The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count
{{Infobox song
| name = The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Divine Comedy
| album = Liberation
| A-side = "Lucy"
| released = 16 August 1993
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Britpop
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=20}}
| label = Setanta
| writer = Neil Hannon
| producer =
- Jon Jacobs
- Neil Hannon
| next_title = Something for the Weekend
| next_year = 1996
}}
"The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count" is a song by the Divine Comedy. Written by Neil Hannon,{{cite AV media notes|title=A Secret History – The Best of the Divine Comedy |type=CD booklet|publisher=Setanta|id=SETCD100|year=1999}} it was originally recorded for the Liberation album and was issued as the B-side of "Lucy".
''The Best of the Divine Comedy'' version
{{Infobox song
| name = The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count
| cover = Divine-Comedy-The-Pop-Singers-CD.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Single release
| type = single
| artist = the Divine Comedy
| album = A Secret History... The Best of the Divine Comedy
| B-side =
- "With Whom to Dance"
- "Eric the Gardener (acoustic)"
- "This Side of Paradise"
- "Vapour Trail"
- "Jackie"
| released = {{Start date|1999|8|9|df=yes}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Britpop
| length = 3:53
| label = Setanta
| writer = Neil Hannon
| producer =
- Jon Jacobs
- Neil Hannon
| prev_title = Something for the Weekend
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = Gin Soaked Boy
| next_year = 1999
}}
The song was re-recorded for the 1999 compilation album A Secret History... The Best of the Divine Comedy. It was released as a single from that album and peaked at number 17 in the UK singles chart and number 24 on the Irish singles chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Rescue%20Me%20ft%20Chance |title=The Official Charts Company - The Divine Comedy - The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count |accessdate=26 February 2009}}{{Cite web |title=The Irish Charts - All there is to know |url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=www.irishcharts.ie}}
= Track listing =
All tracks written by Neil Hannon; except where indicated.
CD single #1
Setanta Records / SETCDA070
{{track listing
| title1 = The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count
| length1 = 3:53
| title2 = With Whom to Dance
| writer2 = Stephin Merritt
| length2 = 2:39
| title3 = Eric the Gardener (acoustic)
| length3 = 4:34
}}
CD single #2
Setanta Records / SETCDB070
{{track listing
| title1 = The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count
| length1 = 3:53
| title2 = This Side of Paradise
| length2 = 3:56
| title3 = Vapour Trail
| writer3 = Ride
| length3 = 3:23
}}
Cassette single
Setanta Records / SETMC070
{{track listing
| title1 = The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count
| length1 =
| title2 = Jackie
| writer2 = Jacques Brel, Gérard Jouannest, Mort Schuman
| length2 =
}}
Critical reception
In an AllMusic album review of Liberation, critic Ned Raggett said the song was influenced by the English rock band XTC. He also noted is "slipping in as much wry humor as he does gentle pathos and reflection{{snd}}plenty of all three."{{cite web|last=Raggett|first=Ned|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/liberation-mw0000225726|title=Liberation – Review|website=AllMusic|accessdate=6 September 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Divine Comedy (band)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count, The}}
Category:The Divine Comedy (band) songs
Category:Songs written by Neil Hannon
Category:Setanta Records singles