In the entire history of music, the merits of a "good song" have been debated and argued for countless years. And what is it that separates a one time hit from an all time favorite? Is it clever lyrics or a danceable beat or a deep message? Is the genre what matters? Recently, the term "pop music" has become synonymous with "bad music." The logic behind this is that producers find catchy lyrics, a fun beat and create hit after hit to provide for the mindless public. This easy way out to make music and share a bland, empty message. However, I am here in defense of pop music.
Pop music, is an abbreviation for "popular music" which means, the music that is currently liked or appreciated by a large population. And if we're following the logic of what a general populous likes, that means it can be the music on the radio or the music that everyone is listening to. With mass media, there are countless ways to share and enjoy music. The first tier of pop music is, of course, the songs that play on Top 40 radio stations. These songs can range from the typical party hits, to slow songs, as well as alternative or dance music. This diverse array of music on the radio initially counteracts the negative idea surrounding the secular nature of "pop music."
A second tier of this "pop music" hierarchy involves the genres that are not always played on popular radio. This often means rap music, and alternative music. Some songs from these genres bleed onto the Top 40 stations, further arguing against the pop music stereotype. However, music sharing websites like Spotify and Soundcloud provide remixes and alternative versions of rap and electronic songs. These exclusive versions of songs are often not played on pop radio, due to their almost secret nature. However, these songs also reach the most popular status on the streaming services and become "popular" in a sense because of it.
We all have our own personal likes and dislikes, especially when it comes to the music we listen to. Sometimes a certain day or mood may constitute one type of music. Pop music could be implemented for a night out with friends, or a dinner party in. While the brand of mainstream music can be a deterrent to some people, even the most indie songs have a way of making it to the forefront in one way or another. Your favorite song may be in a movie's main title sequence or an Apple commercial. Regardless, the idea of pop music being one type of brainless production is wrong, and even more so a poor excuse to avoid the genre.
Pop music, in essence, seems like something that can easily be broken down into a dismissible category of stupid, inane sounds. However, at its core, the pop genre is a diverse array of different types of music. There is fun music to dance to, there is rap music to get pumped up to, there is slow music for lyrical content. Pop music is not something to be ashamed of, but something to be embraced.
