Who's the hands-down, no arguing best pop act in the world right now?

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Justin Timberlake?
Fischerspooner?
Girls Aloud?
Annie?

None of the above?

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

You broke my head.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:24 (twenty-one years ago)

got to be Kylie really - for the catalog, the range, the strange rise of her iconic currency, the Madonna-lite compulsion to update sound with current trends/trendy people and the massive gay fan base.

― $V£N! (blueski), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

18 months ago it was Timberlake.
6 months ago it was Girls allowed.
Now it is Mcfly (although Annie is a close second)

Such is the wonderful disposibility of pop that 3 months from now it might well be someone we've not yet even heard of.

― Kris England, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Girls Aloud.

with a little tweaking Britney could walk it easily though - even with the car-crash personal life because that's all part of the pop myth. Actually all that needs sorting out are which songs she should release as singles.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what Xtina does on her next album, if it's boring proper ballads I shall be sorely disappointed.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:34 (twenty-one years ago)

No. Kylie was at least 2 years ago...just asked my 12 year old daughter and she said Kylie is pants now.

To most 12 year old kids, Destiny's child and Usher are pop acts.

The kids know.

― Kris England, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Missy

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Would the Darkness qualify?

― 57 7th (calstars), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:38 (twenty-one years ago)

12 year old girls actually know sod all about pop music. it's true.

i suppose where Kylie fails is that she doesn't seem capable of anything really 'woah' or 'wow' anymore (but that's something Xenomania or Richard X blah blah could fix easily enough i figure). i've still not heard 'Made Of Glass' yet mind you.

i agree with Lex re Britney AND Xtina.

― $V£N! (blueski), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Kylie.

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:41 (twenty-one years ago)

girls aloud, obv.

No. Kylie was at least 2 years ago...just asked my 12 year old daughter and she said Kylie is pants now.
To most 12 year old kids, Destiny's child and Usher are pop acts.

well, yes. kylie was also 15 years ago, and d-child peaked in - ? - 1999? i'm saying girls aloud. although i hear nadine is going solo?

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:41 (twenty-one years ago)

(The Darkness qualify, but they aren't good enough)

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Linkin Park, duh!

― Roz, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Just kidding.

― Roz, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree, Destiny’s so hot right now, but Kylie will forever hold a special place in my heart.

I also think Avril Lavigne is gettin' up there - let's not underestimate the power of teen angst.

― ève, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Kylie was at least 2 years ago...

this is my point really - Kylie's the one massive pop act in the world right now whose star hasn't faded and is really as bright as ever with a broad enough range of people. We're talking SEVENTEEN years here. the school before her are gone really (Madonna, M & J Jackson - none of them should bother making another record). Which puts Kylie at the top of the tree. Obviously in terms of who's so hot/cool right now she's not considered purely because she has been around so long and is part of the pop furniture, in the same way that U2 are considered the 'best band in the world' by so many people or whatever (tho i really wouldn't agree there and it's just too ridiculous to ascribe that title to ANY band out there however established, past their prime but still hammering away or fresh out the tracks and relatively unproven).

― $V£N! (blueski), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:45 (twenty-one years ago)

-- $V£N! (stevem7...), May 4th, 2005.

I thought "I Believe in You" was pretty WOW. Obviously, though, Elvis is the sort of modern popular music people like right now. That and some twat miming to a reasonably good old song on a "hilarious" video.

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Usher Raymond IV,
master of all he surveys,
movie star this year

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:47 (twenty-one years ago)

What would happen if someone suggested The Scissor Sisters??

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

destiny's child are so down the dumper!!

but we're saying 'best' here, not 'most pop'. annie cannot be the best pop act, because she isn't a pop star... oh, maybe that's harsh, but i can't call her pop the same way rachel stevens is pop. even though rachel's last single only got to nummer 10.

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Destiny's Child will be splitting up for good this time, yes? Beyoncé might be a better answer.

Scissor Sisters and Girls Aloud only really apply to the UK, actually...

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, DC have completely fizzled into the skyline. I wonder what are the sales figures for the last album. This has been getting zero airplay (apart from Lose my Breath obv).

― Baaderonixxxorzh (Fabfunk), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

actually I have realised that the answer IS Britney, dodgy singles notwithstanding (they haven't been flat-out terrible yet).

