Why is the POP3 mail protocol so slow and why hasn't a new version of POP been developed that fixes the speed problem? I'm pretty sure that it would be far faster to just download a compressed file containing all the messages and then unzip it and parse it locally. POP3 is fine when you keep up with your mail, but leave for a week and come back and I end up waiting quite a while to get all the mail downloaded.
posted by HappyEngineer on Nov 3, 2009 - 13 answers

Songfilter: help me find out what this early 90s era pop song that is stuck in my head is [more inside]
posted by MattMangels on Oct 19, 2009 - 7 answers

Can you recommend good electro remixes of indie / pop music? [more inside]
posted by mikeweeney on Oct 18, 2009 - 20 answers

[SongID filter] So I heard a song while shopping in the Banana Republic outlet store this morning, and I really liked it. [Don't judge me, Judgy Judgerton...] It sounded a lot like the Magnetic Fields (I'm still half-convinced the voice was Stephen Merritt), a little like M Ward, a little like Jens Lekman. It had a bunch of jangling bells, some shushy instrumental bedding, and the only lyric I can remember being repeated: "but in a hundred years, I'll be right back here." It's not a lot to go on, but by your powers combined ...
posted by mr. remy on Sep 19, 2009 - 2 answers

Just a curiosity - why do you think that the overwhelming trend in rock 'n' roll / pop style music with male lead vocals is for the male vocalist to sing in a tenor / high tenor / contratenor or higher range - viz. Steve Perry, Triumph, etc.? I just wonder because that isn't the trend so much in other popular music - blues, R'n'B, country, traditional folk, etc. It's simply puzzled me for years and I wonder if MeFi has any theories?
posted by BrooksCooper on Aug 31, 2009 - 12 answers

Wacky ear question: Sometimes when I speak out loud one or both of my ears will pOp and I can't hear anything but my own voice. What the heck is going on and how can I get it to stop? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 31, 2009 - 7 answers

I like Amy Winehouse, psychobilly, the Pipettes, the Acid House Kings, the O Brother... soundtrack, and even that throw-back-to-the-Andrews-Sisters Christina Aguilera song. I have a craving for music produced in the now but inspired by the 1930s to early 1960s, with my favourite era being the 1940s. Can you recommend anymore good contemporary rock/pop bands along these lines, including psychobilly bands I may not have heard about yet? [more inside]
posted by flibbertigibbet on Aug 30, 2009 - 52 answers

How do I set up Yahoo Mail Plus to receive my email from other accounts? (more inside) [more inside]
posted by healthyliving on Aug 18, 2009 - 3 answers

What's some good, danceable French indie pop/electro? [more inside]
posted by decoherence on Aug 15, 2009 - 19 answers

"If I say that I love you, and you know it's true" - identify this early 60s English pop song [more inside]
posted by martinrebas on Aug 12, 2009 - 3 answers

Help me identify a song that was on a tape in an Italian restaurant. [more inside]
posted by Xurando on Aug 1, 2009 - 4 answers

Most interesting hip-hop, country, and pop of the 2000s? [more inside]
posted by kathrineg on Jul 29, 2009 - 21 answers

i'd like to learn more about chords/tunings/techniques conducive to a really ethereal shoegaze/dreampop guitar sound. [more inside]
posted by austere on Jul 28, 2009 - 12 answers

Hi, I would like to know song's that are similar to Let's Get Loud. By similar I don't mean songs by Jennifer Lopez. By similar I mean songs that have the same musical structure, beat, flow, rhythm and genome attributes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Music_Genome_Project_attributes). I have no access in Pandora's music service so I need specific answers. Song titles and artist's name will do. Thanks in advance for any help on this matter.
posted by yoitsfrancis on Jul 20, 2009 - 6 answers

Beer cozy? Beer coozy? Which one is it, and why? [more inside]
posted by rossination on Jun 24, 2009 - 43 answers

Airplane ear-popping. Why? [more inside]
posted by lockestockbarrel on Jun 23, 2009 - 13 answers

