What Is Pop Music?

[incubus]

It used to be like Madonna, Michael Jackson, George Michael, that kind of stuff powered with clips on MTV. In recent times, I have no idea

Oh, let me help you out.

If it has "oh oh oh oh" all through it, or the "yoooddddlly autotunes" or especially or you get carsick listening to it (cuz dat sidechain pump!) then it's "pop"

Alternatively, virtually anything rap, which will usually use all 3 elements at length. (just like all the beats/riffs they ripped off before that, AMEN )

[ATN69]

If it makes your ears "pop" then you know

[nineofkings]

I initially wanted to say "it's pop if it's popular" but I guess that's not strictly true. I wouldn't call classic rock pop even though it's popular. I guess a better definition is "it's pop if it stylistically reflects what's popular at the moment." That's how you can have "indie pop" like Halsey or St. Vincent, who aren't wildly popular (yet) but have stylistically similarities to some artists who are.

Hey, I like your answer. You got any video links for Halsey or St Vincent? I would check them out at YouTube but I think it's best to give example(s) of the particular song(s) because some bands can be diverse with their compositions (meaning they can be poppy, rocky, alternativy, etc). Which song(s) of Halsey or St. Vincent are poppy to you? I really want to know what are people's definition of pop music is. It's a "learn" thing.

It's weird cause St. Vincent's actual music takes a lot of cues from alternative rock, but she registers as pop because of the production and the format of a female solo artist. Here's one of her most pop sensibility songs:

Here's Halsey, much more straightforward:

[harryupbabble]

I guess example songs by Halsey and St. Vincent, and my example song of Twisterella, and songs by Madonna, Michael Jackson, George Michael, Huey Lewis & The News, could fit point 1 below.

Pop music according to Wikipedia:

1. The main medium of pop music is the song, often between two and a half and three and a half minutes in length, generally marked by a consistent and noticeable rhythmic element, a mainstream style and a simple traditional structure. Common variants include the verse-chorus form and the thirty-two-bar form, with a focus on melodies and catchy hooks, and a chorus that contrasts melodically, rhythmically and harmonically with the verse. The beat and the melodies tend to be simple, with limited harmonic accompaniment. The lyrics of modern pop songs typically focus on simple themes – often love and romantic relationships – although there are notable exceptions.

2. Pop is not a do-it-yourself music but is professionally produced and packaged.

3. In 2014, pop music worldwide is permeated by electronic dance music.


Is point 2 true? What about "bedroom producers"?

If point 3 is correct then KVR Audio is just the right place to ask what pop music is because KVR Audio is primarily all about electronic dance music? Correct me on that if I am wrong.

So, right now, in 2015, the most common reply to my question should be something like "Pop music is the music that I make"?

[harryupbabble]

If it makes your ears "pop" then you know

Music by these guys?

Decibel records

1969
Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone argues that "Whole Lotta Love" established Led Zeppelin's reputation as one of the loudest bands of their time.

1972
Deep Purple held the record and were recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records as the "globe's loudest band" when in a concert at the London Rainbow Theatre their sound reached 117 dB. Three of their audience members were rendered unconscious.

1976
The Who were listed as the "record holder", at 126 dB, measured at a distance of 32 meters from the speakers at a concert at The Valley in London on 31 May 1976.

1984 and 1994
The heavy metal band Manowar is one claimant of the title of "loudest band in the world", citing a measurement of 129.5 dB in 1994 in Hanover. However, The Guinness Book of World Records listed Manowar as the record holder for the loudest musical performance for an earlier performance in 1984. Guinness does not recognize Manowar's later claim, because it no longer includes a category of loudest band, reportedly because it does not want to encourage hearing damage.

1986
In 1986, an article by Scott Cohen was published in the February issue of Spin entitled "Motörhead is the Loudest Band on Earth". In this article, Cohen mentions an undated concert in which the Cleveland Variety Theater was damaged when the band Motörhead reached a reported decibel level of 130.

Pioneering English House/Electronica band Leftfield became known for the volume of its live shows on the tour to support their debut album Leftism. In June 1996, while the group was playing at Brixton Academy, the sound system caused dust and plaster to fall from the roof. Sound volume was 137 dB.

1998
Hanson set a record for the loudest crowd at a concert, at 140 decibels, with the decibel meter pinged at the loudest it could go.

