When talking about “good music,” definitions range from classic groups like The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd, to classical like Bach or to historically important acts like N.W.A and Wu-Tang Clan. Despite how someone defines good music, many leave out the most widespread and accessible genre of this time: pop. Pop has been disregarded by people who say it’s “superficial,” “generic” or “too simple.” A large audience does not consider the likes of Taylor Swift and One Direction “real” music, but the discrimination of pop is currently being called into question. Why isn’t pop highly regarded, and who decides what good music is anyway?
According to Pitchfork contributor Brodie Lancaster, pop may be written off just because teen girls like it. The Beatles rocketed to fame by the support of dedicated girls; when the group’s music reached the male audience, it was henceforth considered some of the best music in history. Teen girls are largely responsible for moving the pop market. Ed Sheeran is a perfect example—the singer-songwriter was first discovered by devoted teenage girls, and he went from a young man playing pubs to a young man playing two sold out shows at Red Rocks in just a few years. Teen girls have been constantly reprimanded for liking nearly anything—if a girl likes Starbucks, she’s “basic;” if a girl likes rock, she’s “trying too hard.” Teen girls can’t ever seem to win, especially if they like pop. Things that teen girls enjoy are just as valid as things other age groups or men like, even if that thing is the newest Justin Bieber song.
Pop is also regarded as simple, something that may ring true in terms of how many chords a song contains or the depth of the lyrics, but not all pop songs are as easy to craft as some may think. For example, “1989” is strategic—it’s Swift’s strongest venture into pop and it’s one of the best pop albums of 2015. There’s nothing simple about its forceful usage of catchy melodies and blend of slower, emotional tunes and energetic proclamations of love or fun. A lot of work went into “1989,” and its quality surprised the music world.
A new wave of pop is especially causing people to re-think the power of the genre—in a changing world in which people are thinking more carefully about race, gender and sexuality, music from icons like Halsey is a call to arms for the new generation, one that wants to alter the world for the better. In “New Bohemia” by new electro-pop group Transviolet, the artists declare young adults are “gonna light it up, wanna change the world.” Pop isn’t just about going to the club or drinking.
Pop is powerful—it can call for social change or sell millions of records, or even just give someone joy when dancing with their friends. It isn’t all simple or superficial—the genre is an active agent of social progress and a reflection of culture. The genre may be popular due to teen girls (which, once again, isn’t a bad thing), but pop can and should be enjoyed by people of any age or gender. Even if you are listening to “simple” pop, who cares? It’s fun to have fun, no matter what the critics think.