What are some good pop/rock songs that feature an accordion? I'm not looking for any polka/cajun/zydeco-influenced sounds, but more traditional rock tunes - think "The Last Beat of My Heart" by Siouxsie and the Banshees or even "What it Takes" by Aerosmith - where it's just another backing instrument.
posted by adverb on Jun 20, 2009 - 29 answers

I'm interested in finding more upbeat-sounding synthpop or alt/pop singles with electronic elements for my music library. [more inside]
posted by mccarty.tim on May 31, 2009 - 40 answers

Anyone know what happened to NZ singer Donna Savage? [more inside]
posted by elmono on May 29, 2009 - 3 answers

After reading this AskMe, I decided to use Mac's Mail program to keep copies of my messages on my gmail account on my computer. However, I wanted to use the "IMAP" option to keep copies of all my mail both on the web, in gmail, and on my computer, in Mac Mail. Instead, something else happened and now I'm in trouble. [more inside]
posted by foxy_hedgehog on May 18, 2009 - 7 answers

I give up! I know I saw a link to this silly glam rock band here or on the blue, but I can't find now and it's driving me NUTS! [more inside]
posted by maryh on Apr 29, 2009 - 7 answers

Linguistics-Filter: Can you help me figure out the pop-culture origins of the term "creep"/"creeper" (referring to an unsavory character)? [more inside]
posted by niles on Mar 30, 2009 - 23 answers

I have been enlisted to DJ a high school dance. I need some cool, danceable music that I won't feel ashamed for playing. Now, I myself am a high school student, but my musical tastes deviate a little from what most of my compatriots would consider danceable. Whereas they listen to Basshunter, I listen to Selected Ambient Works 85-92, for example. However, I cannot play music that people will not like. Some suggestions? [more inside]
posted by Bahro on Mar 27, 2009 - 40 answers

There's a beautiful, beautiful summer pop song I heard maybe five years ago, that supposedly either won a songwriting competition or came close, and now I can't find out for the life what it was - please help. [more inside]
posted by Ash3000 on Mar 20, 2009 - 4 answers

What's this song? It was on US Top 40 radio in the late 80s. It's a mashup sorta thingie of musical styles, starting out with a big band playing "In the Mood" and moving forward through different popular music styles to the modern day. IIRC at the very end there is a brief return to a little bit of In the Mood.
posted by Lou Stuells on Mar 18, 2009 - 4 answers

Black balloons in chilly, sunny weather. Will they pop? [more inside]
posted by Lucinda on Mar 13, 2009 - 7 answers

What did the refrigerator door become "the place" to hang kids' art, notes etc.? [more inside]
posted by I_Love_Bananas on Jan 18, 2009 - 15 answers

I meant to buy root beer, but grabbed the wrong thing and came home with cream soda. What can I do with it? [more inside]
posted by Meg_Murry on Jan 11, 2009 - 28 answers

sorry if this is just so insanely obscure it is impossible. I heard this record that was apparantly a new york band. It was pretty obscure (probably the kind of thing reviewed in the Wire or a similar magazine) and may be classed under such genres as 'new weird america' or freak folk. Musically it was sort of a mishmash of electronica and some feedback and acousticy stuff with a male vocalist, and (this is the key thing) was a double album and probably quite recent (2007 or 08). May have been considered suitable for a late night mood. Any suggestions?
posted by iamnotateenagegirl on Dec 29, 2008 - 18 answers

Peppy indie/foreign pop? [more inside]
posted by sondrialiac on Dec 29, 2008 - 23 answers

There's this whole group of British pop songs that sound like the chorus to the song "Elenore" by The Turtles. Only I'm not British and don't know them. Do you? [more inside]
posted by rileyray3000 on Nov 29, 2008 - 23 answers

Plastic Bottle cap anatomy: See this picture. What's the blue part called? Does it have a name?
posted by bofe on Nov 7, 2008 - 5 answers

I'd like some rock en español recommendations, current stuff in particular. I used to listen to a lot of Spanish language pop and rock in the past, but I don't know what's out there these days. [more inside]
posted by needled on Nov 6, 2008 - 12 answers

Email Filter: Why aren't I using POP instead of IMAP? Which do you use and why? [more inside]
posted by jak68 on Nov 1, 2008 - 13 answers

