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"In defence of Pop"

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Wed 02/01/02 at 23:07
Regular
Posts: 787
Why do you like a band and loathe another? What about music genres? Be honest now…

Some people make a fuss about really hating certain styles of music. Let’s look at Pop as an example of this, shall we. Why would anyone hate pop music? It does little harm and doesn’t offend anyone (at least, not lyrically) so why all the big fuss about it?

Well, there is a well used argument that all of pop is artificially created and that pop musicians have absolutely no talent themselves, they are merely puppets to corporate suits who stand behind them working the strings. This may be true for a few bands or singers, but the whole of pop music? Well, that’s going a bit too far. Lets look at the argument in more detail.

Pop music is only about ‘suits’ making money.

The business men behind music know that they can make a lot of money. Is it only pop music they focus on? No, of course it’s not, they are often in charge of a whole lot of bands, from rock to pop and even dance, as long as they get their money, most are happy to sign and support any new band.

When (or if) the band becomes famous, they will celebrate. Of course, they will, in the same way that people will celebrate winning the lottery or making money any other way. Does this make the musicians any less musical? No, they are creating music because they want to and not because they are told to. Ok, so some of them merely sing music that other people have written for them, but then this has also been going on for years and it’s simply entertainment, whether you like the music or not.


There is no talent in pop.

The musicians themselves actually believe they are making music that people like to listen to, and why should we doubt them? Millions of people buy their singles and albums every day and are happy to listen to the music that their favourite bands produce. The argument goes that the artists haven’t got any talent, well who has? Talent can be shown in live performances. Some bands can’t sing for toffee live, a lot of singers for dance bands, metal, rock, indie and pop can’t do the live thing and have to resort to studio effects on their voices, but not everyone. There are plenty of pop bands and singers that can actually sing, and sing well. They can produce moving Ballards or shiny pop that is as innocent looking as the young band members themselves.

The bands are manufactured

Yes, from the Monkees to Heresay, quite a few bands have been put together by the business themselves. Is this a bad thing? Get together a whole bunch of people who can sing and make them a group. Does this make them any worse than, say, 3 friends who met in a pub and decided to form a band? I think not. Ok, so if they can’t sing then that’s a valid point and just reflects badly on the people who put the band together in the first place, same as any other genre of music really.

It’s too popular.

Funny that, pop music being popular! Who’d have thought? But it’s not just popular because a load of people have been hypnotised by evil men in suits either, a lot of people who have sound judgement go out and buy a Steps album or something by the Corrs because they like it. Not because the band stands for something or doesn’t like cruelty to animals or something, merely because they like the sound of the music. What’s wrong with that? Surely the same argument can be used against the other types of music, perhaps you are listening to music because it’s cool and others that you want to be like are also listening to it? Perhaps you hate pop music mainly for the image it represents? So what do you think that says about you? That you follow the crowd (be it the minority or whatever)? That you are forcing yourself not to like something that secretly you could actually listen to quite happily?

I hate pop.

So you really hate all pop music. Fine. Just so long as you hate it because you really can’t stand to listen to it, not because your friends would ridicule you for singing to S Club 7 or listening to Kylie. Even so, it’s very hard to believe that anyone could hate the sound of all pop music, given the extent of style and the many bands to choose from.
Thu 03/01/02 at 10:58
Regular
"You've upset me"
Posts: 21,152
Good post with some good arguements there, Pb. well done. I'll comment later as I can't be bothered to now :-)
Wed 02/01/02 at 23:07
Moderator
"possibly impossible"
Posts: 24,985
Why do you like a band and loathe another? What about music genres? Be honest now…

Some people make a fuss about really hating certain styles of music. Let’s look at Pop as an example of this, shall we. Why would anyone hate pop music? It does little harm and doesn’t offend anyone (at least, not lyrically) so why all the big fuss about it?

Well, there is a well used argument that all of pop is artificially created and that pop musicians have absolutely no talent themselves, they are merely puppets to corporate suits who stand behind them working the strings. This may be true for a few bands or singers, but the whole of pop music? Well, that’s going a bit too far. Lets look at the argument in more detail.

Pop music is only about ‘suits’ making money.

The business men behind music know that they can make a lot of money. Is it only pop music they focus on? No, of course it’s not, they are often in charge of a whole lot of bands, from rock to pop and even dance, as long as they get their money, most are happy to sign and support any new band.

When (or if) the band becomes famous, they will celebrate. Of course, they will, in the same way that people will celebrate winning the lottery or making money any other way. Does this make the musicians any less musical? No, they are creating music because they want to and not because they are told to. Ok, so some of them merely sing music that other people have written for them, but then this has also been going on for years and it’s simply entertainment, whether you like the music or not.


There is no talent in pop.

The musicians themselves actually believe they are making music that people like to listen to, and why should we doubt them? Millions of people buy their singles and albums every day and are happy to listen to the music that their favourite bands produce. The argument goes that the artists haven’t got any talent, well who has? Talent can be shown in live performances. Some bands can’t sing for toffee live, a lot of singers for dance bands, metal, rock, indie and pop can’t do the live thing and have to resort to studio effects on their voices, but not everyone. There are plenty of pop bands and singers that can actually sing, and sing well. They can produce moving Ballards or shiny pop that is as innocent looking as the young band members themselves.

The bands are manufactured

Yes, from the Monkees to Heresay, quite a few bands have been put together by the business themselves. Is this a bad thing? Get together a whole bunch of people who can sing and make them a group. Does this make them any worse than, say, 3 friends who met in a pub and decided to form a band? I think not. Ok, so if they can’t sing then that’s a valid point and just reflects badly on the people who put the band together in the first place, same as any other genre of music really.

It’s too popular.

Funny that, pop music being popular! Who’d have thought? But it’s not just popular because a load of people have been hypnotised by evil men in suits either, a lot of people who have sound judgement go out and buy a Steps album or something by the Corrs because they like it. Not because the band stands for something or doesn’t like cruelty to animals or something, merely because they like the sound of the music. What’s wrong with that? Surely the same argument can be used against the other types of music, perhaps you are listening to music because it’s cool and others that you want to be like are also listening to it? Perhaps you hate pop music mainly for the image it represents? So what do you think that says about you? That you follow the crowd (be it the minority or whatever)? That you are forcing yourself not to like something that secretly you could actually listen to quite happily?

I hate pop.

So you really hate all pop music. Fine. Just so long as you hate it because you really can’t stand to listen to it, not because your friends would ridicule you for singing to S Club 7 or listening to Kylie. Even so, it’s very hard to believe that anyone could hate the sound of all pop music, given the extent of style and the many bands to choose from.

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