[fredgreek]

There's a new jingle for Tony Blackburn's Pick of the Pops on BBC Radio 2 today. Its based on the Sign of the Swingin' Cymbal theme tune. I like it.

[ratnobMember]

Well done, Fred, for getting this to us so quickly.
I struggled to hear “Pick of the Pops” in the initial sing. I thought it said “Picking the past …”.

It's very like the introductory jingle for Simon Mayo and we therefore assume it's by Groove Addicts.

Is it me, or is it rubbish?

G

[GrahamCollins]

I too failed to pick out the lyric until the third listen… A bit shouty and thoroughly unremarkable. Another golden opportunity for the classic Dallas sound is missed. Shame on you Radio 2. The programme is crying out for PAMS resings.

[mumoss]

ratnob wrote:
Well done, Fred, for getting this to us so quickly.
I struggled to hear “Pick of the Pops” in the initial sing. I thought it said “Picking the past …”.

It's very like the introductory jingle for Simon Mayo and we therefore assume it's by Groove Addicts.

Is it me, or is it rubbish?

G

I like the idea, but I also don't think “Pick of the Pops” is very clearly sung at all. Couldn't make it out at first.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, that kind of jingle is just aching for JAM-style vocals.

[jingle fan]

Listening now and it really has no extra spark. Tony just keeps on repeating “Radio Two”, The only new jingle is weak and as others have said really needs some Jam plus some countdown sung 10 9 8 7 etc. Can't help but wondering what sort of a job “Rockin Ron” would do! The music is good but still the old format of two charts. Might as well kept Dale on.

[gameswizardMember]

I knew it wouldn't be JAM.
http://www.jinglemad.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?82725.0#post_82730

[IainJohnstonMember]

Sounded like “Pick of the PAPS” to me on the first half-dozen plays of Fred's link – and the middle sounded like the rhythym section was lifted from the theme from Channel 4 TV's “Countdown” programme.

Dallas singers will sing “in American”, in “Texan”, “in English” as requested (JAM certainly did in clear accent-free English for me; Ben Freedman/Ken Justiss even tried “Scottish sonovox”!) – so why do UK jingle companies (not just the company “featured” on this one) have to sing in duff fake-Atlantic accentuation (or even worse!)?

At least it's sung…

[Barras]

Chalks wrote:
The programme is crying out for PAMS resings.

It`s sooooooooooooooo obvious isn`t it !

Perhaps someone at BBC Radio 2 has been reading the Jinglemad threads about Radio 2 jingles and deliberatley not buying PAMS jingles from JAM or buying JAM jingles from JAM !

[DavidHemsley]

i like it . . . i think the “pick of the pops” sing sounds great

sad to see that we are getting back into the “if it's not JAM we'll knock it” mode here . . .

[ratnobMember]

David Hemsley wrote:
sad to see that we are getting back into the “if it's not JAM we'll knock it” mode here . . .

Don't think so. Some of are just saying we think it's helpful if you can hear what the singers are actually singing.

[mbMember]

I love it – I love the style of the singing I think it has a very “60's” feel to it – energy and vibe, Love the emphasis of Tony Blackburn, I love the way they've used the iconic POTP Theme. In the 60's a lot of those PAMS jingles did have an american twang to them. Also and I've heard this quote on many many jingle demos from TM and JAM and others just because the show plays old tunes it doesn't have to sound old. They are not trying to recreate the sound of radio of that era they want to play the classic hits with contemporary presentation.

[IainJohnstonMember]

“if it's not JAM we'll knock it”

Now I didn't say that, personally – never mentioned any specific company – Geoff has it right IMPO – it's about DICTION!

I'm not advocating going back to the “slightly-posh” English vocals of e.g. Alfasound (or indeed “offfllllyyy-posh” ones of EMIson) – I just like to be able to make out what is being sung or said when I listen to the radio…and in a car especially where there's a lot of ambient noise at all frequencies!

In over 40 years of Jingle Collecting I've heard plenty of “what did they sing just there?” stuff from just about every jingle company – it's basically as simple as old-fashioned “Quality Control” (a frowned-upon phrase in general, not just jingles! in today's world).

I do wonder though – did Mr. Blackburn get offered a “free choice” in what company to choose for the jingle? Or did the programme's “Producer” have that privilege?

PS – I defy ANYONE to accurately re-construct the full original “official” lyrics from the vast majority of classic Rolling Stones tracks by merely trying to listen to them being played!!!
:^)

[mjb1124Member]

To me, this sounds more 80's than 60's. That said, it's a catchy tune, and the instrumental is well-produced, but I agree that the vocals could be better. To me, it sounded like they sang “Pickle the pots”.

[DavidHemsley]

ratnob wrote:

sad to see that we are getting back into the “if it's not JAM we'll knock it” mode here . . .