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:55 (twenty-one years ago)

ah shit, it is "world". hmmmm. JT or Britney, depending on who has the best next single.

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:55 (twenty-one years ago)

No arguing? Are you new around here?

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

S
A
I
N
T

E
T
I

(could I finish this post and live to tell the tale??)

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 14:57 (twenty-one years ago)

oh, maybe that's harsh, but i can't call her pop the same way rachel stevens is pop

so it's a 'star quality/market condusivity' issue? fair enough i spose.

there's not going to be another British pop MEGASTAR ever again is there?

― $V£N! (blueski), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 15:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I hate to say it, but what about Coldplay?

― ève, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 15:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Skye Sweetnam. (Though come to think of it, do Fannypack or M.I.A. qualify? What counts as "pop" to you guys?) (And do people really think that Fischerspooner are either "good" *or* "pop"?)

― xhuxk, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 15:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Then again, do Big & Rich count? (And if not, why not?)

― xhuxk, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

(btw, i actually have nothing against fischerspooner, who i really have no strong opinion about one way or the other. i just didn't know anybody liked them all that much. and calling them "pop" really did surprise me -- do they have hits in the uk, like scissors sisters?)

― xhuxk, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 15:41 (twenty-one years ago)

if we disqualify Scissor Sisters and Girls Aloud as 'only applicable in UK' we should certainly disqualify Skye Sweetnam and Big & Rich as 'only applicable in US'. I've never heard a song by either! And have no idea what type of music they even make!

I think Fannypack and MIA (and Fischerspooner) don't qualify on the grounds that no one buys their music.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 15:42 (twenty-one years ago)

ha ha, actually, skye sweetnam might be "only applicable in canada"!

― xhuxk, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 15:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually yeah, what have Xenomania done since the Girls... album?
Anything? Loads of stuff?

a convincing case made there i feel.

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 15:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Fischerspooner do not have hits in the UK, or not Top 20 ones anyway.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

kylie is hardly a star in the u.s. either (what, something like three hits in 17 years? and two of them were 17 years ago?)

― xhuxk, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 15:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Lex, you would so LOVE
Skye Sweetnam's baby metal
punk pop hooks like CRACK

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 15:58 (twenty-one years ago)

senor hobart paving OTM, naturally heh heh.

― darren (darren), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

is she in the vein of Avril, Fefe Dobson, Lindsay Lohan et al? SEND HER OVER HERE ALREADY!

are Big & Rich hip hop? I've seen them referenced here so much but nowhere at all in the outside world.

xpost

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Coldplay, followed by
Usher,
then Pharrell or Beyonce
then Justin Timberlake who'll be back soon I'm sure, & Britney even though her last "album"/greatest hits project & new single failed.
then of course there's Lil Jon

but who the f*ck is Kylie (I know, but still) she is clearly not no dang unarguable best pop act. she's not even a damn pop star. only briefly ever was, the rest the time she was completely fringe.

― Cavebaby Jesus, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

aw forgot Tim McGraw

― Cavebaby, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

big $ rich are a dirty south act lex. i'm voting ciara.

― j blount (papa la bas), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Is Coldplay "pop"? I wouldn't necessarily call them that.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:10 (twenty-one years ago)

dirty south? crunk?

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:20 (twenty-one years ago)

"yo all the bitches
in this motherfucking club
are wearing yellow"

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Coldplay are not Pop Music, though they do record and release music that is popular.

― $V£N! (blueski), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

you would think that the word 'best' in the thread title would have ensured that no one would mention Coldplay!

I have googled Big & Rich and they are COUNTRY! I did not expect that.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Coldplay IS POP!

― ève, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

"kylie is hardly a star in the u.s."

Come to think of it, how many non-u.s. stars are popular in the u.s.?

― ève, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Coldplay IS POP!

No, I don't think so. I don't think they would either.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Ahh, how did I know this thread would dissolve into an argument about the definition of pop?

I must be psychic.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 16:54 (twenty-one years ago)

"they do record and release music that is popular"

hence, Coldplay = pop

― ève, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 17:04 (twenty-one years ago)

whether or not Coldplay are POP they most certainly are not BEST.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 17:05 (twenty-one years ago)

agree.

― ève, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm back to Kylie.

― ève, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 17:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Alcazar, people!

http://mclub.te.net.ua/images/art/artist_1333.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

If Coldplay isnt pop, what are they? pop-rock?

