Pop Music

Save the "It means popular" comments. Try not to be anal.

Basically, pop music is either seen as a guilty pleasure or something to be hated with venom.

However, it's undeniable that there have been some incredible pop or pop orientated artists in music over all time, some of it ranking as arguably the best music ever (Prince sometimes, Jackson etc).

So what pop music do you like, if at all?

What pop music do you believe is responsible for the tag it's acquired as a damned genre?

What era do you think produced the best pop music? Modern or earlier days?

What, to you, constitutes pop music or a pop song?

-AC

Well, I had a conversation with VVD about that, and I guess they are not really that Pop but I like "The Smiths", who I guess considered themself Pop (at least Pop enough to perform on "Top of the Pops"😉 and I like "Pulp" a lot, which argueably are Pop too. The thing is I can not pinpoint what Pop means really. As you said, "popular" would make things easy, but also make it pointless as a genre (and as I speak London Calling is playing on a Documentary which schocks me, ...back to topic). I also like "The Beatles" who might be considered "Pop" as well, besides them not being it. I think Pop is a very wide genre, and it usually means what actually is mainstream at the moment, although some artist consider themself Pop without being Mainstream.

I think The Beatles are very much pop also. They're more or less the first major popular boy band (this isn't meant as derogatory before people go mental).

To me, pop is the likes of Michael Jackson, some Prince, along the lines of Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross (pop-soul I guess you could say).

-AC

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
I think The Beatles are very much pop also. They're more or less the first major popular boy band (this isn't meant as derogatory before people go mental).

To me, pop is the likes of Michael Jackson, some Prince, along the lines of Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross (pop-soul I guess you could say).

-AC

Not Marvin Gaye. Arguably Diana Ross.

I think pop is almost like 'default' music.

First test- does it fit into any other genre?

Second- is it popular/mainstream?

It's almost like a definition of exclusion: it is pop if it's nothing else.

I think Michael Jackson is always the classic pop archetype. Even then, though, you can see clear differences between that and other pop, IE George Michael, Elton John, Madonna.

would The Postal Service or The Shins be considered pop?

Not The Shins; I haven't heard anything by The Postal Service.

Pretty simple structure. Clear hooks. Catchy. Not too deep (not meant as a negative). Nothing truly heavy. Doesn't take a million spins to "get".

Id consider that pop.

Originally posted by Bierbommetje
Not too deep

if you’re referring to The Shins, I suggest you read some of their lyrics

Originally posted by Morgoths_Wrath
if you’re referring to The Shins, I suggest you read some of their lyrics

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
Not The Shins

Hmmmmm....I like Black eyed peas, Nelly sometimes, Sean Paul, Weezer, Linkin Park and the Neptunes.

Weezer and Linkin Park aren't pop bands. Linkin Park are a shit rock band and Weezer are an excellent one.

Weezer do very much have pop sensibilities though.

-AC

pop is something that everyone can get into. i guess someone like beyonce could be considered pop because all age groups can listen to her songs and there's really nothing threatening or experimental with her music. it's music that's easy to swallow, i guess.

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Weezer and Linkin Park aren't pop bands. Linkin Park are a shit rock band and Weezer are an excellent one.

Weezer do very much have pop sensibilities though.

-AC

Pop sucks.......Britney Spears, Nsync, Backstreet Boys, etc...

J-Pop is the only pop I can tolerate.

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri

What, to you, constitutes pop music or a pop song?

A fast electronic beat with NO bass, and cheesy lyrics about love by either a chick or a group of phaggots.

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Weezer and Linkin Park aren't pop bands. Linkin Park are a shit rock band and Weezer are an excellent one.

Weezer do very much have pop sensibilities though.

-AC

LP is a metal band with a rapper.

Mike Shinoda is a good MC, he should leave LP and pursue a solo career.

I classify 'pop' as music that has a good melody, a catchy chorus and lasts around the three-minute mark.

The best pop music is from the 60s/70s...Jackson 5, ABBA, the Bee Gees, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas, the Supremes, The Beatles - They all made great pop music.

Recent good pop artists include Madonna...and...uh...that's about all I'm willing to venture. Actually, I consider Linkin Park as good pop band. Sure, they can easily be put in the 'rock' category, but most of their songs fall into my definition of 'pop', so that's where they shall remain.

Qualifying statement: When I say they are 'good', I mean it in the context of other pop bands like Busted, Westlife, TheStupidTwentysomethingsSingingForTeenAgers, etc.

I like some pop like MJ and The Beatles and whatnot however I find that even the best pop tends to get old quicker than most other music. Just my view.. to me a catchy jingle can only go so far.

Some bands... like Coheed and Cambria... I've been listening to for a while. They recently became a little popular. By which I mean they started showing their music videos, and I hear some of their songs on the radio.

Some pop music is alright.

Originally posted by Smallville
Some bands... like Coheed and Cambria... I've been listening to for a while. They recently became a little popular. By which I mean they started showing their music videos, and I hear some of their songs on the radio.

Some pop music is alright.

Although Coheed are very far from being pop.