See, when I hear “I Gotta Feeling,” I hear the bones of a genuinely good pop song – thank you, David Guetta – basically ruined by will.i.am’s worst impulses. It’s like the song starts off as belonging to someone else, and then partway through it becomes a Peas song and starts to suck.

I borderline-hated “Boom Boom Pow,” but I think the reason so many critics softened on it and gave it a pass (Jody Rosen near-loved it) is it’s an unabashed Peas song through and through, with all of their stupidities on proud display. I’m not saying that makes it good (I still flip the dial when it comes on), but I will say that makes it more…I dunno, pure or something, you know?

@Chris: UNFORGIVABLE! ;-)

Great analysis though! Ugh, those Peas just won’t stop. I actually like “gotta feeling,” but really loathed “boom boom pow,” so I don’t know how to feel at this point.