Pop Goes The World by Men Without Hats - Uhune

ALBUM

Men Without Hats broke big with their 1982 debut, Rhythm of Youth. Though they never maintained that level of success, their third album Pop Goes the World was a smart, well-crafted, woefully underrated offering. The album chronicles the quest for and backlash of fame on songs like the title track, on which Ivan sings "Johnny and Jenny had a crazy dream/See their pictures in a magazine." Perhaps it was a way of dealing with the band's sudden success/failure, particularly on "Lose My Way" and "The Real World.." Thankfully, a wild sense of humor and a heartbreaking poignancy keeps the album from becoming too serious. Additionally, each song is vastly different: there are some lullabies ("Moonbeam"), some anthems ("Jenny Wore Black"), and some dirges ("Bright Side of the Sun" -- which is criminally short, adding to its power). Cartoonish but dark, this album marries wide-eyed innocence with cynicism in its recurring themes (celebrity, loss, rejuvenation, the vastness of our world) and characters (Jenny and Johnny, who are credited with bass and guitar, respectively). It takes a few listens to fully absorb the stories and lessons interwoven in Pop Goes the World's synthesizer-driven, somewhat goofy, sometimes somber cuts. Though there are some quirky aspects to the album (from the intro with a beckoning voice like that of Newcleus' helium-driven "Jam on It" to an intro to "Walk on Water" that sounds like a faraway voice on a hissing vinyl album), nothing seems gimmicky. Overall, the album is solid, smart, haunting, and complete. ~ Bryan Buss

1. Intro

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Doroschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Doroschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Doroschuk; Other

2. Pop Goes The World

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

3. On Tuesday

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

4. Bright Side Of The Sun

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

5. O Sole Mio

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

6. Lose My Way

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

7. The Real World

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

8. Moonbeam

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

9. In The Name Of Angels

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

10. La Valese D Eugenie

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

11. Jenny Wore Black

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

12. Intro/Walk On Water

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

13. The End Of The World

by Men Without Hats

Primary Artist: Men Without Hats; Main Performer
Composer: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Composer
Producer: Men Without Hats
Zeus B. Held; Production
Composer Lyricist: Ivan Boraschuk; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

13 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

41 minutes and 41 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 3000x3000 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

12/13 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

5/13 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Alternative, New Wave

Label

Mercury Records

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 1986

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

602507218409