Why do I appear to have POP access to my yahoo.com e-mail address via GMail? [more inside]
posted by bdk3clash on Oct 16, 2008 - 2 answers

"Pop!" goes... my entire body? [more inside]
posted by np312 on Oct 9, 2008 - 9 answers

Music video question: It's probably from the late '90s or early aughts, and it might be a Canadian band, rock-pop. I remember the lead singer might be named Dave, or have his band named after him in some way, but it's not Dave Matthews. It's just a video staged in a blue studio with text overlaid about current socio-economic and political crises in the world. Decoration is very sparse and involved things like ladders and amps; the blue tone to the video is overwhelming. Can you help me find this music video?
posted by flibbertigibbet on Oct 5, 2008 - 5 answers

I'm having a great deal of trouble receiving my University email in Outlook 2000. My University uses Google Apps, which allows me to use Gmail as my webmail service, but does not assign me a Google or Gmail account. The domain of my email address is myuniversity.edu, not gmail.com. For this reason, Outlook does not recognize the username and password that I use to log into my email (through my university's website). I have tried following gmail's tutorial (complicated by the fact that they don't offer one for Outlook 2000) with no success. I've tried reporting my incoming mail server as both pop.gmail.com and pop.myuniversity.edu. Any ideas? Did I miss any important info?
posted by i_am_a_fiesta on Sep 23, 2008 - 10 answers

What are the background singers singing in this Dionne Warwick tune? [more inside]
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord on Sep 10, 2008 - 3 answers

Can you identify this 1970s pop/disco/r&b song? [more inside]
posted by droplet on Sep 4, 2008 - 5 answers

I want to make popsicles. Actually, quiero hacer paletas. I can NOT find paleta molds. Help?? [more inside]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur on Sep 1, 2008 - 15 answers

What are some good 70's and 80's songs suitable for playing in a pharmacy? My father owns a family pharmacy and we have an iPod with nice 70's and 80's songs set to play for the customers. Can you tell me some that I can add to the playlist? Remember nice calm easy listening ones are best, and no dirty or bad songs about dying etc.. To get an idea of some of the songs I have here's a link to the playlist so far. Specific songs are great, but I will also take artists. Try not to give duplicates. If 10 people give 10 songs that's 100 new songs! Thanks!
posted by ptsampras14 on Aug 18, 2008 - 34 answers

Please help me identify this pop song. It sounds Brazilian, probably from the 1960s or '70s.
posted by gentle on Aug 1, 2008 - 3 answers

With the recent discovery of a trove of Delia Derbyshire tracks, my interest in early synth and electronica has been reawakened. Help me find some good stuff. [more inside]
posted by oflinkey on Jul 29, 2008 - 19 answers

I'm looking for music that has "pop" mass appeal and lyrics that are ironic/post-modern. In other words, intelligent, but not intelligent at first glance. Some acts that I've found which fit this criteria are: Steely Dan, Scritti Politti, and Beck. Any other recommendations?
posted by matkline on Jul 16, 2008 - 46 answers

Let's say you're putting together a mix of your favorite obscure 1990s pop/rock music. What are the top couple of tracks you'd be sure to include? [more inside]
posted by iamisaid on Jul 2, 2008 - 72 answers

I'm looking for songs with the Catholic sound - like Enigma: Sadness. [more inside]
posted by ChabonJabon on Jun 23, 2008 - 16 answers

I'm for looking non-karaoke instrumentals to sing over, preferably free. Ideally someone just playing an acoustic guitar or piano with no vocals, limited frills and high recording quality, either jazzy standards or pop. It's actually pretty hard to find all three at once on youtube and other such sites, so I thought I'd give Mefi a shot. Somebody must have a collection...any ideas?
posted by StrikeTheViol on May 17, 2008 - 5 answers

I am using a computerized telephone management system called Advanced Call Center. One of its features is it emails me whenever I receive a call at my business. That feature needs and uses the Telephone Applications Programming Interface (TAPI) feature within Outlook to function. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind on Apr 20, 2008 - 4 answers

60s pop art painting of a Gulf sign -- who is the artist? [more inside]
posted by ROTFL on Apr 14, 2008 - 10 answers