― Jabberwocky1, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Can see the arguments for Kylie, Coldplay, Britney, Justin, or, for that matter, Puffy AmiYumi, but the answer is SO obviously Beyonce Knowles that it boggles the imagination that only one person actually got it right. Massive, worldwide commercial success stretching back several years (including Destiny's Child), highest profile of anyone right now, gigantic star quality, and, really, everything she's touched so far has turned to bling. She also has BY FAR the coolest boyfriend of the lot.

― Vornado, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 17:41 (twenty-one years ago)

"Baby Boy"? "Me Myself and I"? "Girl"? Her batting average is pretty shitty, lets be honest.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Uh, no. I might agree that the songs are shitty, but I am apparently in a tiny minority on that. And, no matter how bad the songs are, even I am happy to watch her perform them . . . .

― Vornado, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

>>12 year old girls actually know sod all about pop music.

― Kris England, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

"Baby Boy"? "Me Myself and I"? "Girl"? Her batting average is pretty shitty, lets be honest.

'Baby Boy' is even better than 'Crazy In Love' (actually only her 'In Da Club' is superior to these two), and 'Girl' is not as bad as it should be!

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

And when we say "pop act" do we mean "pop star"? Destiny's Child are probably 7/10 as a pop act, but 0/10 as pop stars.

I've decided the best pop act in the world right now is Charlotte Church, anyway. Has anyone heard "Crazy Chick" yet?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

(what, something like three hits in 17 years? and two of them were 17 years ago?)

The TRL viewers in the US that were paying attention definitely know all of her singles from Fever.

'Baby Boy' is even better than 'Crazy In Love'

yikes

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 18:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Girls Aloud are finished pretty much, bar the odd cover version that Atomic Kitten never got round to doing.

It's still Kylie. Britney's up there though.

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 18:26 (twenty-one years ago)

RIGHT NOW fules. if you're gonna say kylie or britney you might as well say elvis or caruso.

― j blount (papa la bas), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 18:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Kylie is past it, my ten year old son reckons she's a minger.

I still adore her though.

Surely the correct answer to the question is Gwen Stefani.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 18:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Girls Aloud lose big pop act points for not going ahead with that Chris Issak cover.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Kylie and Girls Aloud, but Rachel Stevens is closing on them fast.

― John Hunter, Wednesday, 4 May 2005 18:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I was gonna say Gwen Stefani is probably right. Girls Aloud and Rachel Stevens are nothing in North America and Kylie is nowhere as big as she is in Europe.

― Seb (Seb), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 21:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Imagine a worlwide screamometer, you know, that would measure the amount of excited decibels any pop star would generate from the worldwide audience. Who would you put your money on getting the most dB's? I think that is the question we should be looking at. I wouldn't underestimate someone like Madonna, for example.

― JoB (JoB), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 21:47 (twenty-one years ago)

jacques lu cont

― irrigation can save your people (irrigation can save your peopl), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 23:38 (twenty-one years ago)

o that's a good one too

― j blount (papa la bas), Wednesday, 4 May 2005 23:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Richard X over Lu Cont. but Stefani is actually a good choice. Britney should and probably will sound more like her (musically) on her next album.

― $V£N! (blueski), Thursday, 5 May 2005 02:37 (twenty-one years ago)

except with added motherhood angle probably.

― $V£N! (blueski), Thursday, 5 May 2005 02:39 (twenty-one years ago)

U.S.E.

― donut debonair (donut), Thursday, 5 May 2005 03:18 (twenty-one years ago)

O GODFUCKING DAMMIT - so i look to see if use are touring any soon so maybe i can see them and 'get it' and yeah they're touring soon alright. with the hold steady. ON THE FUCKING WEST COAST. grrr...

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 5 May 2005 03:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Tiefschwarz or ver Justin.
Tiefschwarz remixing ver Justin.
Merzbow fucking ver Bravery up the arse.
Rammstein.

― TV's Mr Noodle Vague (noodle vague), Thursday, 5 May 2005 03:27 (twenty-one years ago)

In one year's time will M.I.A. own this thread? Hmmm...

― ZionTrain, Thursday, 5 May 2005 04:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope that in six months' time Alexis Strum will own this thread.
Or Rachel Stevens, maybe.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 5 May 2005 04:14 (twenty-one years ago)

In one year's time will M.I.A. own this thread? Hmmm...