2007
British punk band Gallows allegedly broke Manowar's next to last record for loudest band in the world, claiming to have achieved 132.5 dB; however, this record was claimed in an isolated studio environment as opposed to live.

2008
Manowar achieved an SPL of 139 dB during the sound check (not the actual performance) at the Magic Circle Fest in 2008.

2009
On July 15, 2009, in Ottawa, Canada, the band Kiss achieved an SPL of 136 dB measured during their live performance (not the sound check). After noise complaints from neighbors in the area, the band was forced to turn the volume down.

[NystagmusE]

To me "pop" music is music that is designed to be popular. It doesn't actually need to be popular in reality. It's just that it's invented and marketed in such a way as to appeal to as many buying people as popular. This is why it's broadcasted so much everywhere. Its just trying to become popular via mass media.

A lot of truly good music which is popular with fans is not pop music at all. Consider Tipper, for example.

[Numanoid]

Pop is the sound your monitor creates when you shut it off/on

The ghost in the machine

[harryupbabble]

Pop is the sound your monitor creates when you shut it off/on

The ghost in the machine

Interesting. But, if a robot in a humanless forest turn a portable monitor off and on and portably records it... would the recording contain the pop sound? Yes, it would. So, what is this article in Wikipedia all about? And is the word "trees" replaceable with the phrase "pop music"?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_a_tree ... n_a_forest


Philosopher George Berkeley, in his work, A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge (1710), proposes, "But, say you, surely there is nothing easier than for me to imagine trees, for instance, in a park and nobody by to perceive them. The objects of sense exist only when they are perceived; the trees therefore are in the garden no longer than while there is somebody by to perceive them."

I could be wrong but I'm guessing there were no sound recorders back in George Berkley's time of 1710.

[t3toooo]

Funnily, a friend of mine recently mentioned a fictional book about music on a planet in a parallel universe,they called their popular music "opo".

The story is something along the line like this.
Music on this planet was always a integral part for those citizens.It was a constantly evolving process and the music styles where diverse and rich they changed quite rapidly too until one day some dark zodacs came along and took the music away from the folks.
They pressed the music in fixed shapes,stole names,melodies and ideas and only allowed specific music to be played.

I have no idea whats the name of this book and the author but i will take a look and add it later to this post.

[incubus]

Pop is the sound your monitor creates when you shut it off/on

The ghost in the machine

f**k, I HATE it when that happens!

[tapper mike]

[Jace-BeOS]

I like that Wikipedia version. It's relatively fad proof. Right now, the fad of over-tuned artificial thickening, etc of vocals is a fad within pop music. It doesn't define the structure of the overall music.

But then, I don't listen to the radio (can't stand it), nor watch "music television", so I'm behind the times on the tunes that are currently "topping". The industry has ruined itself, so I only pay attention to established acts I already liked before and the current independent acts I chance to encounter through the web. Sadly, most of the web-discoveries die out for lack of income. Anyone heard from 2Sleepy or The Last to Sleep lately? Or they turn into something I actively dislike (here's looking at you, The Model).

[harryupbabble]

Anyone heard from 2Sleepy or The Last to Sleep lately?

Looking at just their band name(s), sounds like a band I can relate to. Which song of theirs is their most poppy? Got links?

[harryupbabble]

American Pie by Don McLean

I've heard this song before on radio. I'm not sure if it was on an oldies station, or, most likely, classic rock station.
Great whistleable melody. Interesting lyrics. Required elements of pop music?

Is it about a fan? Who is the "I" and why does the "I" want to die? Because the music died? What music? Pop music died? Rock music? I guess mystery could be great for any music type, including pop music.

But Google can demystify anything, it seems. But it has to be an article where the actual songwriter explains what the song is about. It might be a problem finding such an exact article. I actually at one time, a year ago maybe, had the thought of "I gotta Google that song and see what's it about" but I got distracted and forgot to do it. This time, I'm going to do it for sure, unless I get distracted again.

This just occurred to me, if it was sung with more disgust instead of sadness, it could sound like something Kurt Cobain might have written. It would have been interesting to hear Nirvana and other bands like that cover that song, but that might also anger fans who might think "leave it as it is, don't spoil it".

Thanks for the link and example.

[PatchAdamz]

The problem with normal is it always gets worse.