Don't think so. Some of are just saying we think it's helpful if you can hear what the singers are actually singing.

I was meaning the whole site in general . . . sometime I think it should be renamed “Jam-mad.com” (jammad sounds too much like something I would eat with chips . . .)

[gameswizardMember]

David Hemsley wrote:
sometime I think it should be renamed “Jam-mad.com”

Why not have sub-forums related to individual jingle companies?

[rakMember]

I didn't listen to the MP3 until I'd read this thread, and was pleasantly surprised having seen the comments – I quite like the cut. To my ears it doesn't sound American – I'd guess it's a Wise Buddah production?

[bobgreenradioMember]

i guess it sounds ok, i dont know what you all in england consider it should be, but, not knowing its use enviroment, on 'jingleness' its fine.

[IainJohnstonMember]

“you all in england”

Bob…BOB…BOB!
May I again very politely point out to our US friends that we live here in an entity which is a political & monarchical Union called the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” (“great” as in “bigger bit” from the French “Grande Bretagne (Brittany)“) which comprises (in roughly decending order by population size)…
England, Scotland, Wales, (N.) Ireland

BBC Radio 2 is one of a number of “national” services that coves the entire UK, not just the England part of it.
:^)

We don't consider the entire USA to be “you all in Texas“, just because its the biggest state! So please – why do many Americans seem to think that “England” is an entire ISLAND or something? DOH! It's just a bit of one – Try “World Geography 101” please!

I Thank You – rant over! Normal Service will now be resumed!
:^)

So – back on topic…
Regardless of the semantics (or the perceived “quality” of this single jingle), lets be fair – BBC Radio 1 and 2 have over many years always used their current “jingle contractor of the day” to provide “top-ups”, whether it be the odd additional cut such as this, or a re-mix of the news intro, or “add-on” mini-packages (prime examples being the various JAM bundles “between new full packages” that catered for single special events (e.g. Live Aid in the 80s), or the constant flux of arriving/leaving DJs, or high-profile programming features such as “Bates in the States/Japan/etc” and much more
– but NOTHING will ever beat “Legs LaBelle, Live from Hollywood“!!!)

It's probably due to the dearth of “interesting” new material as entire packages these days that recent arrivals of “single cuts” have caused more (acrimonious?) debate than any of the strong flow of new customs/syndication resings would ever have generated in the more “bountiful” years.

Mike – certainly won't be the first time its been suggested that there should be different Sub-Forums (or even just plain separate Threads) for discussions (or even, dare I say it – arguments!!!) about different individual jingle companies!
So, who wants to stand up in front and cast the first stone then?

[bobgreenradioMember]

aha! well, blame our rotten public school system. we are grilled with puritan landings on that rock in plymouth, then we leap to the boston tea party..war..out new friends (for all of a week, france) haha, then ww1, and ww2. thats about it until thatcher and reagan.
sure. we know ireland, n & s, and scotland, and…et/al, but were sloppy you guys are britts, from england, speaking english. the american error you point out lives in canada too.
were a big, huge plot of dirt here. texans? i guess the only one to fault you would be a new yorker…but remember, nobody here likes new yorkers! haha…hey! why else would we plant the u.n. in nyc?
now…i must go and have my tongue removed from my cheek. then i need to get this silly grin removed from my face…

[Barras]

bob green wrote:
now…i must go and have my tongue removed from my cheek. then i need to get this silly grin removed from my face…

Now i`ve got you sussed..you are the American Dad…

[IainJohnstonMember]

Well done Bob, for taking it all in good part!
:^)

[bobgreenradioMember]

hahaha
just remember. we call it haddock & frys…with lotsa catchup.

[IainJohnstonMember]

And in Scotland, a “Fish Supper”, or a “Special Fish Supper” if its done in breadcrumbs instead of just batter!
(…if anyone knows what on Earth we're talking about, I'm lost too!)
:^)

Back to jingles……(pleeeezze!)

[jingle fan]

Yes I suppose that I am bias and favour Jam. But I do like other Jingle houses as well. In my collection I have a wide choice. Not all Jams productions do I like but I tend to like deep production with something that has a melody, is catchy and tuneful plus to be able to sing along with the words. This is far from being the screechy female type of style of late but I feel could have had more excitement and clarity. I do agree that Pams would be going too far but a richer sound would be better for my ear. Perhaps I am getting into a grumpy old jingle fan reliving the “Good old Days” Sorry.

[fredgreek]

Noticed that S2Blue has put a message on their Facebook page today – they're resinging some PAMS jingles for Tony Blackburn's new Radio 2 show today.

So this must mean he'll have some more new jingles when the show goes live for the first time at the end of this month!

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=156549021060391&id=23849640632

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