Oh please, in one year's time the vast, vast majority of people will still have no idea who she is. Do people *really* expect that album to be all that successful? Particularly in America? Ain't gonna happen.

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Thursday, 5 May 2005 04:23 (twenty-one years ago)

But Zack.. she is the voice of the world's youth! The world is getting smaller and she's the international flava- straight outa Sri Lanka! ;)

― ZionTrain, Thursday, 5 May 2005 04:30 (twenty-one years ago)

"Kylie is nowhere as big as she is in Europe."

Except Australia and I don't know where else. Though what that's got to do with anything? BEST pop act, BEST. Not who shifts the most units in the US.

Gwen Stafani is a fairly good call. Still way off mind. And MIA? That's a fucking joke, obviously.

The penultimate concert of Kylie's recent Showgirl tour is being shown on Channel 4 at 9.25pm this Saturday, followed by an hour and a half long documentary/profile (rpt).

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Thursday, 5 May 2005 08:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I would have said Gwen is a show too, but apparently the silly girl is putting out "Harajuku Girls" as her next single. ENOUGH WITH THE FUCKING HARAJUKU GIRLS ALREADY GWEN, when you have one BAD song on your album, you don't release it as a single. etc. etc.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 5 May 2005 08:23 (twenty-one years ago)

helas rachel stevens is headed dumper-wards, her last (great) choon only got to #10, and that can't last. stevem -- xenomania have done at least one track with rachel s, as has richard x. so the album should rule the world.

dom -- what's the story with girls aloud and them not doing the chris isaac thing?

― N_RQ, Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:16 (twenty-one years ago)

They were all set to record "Wicked Game" and release it as a single to coincide with the current tour, but someone got cold feet over the idea and it was scrapped. I think it was a worry about releasing a second cover as a single.

Which is a shame, because I'm thinking Single Of The Year material. With any luck someone will leak the demo of it.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:24 (twenty-one years ago)

When the Chris Isaak cover was announced the unanimous reaction seemed to be "oh for fuck's sake not another cover/not another ballad", so that plan was hastily scrapped under the banner of "the girls are too busy preparing for their tour". I don't know why Dom is disppointed, I definitely don't think we needed to hear GA doing 'Wicked Game'. (xpost, Dom you are nuts!)

The thing with Kylie is that when she's bad she's pretty dull (that new single, which is so boring that I've forgotten its title). When Britney is bad she's kind of comical and still compelling, and you get the feeling that any given thing she does next could be either genius or awful at random.

yeah Gwen Stefani could be the answer. One iffy singles choice doesn't negate this - 'Harajuku Girls' isn't that bad anyway but she's nuts for not releasing 'The Real Thing'.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Lex is right. The Isaak song GA should cover is "Baby Did A Bad Thing".

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:28 (twenty-one years ago)

quite a lot of pop stars are making bad decisions re: singles at the moment, aren't they? Britney had at least three more potential mega-hits on In The Zone but she went with, er, the 'My Prerogative'/'Do Somethin' double whammy instead. And 'Graffiti My Soul', 'Big Brother', 'Deadlines & Diets' and 'Thank Me Daddy' still lurk on the GA album while fucking 'Wicked Game' is considered a better tour promo.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:29 (twenty-one years ago)

the only way any Chris Isaak cover would be acceptable would be if they changed everything about the original and did it in that Blondie-fucking-The-Prodigy-up-the-arse style which their own songs have at their best.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:31 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, there's no guessing what the track would actually sound like! i'm up for it anyway. 'rich girl' sucked so hard i can't see gwenster there, and anyway she just isn't a good pop star the way britney or girls aloud are. i can't take ursher seriously for the same reason: he's just shit as a pop star, and the genius of 'yeah' was plainly only 10% usher anyway.

― N_RQ, Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Usher is a shitty popstar, agreed. How you be a peanut-headed bisexual orgy freak and still come across as unwinningly dull?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Franz Ferdinand are the best pop act in the world.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:51 (twenty-one years ago)

are Gorillaz regarded as Pop.

i would say so - though i aint heard the new album yet ..

and i suspect in the next 6 months their animated gurnings are gonna be ubiquituous to the point of pain (and i like that stuff!)

so surely the 'right now' part of the rules may actually mean that G are surely heading for the top 10 ?

