10 Greatest Forgotten Songs Of The 2000s
6. Peter Bjorn And John - Amsterdam
A band often derided as one-hit wonders, Peter Bjorn and John’s inescapable Young Folks paid the price for being too catchy, too perky, too irresistible for advertisements. If that chirpy slice of whistle-pop put you off, though, Amsterdam may be the perfect balm.
Cards on the table: yes, there’s whistling in this one too. But while Young Folks' shrill topline could emanate from the pursed lips of a village idiot, Amsterdam's whistle is something almost funeral, especially combined with the dragging drums and low, choral, multi-tracked vocals.
All this adds up to a piece of music that is genuinely unsettling. It’s the story of a holiday, but with so much left unsaid. While Young Folks squats in your brain, this one burrows under your skin. It’s sparse, simple stuff with a vocal melody built around a few close notes and a weird, wistful soundscape.
It was never going to catch fire the same way as Young Folks, but it proves that Peter Bjorn and John had a lot to offer. If only their pop sensibilities weren’t so sharp at the first time of asking.