Is Pop Music Really So Simple?

starrynight · 07-06-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abearmauledme

I recently had an argument with a friend about what constitutes "Pop Music". He said that pop music must be simple, repetitive, easy to digest and very popular.

Some rock music can be very simple and repetitive.

Ben Butler · 07-07-2011, 08:16 AM

Yes, it is any music that is popular and mainstream. It tends to be sold for the mass and comercial imperative and rarely covers anything that may have a serious message in it.

tommycas · 07-07-2011, 08:37 AM

It all depends on the artist who is making the music. Rock and country music is even considered to be simple (what did Harlan Howard say and Bono echo, "3 chords and the truth". Talk about simplicity. I think that many younger listeners have an axe to grind with Pop music (the Justin Beibers, Jessica Simpsons etc.) Lots of people say that they don't make music like they use to. That is the truth. However, life is impermanent. Change is necessary and music is still good these days.

starrynight · 07-07-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Butler

Yes, it is any music that is popular and mainstream. It tends to be sold for the mass and comercial imperative and rarely covers anything that may have a serious message in it.

A lot of rock music is basically love songs too. And all music is made with an intent to be sold. And although you say what people call pop nowadays (big label chart music) is aimed at the masses the truth is many people of all ages don't like it too. And there is much pop that isn't well known and so can't sell as much as it doesn't get the same exposure.

Ben Butler · 07-08-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starrynight

A lot of rock music is basically love songs too. And all music is made with an intent to be sold. And although you say what people call pop nowadays (big label chart music) is aimed at the masses the truth is many people of all ages don't like it too. And there is much pop that isn't well known and so can't sell as much as it doesn't get the same exposure.

Agree to a certain extent, not all music is made with the intent to sold. Some music is made for the love of it and for people who appreciate the music to share with them. These are the bands/artsists that don't go very far up the ladder and don't make a lot of money sady.

Pop isn't just chart music, it's anything that is mainstream and popular and that sells. The charts are generally for younger people, one of the only commercial media products that is aimed at precisely this age demographic.

starrynight · 07-08-2011, 11:45 AM

Arguably most music is made for the love of it. Most music I think is made with an audience in mind, whether that be a large or small one. And something that isn't chart music isn't mainstream in the conventional sense? Young people certainly tend to be the main focus for chart music, but sometimes in the past maybe more older groups could enjoy chart music as well, nowadays perhaps less so.

djchameleon · 07-08-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starrynight

Young people certainly tend to be the main focus for chart music, but sometimes in the past maybe more older groups could enjoy chart music as well, nowadays perhaps less so.

I disagree with this, with every generation most parents pretty much despise whatever their kids are listening to and want them to turn it down.

They go around claiming that music back in their day was of higher quality than whatever their kids are listening to.

starrynight · 07-08-2011, 02:08 PM

I agree. But maybe more parents enjoyed disco in the 70s for example than enjoy Lady Gaga now. Anyway I said more and not most.

Anteater · 07-08-2011, 02:45 PM

I think you guys are trying to umbrella too much stuff together: "Pop" can refer to anything repetitive and simplistic, but that's not necessarily the same as a band/artist having good "pop sensibility".

Take bands like 10cc, Gentle Giant, It Bites, or Gentle Giant for instance: they'd do commericial length/commercially viable music and infuse that music with multiple time changes, eclectic instrumentation, dissonance and sometimes fairly complex lyrics...and often succeed in bringing all these seemingly incompatible elements together with flourish.

Pop, my friends, is only limited by what you perceive it to be. The longer you keep your ear to the ground, the more likely you'll be to run across music that contradicts common definition.

starrynight · 07-08-2011, 02:58 PM

I know, I said early on here that pop isn't really a genre. 10cc obviously did songs that are more pop style, by 70s standards anyway. Obviously over time how people view a style can change.

07-08-2011, 11:45 AM	#16 (permalink)
starrynight Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 937	Arguably most music is made for the love of it. Most music I think is made with an audience in mind, whether that be a large or small one. And something that isn't chart music isn't mainstream in the conventional sense? Young people certainly tend to be the main focus for chart music, but sometimes in the past maybe more older groups could enjoy chart music as well, nowadays perhaps less so. __________________ non-cliquey member of every music forum I participate on

07-08-2011, 02:08 PM	#18 (permalink)
starrynight Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 937	I agree. But maybe more parents enjoyed disco in the 70s for example than enjoy Lady Gaga now. Anyway I said more and not most. __________________ non-cliquey member of every music forum I participate on

07-08-2011, 02:58 PM	#20 (permalink)
starrynight Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 937	I know, I said early on here that pop isn't really a genre. 10cc obviously did songs that are more pop style, by 70s standards anyway. Obviously over time how people view a style can change. __________________ non-cliquey member of every music forum I participate on

07-07-2011, 08:16 AM	#12 (permalink)
Ben Butler Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Rudheath Posts: 393	Yes, it is any music that is popular and mainstream. It tends to be sold for the mass and comercial imperative and rarely covers anything that may have a serious message in it.

07-07-2011, 08:37 AM	#13 (permalink)
tommycas Groupie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 13	It all depends on the artist who is making the music. Rock and country music is even considered to be simple (what did Harlan Howard say and Bono echo, "3 chords and the truth". Talk about simplicity. I think that many younger listeners have an axe to grind with Pop music (the Justin Beibers, Jessica Simpsons etc.) Lots of people say that they don't make music like they use to. That is the truth. However, life is impermanent. Change is necessary and music is still good these days.