Pop Music

A Anastacia Ashlee Simpson Ashley Tisdale MP3 D Deacon Blue J Jessica Simpson

K Kelly Clarkson M Madonna S Shakira T Texas The Spice Girls W Wet Wet Wet

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Pop music is a loose term that covers a wide variety of musical styles found in popular culture. Genres such as rock, hip hop, rhythm and blues, country and others can be categorized under pop music. The term generally denotes a popular song or song style that rises to the attention of the public eye for a short period of time. Pop music is described as commercially friendly and produces many one-hit wonders. Often the term is used in a negative sense for music that lacks substance or meaning and is created just to sell records.

The Pop Music Debate

In recent years, pop music has become heavily commercialized. Music companies often recruit performers based on looks or their dancing abilities and are given a set of songs and a pre-defined image. Often the members have little or no musical talent and do not write their own songs or play instruments. Bands such as The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and O-Town were created in this manner.

The enormous success of these artificially created bands is due to the professional attention that goes into crafting the groups. Songs are written and produced by industry veterans who target a specific demographic. The music and lyrics are simple and catchy and quickly work their way to the playlists of radio stations.

The Sound of Pop

Pop music, although not defined by a particular sound, has certain identifiable themes found throughout the genre. Overall, pop music songs feature simple and straightforward lyrics that often center around a theme of love/loss.

The rhythm is pop music is stripped down and very simple, allowing the melody to rise and garner more attention. This is what creates the catchy sound of pop music and is why these songs get "stuck in listeners' heads".

Pop music concerts are usually extravagant shows with choreographed dancing and a large number of special effects.

Other types of pop music include J-Pop, indie pop, Latin pop and Mexican pop.