Robyn, “Dancing On My Own” (2010)
find it on Body Talk Pt. 1

I had to answer the question “what is indiepop” this week. It’s one of my favorite questions to answer, since I get to point out that pop music is an approach, not just a term for music that’s popular. My answer for the “indie” part is a little more suspect, though: that it’s something that differentiates that love of immediate, catchy music instead of music that’s made to sell.

That’s not really it, though, is it? I mean, is there any doubt that there isn’t a deep love of music for the sake of music in “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough”, Prince’s “Kiss”, or ABBA’s “S.O.S.”? All of these songs were made to sell, but there’s nothing but love in them.

So it is with popsters like Robyn. There’s no question that it lives to sell, but there’s no way you can write a chorus this catchy without a genuine appreciation for musical hooks. It has the same kind of complex chorus that makes “Knowing Me Knowing You” so brilliant, and while the quality here isn’t quite as deep, it’s catchiness is just as satsifying.