. while being more of a hip hop song, certainly fits the bill. One of the most awesome choruses of all time. For something a little more guitar oriented, there’s Aside by the Weakerthans. ---
**Author:** ![nevermore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@nevermore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevermore)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/13 "2008-05-06T17:42:21Z")
_Handpocket_ or _Twins in Love_ by Best Friends Forever (actually, most of their songs. I doubt you’ll find their album in stores, so check their myspace for some free downloads) _The Fix_ by Minus the Bear _Sad Sad City_, _Piano Man_, or _Shoot 'Em Down_ by Ghostland Observatory _I Want Candy_ or _White Kids Love Hip Hop_ by MC Chris (aka MC Peepants) _Daft Punk Is Playing At My House_ by LCD Soundsystem _Ooh La La_ by Goldfrapp whatever that retardedly addictive song is by the Ting Tings on the new iPod commercial ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/14 "2008-05-06T17:48:00Z")
**Bob Mould** - “See A Little Light” **The Housemartins** - “Get Up Off Our Knees” or “We’re Not Deep” **Buzzcocks** - “I Don’t Mind” **Marshall Crenshaw** - “You’re My Favorite Waste Of Time” or “Cynical Girl” **The dB’s** - “Black And White” **The Go-Betweens** - “Love Goes On!” or “Right Here” **The Pogues** - “London Girl” or “Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah” **Apples In Stereo** - “Please” I’ll second the XTC recommendations and add “Respectable Street” (though “Statue of Liberty” and “Mayor Of Simpleton” are better bets for what you’re looking for) ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/15 "2008-05-06T18:19:41Z")
Straight from my “Butt Wiggle” playlist… “Not my Slave” by **Oingo Boingo** “Hyperactive” by **Thomas Dolby** “Short Skirt Long Jacket” by **Cake** “Dare” by **Gorillas** “Fell in Love with a Girl” by **White Stripes** “Steal My Sunshine” by **Len** “Dancing With Myself” by **Billy Idol** “Nothing But Flowers” by **Talking Heads** “Do You Wanna Hold Me” by **Bow Wow Wow** ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/16 "2008-05-06T18:31:20Z")
[QUOTE=Sunshine and Smiles] Paper Planes by M.I.A. while being more of a hip hop song, certainly fits the bill. One of the most awesome choruses of all time. For something a little more guitar oriented, there’s Aside by the Weakerthans. [/QUOTE] You beat me to it! I opened this thread to recommend _Paper Planes_. So, I’ll second the recommendation by Sunshine and Smiles. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lovely_Margo_Lane)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/17 "2008-05-06T19:29:57Z")
[“That’s When the Ceremony Starts”](http://www.amazon.com/Mississauga-Goddam-Hidden-Cameras/dp/B00049QMG8) by the Hidden Cameras. I love peppy with orchestration. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/18 "2008-05-06T19:38:04Z")
_Modern Love_ - David Bowie _Walkin’ on Sunshine_ - Katrina and the Waves _What I Like About You_ - The Romantics _Snake-Handler_ - Jupiter Coyote RR ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/19 "2008-05-06T19:44:13Z")
[shameless plug] My partner has been honing her Garage Band skills lately (and enduring my unsolicited Producer advice), and cooked up [this](http://www.macjams.com/song/42245) little up-beat instrumental number. It is an original composition using a few percussion loops. You do have to register for macjams if you want to download it. [/shameless plug] ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lovely_Margo_Lane)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295/20 "2008-05-06T19:51:48Z")
well, if we’re plugging friends, here’s my favorite [Jenny Penny tune](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIcfT6pxTjI): “Suck it Up” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-me-some-really-catchy-and-or-hooky-up-tempo-songs/448295.md?page=2)