In Search of Baroque Pop

Before you accuse the Jean of being too wrapped up in music labels- sunshine pop, baroque pop, etc.- let me say in my defense I, too, abhor labels that limit or constrain artistic freedom. But, I find labels useful when learning about something new since labels can actually help to enhance understanding and enjoyment of music, wine, architecture, or whatever. Few musicians set out to create sunshine pop or baroque pop, but nor do such sounds appear out of thin air. Labels can be an efficient tool in studying the origins, development, and influence of any art form. If you hear a piece of music and like it, then labels may be the only way to help you find similar music.

Lee Hazlewood

While on my never-ending quest for more sunshine pop, I stumbled across baroque pop which for lack of a better definition is overly dramatic pop/rock incorporating classical music elements such as brass, strings, wind, or harpsichord. Comparisons with sunshine pop are inevitable and really there is not much difference between the two genres (in fact, some songs can qualify as both sunshine pop and baroque pop, not to mention psychedelic). But to me, baroque pop usually feels a bit more European whereas sunshine pop feels more Californian. There is also chamber pop used to describe contemporary artists who emulate ‘60s baroque pop masters, but- with the exception of the Divine Comedy- I am distrustful of these latter-day imitators and prefer to go to the source material.

Richard Harris

When searching for baroque pop, it is often the strings, harpsichord, and overblown drama that are the dead giveaways. And if it’s music to which you can picture Richard Harris in a pirate shirt dancing around a park with his arms in the air with a bunch of hippies, then it is also most likely baroque pop. Here are some of my favorite baroque pop discoveries. Enjoy!

01. Scott Walker – “Duchess” (1969)

02. Burt Bacharach – “South American Getaway” (1969)

03. Bee Gees – “Turn of the Century” (1967)

04. The Beatles – “Eleanor Rigby” (1966)

05. Bee Gees – “Had a Lot of Love Last Night” (1974)

06. Lee Hazlewood and Suzi Jane Hokom – “Summer Wine” (1966)

07. The Kinks – “Village Green” (1968)

08. Honeybus – “I Can’t Let Maggie Go” (1968)

09. The Kinks – “Two Sisters” (1967)

10. Lee Hazlewood and Suzi Jane Hokom – “Sand” (1966)

11. Bee Gees – “Please Don’t Turn Out the Lights” (1972)

12. The Turtles – “Like the Seasons” (1967)

13. Scott Walker – “Two Weeks Since You’ve Gone” (1969)

14. Scott Walker – “Best of Both Worlds” (1968)

15. The Beach Boys – “Fallin’ in Love (aka Lady)” (1970)

16. The Divine Comedy – “A Lady of a Certain Age” (2006)

17. The Divine Comedy – “Absent Friends” (2004)

18. Simon and Garfunkel – “Leaves That Are Green” (1966)

19. The Association – “Birthday Morning” (1966)

20. Richard Harris – “Paper Chase” (1968)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...