High and tight, please

December 13, 2022 10:20 AM

I am looking for more pop music (broadly construed) that features a vocalist with a high-pitched voice and a strong focus on the specifics of the production. That is, I'm looking for music that some might call "overproduced." Here are some bangin' examples, each from an album full of the sort of thing I'm looking for: Aqua - Around the World (2000), The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Out of Frequency (2012), Japanese Breakfast - Be Sweet (2021).
posted by 4th number to Media & Arts (26 answers total)

So, like Chvrches?

Maybe also Hundred Waters. Another example.
posted by saladin at 10:25 AM on December 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Mika - Grace Kelly
The Darkness - I Believe In a Thing Called Love
posted by underclocked at 10:43 AM on December 13, 2022 [3 favorites]

Best answer: The Japanese Breakfast track reminded me of Cindy Lauper, eg

When You Were Mine (And Prince’s original, actually)

Good Enough

And of course Girls Just Want to Have Fun
posted by Dwardles at 10:48 AM on December 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Also, Kate Bush-

Wuthering Heights

Hounds of Love

Cloudbusting
posted by Dwardles at 10:55 AM on December 13, 2022 [4 favorites]

How about Madonna Ray Of Light?
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 11:04 AM on December 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

Annie Lennox-Eurythmics may fit your jam.
posted by mightshould at 11:08 AM on December 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

The Eurythmics are perfect for this - they specifically wanted to make perfect pop songs. Strong co-endorse. I love Love is a Stranger.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 11:20 AM on December 13, 2022

Hoku Perfect Day
posted by indexy at 11:27 AM on December 13, 2022

A lot of You See Colours by the Delays is this, particularly Valentine and You and Me. RIP Greg Gilbert.
posted by rpophessagr at 11:31 AM on December 13, 2022

Some of Grimes fits into this (particularly). (Damn that video rules.)

Surely you would love Abra.

Feel like some of this Dawn Richard era qualifies.

Rina x Charli is close!
posted by RJ Reynolds at 11:34 AM on December 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Also, I was surprised to learn that Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe was produced/mixed by Skinny Puppy's Dave Ogilvie, and now when I hear the song I can totally hear the industrial music production techniques applied to pop.
posted by indexy at 11:39 AM on December 13, 2022 [3 favorites]

Might be pointing out the obvious, Madonna's First Album is designed to be pretty much exactly what you're looking for.
posted by flug at 12:19 PM on December 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The late, great SOPHIE came to mind immediately:

"BIPP"
"VYZEE"
"Just Like We Never Said Goodbye"
posted by misscleo3861 at 1:10 PM on December 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

I am fond of that Aqua track also and would note that its "round - the - world" background vocals feel to me very strongly Abba-influenced, so ... maybe Abba tracks with Agnetha/Frida lead vocals would fit the bill? Dancing Queen would be the canonical example.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 2:43 PM on December 13, 2022

Thinking the same thing, Mamma Mia by A*Teens would cover that nicely (pun intended).

The Vengabus is Coming!

Better Off Alone - Alice DJ
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:56 PM on December 13, 2022

Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me

(the whole record is amazing)
posted by General Malaise at 4:50 PM on December 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Grace Ives? Check out “Loose”

Seconding Charli, Chvrches, and Carly Rae.

Maybe Caroling Polachek, Wet Leg, La Roux?
posted by snofoam at 5:28 PM on December 13, 2022

The Bird and the Bee fits this description perfectly. Highly recommend everything of theirs.
posted by slogger at 5:29 PM on December 13, 2022

Lately I've been enjoying Blue Rev, the new album by Alvvays.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 6:52 PM on December 13, 2022

A bunch of bands I think of as being sort of post-Chvrches bands also really adopted that almost falsetto voice range, like Naked and Famous - for instance Young Blood or Punching in a Dream - Yumi Zouma - like In Camera - and Purity Ring - Begin Again - come to mind.

A little rock-ier than some of the examples, but perhaps also Charly Bliss - maybe Young Enough - and Pains of Being Pure at Heart's songs that are sung by Peggy Wang, such as So True.

More classically/disco era, in line with the ABBA recommendation, lots of Bee Gees, like Tragedy.
posted by urbanlenny at 7:15 PM on December 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

Your question immediately made me think of Marina and the Diamonds.
posted by wondermouse at 8:21 PM on December 13, 2022

https://youtu.be/Rfr9bhSmfXc

Kylie Minogue‘s “Can’t get you out of my head”
posted by creiszhanson at 9:20 PM on December 13, 2022

You've likely heard it before and, whether you have or not, you'll either love it or hate it (9/10 people hate it), but Pink Floyd's Great Gig in the Sky might be something that fits the bill.
vocalist with a high-pitched voice - tick, but a range of 'vocals' as well.
music that some might call "overproduced - tick, because overproduced is kind of their thing.
posted by dg at 10:26 PM on December 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Katy Perry - Last Friday Night

Grimes - World Princess Part II

Basically everything of Hannah Diamond - e.g. Attachment // Every Night // Make Believe // Hi
posted by rollick at 6:06 AM on December 14, 2022

When I saw this question, the first song to come to mind was St. Patrick by PVRIS.
posted by sockshaveholes at 6:46 AM on December 14, 2022

Aqua's lead singer Lene has a solo album that fits the bill.

Some of Darren Hayes's work (particularly from The Tension & The Spark onwards) might work, but I would especially recommend his semi-secret project We Are Smug for the "overproduced" factor.
posted by creatrixtiara at 10:17 PM on December 15, 2022