― mark e (mark e), Thursday, 5 May 2005 09:53 (twenty-one years ago)

right said fred should make a come back

― rizzx (rizzx), Thursday, 5 May 2005 10:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Lex OTM, yes. If GA really needed to release a ballad, "Hear Me Out" is better than any version of Wicked Game, yes even HiM's version, which was great and if GA did a version using that arrangement it would be incredible.

I've already decided Rachel's album will be the best of the year. "Negotiate With Love" is amazing, the original version of "Nothing Good About This Goodbye" is a stunner, and I believe Popjustice when he says that Rachel hasn't fucked it up, and that the other new songs will be great. Actually, as far as I know, the actual tracklisting isn't even remotely known.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 5 May 2005 11:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Outkast, surely?

― baboon2004 (baboon2004), Thursday, 5 May 2005 11:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Archeopteryx.

― Aaron Zanders (AaronHz), Thursday, 5 May 2005 12:01 (twenty-one years ago)

fuck what ya heard. get one "2ct" and behold the future.

― Aaron Zanders (AaronHz), Thursday, 5 May 2005 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

four months pass...

Rachel Stevens.

Even Madonna wants to sound just like her!

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 14 September 2005 13:02 (twenty years ago)

What? Last I heard she was influenced by the Darkness. *barf*

― nathalie's pocket revolution (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 13:11 (twenty years ago)

Kanye

― I Oppose All Rock and Roll (noodle vague), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 13:12 (twenty years ago)

But I though he was the new Bob Dylan!

http://phoenix.swarthmore.edu/2005-09-08/living/15289

― nathalie's pocket revolution (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 13:14 (twenty years ago)

It's all bloody pop music, innit?

― I Oppose All Rock and Roll (noodle vague), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

I came in here to say Arcade Fire... oops, wrong thread.

Ah, the endless "what is pop" debate. There are two meanings for "pop music" - one refers to the generalized form/structure of pop music (melodic, verse-chorus-verse, catchy), the other refers to whatever form of pop music is currently popular with the masses. So, Arcade Fire would fit the first category but not the second, whereas Britney would fit both.

When it was released, "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" was a "popular" song, and structured like pop music. If it were released today, it would not be "popular" but would still be structured like pop music. If a Britney Spear album had been released in 1954, she'd be avant-garde. Or, to put it a different way, if Britney didn't sell any albums today, would she still be "pop"?

I was in a Barnes & Noble last year and asked if they had the new Missy CD - the guy behind the counter said, "No, we don't carry much hip-hop." To me, Missy is pop music. To the guy behind the counter, for whatever reason, she is not.

― Edward III (edward iii), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

still justin isn't it really?

― pisces (piscesx), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 10:44 (nineteen years ago)

god help us if so.

like him and all but jesus.

but he wasn't on may 4th 2005 either.

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 10:46 (nineteen years ago)

Still Girls Aloud, really.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 10:47 (nineteen years ago)

xtina.

but it's been a slow year for pop.

― Hoosteen (Hoosteen), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 10:48 (nineteen years ago)

(Madonna, M & J Jackson - none of them should bother making another record)

Madonna proved me wrong, again...although part of me still wishes 'Confessions On A Dancefloor' had been written for someone young, fresh and new.

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:11 (nineteen years ago)

girls aloud playing it rather too safe recently.

it's justin or beyoncé.

or PARIS.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:13 (nineteen years ago)

DON'T TRY IT I WAS PHYSICALLY SICK

― Ashley Dole (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:14 (nineteen years ago)

Probably Jessica Simpson.

― shookout (shookout), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:15 (nineteen years ago)

I was right, then.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:17 (nineteen years ago)

Christina for me. No other pop tart (er I mean star) has the pipes that she does in addition to all of the "other qualities prized by the superficial man", to quote Seinfeld.

― shorty (shorty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:18 (nineteen years ago)

DLT has better pipes than Grotbag Aguilera.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:22 (nineteen years ago)

i've decided it's beyoncé on the basis of 'irreplaceable' which is the best pop song of the year.

xtina is great and all but her album is not quite as good as justin's or beyoncé's.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:28 (nineteen years ago)

"Irreplaceable" is the worst pop song of any year.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:31 (nineteen years ago)

keep talking that mess, that's fine, but could u walk and talk at the same time

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:38 (nineteen years ago)

Completely disagree Lex, but we're both entitled to our opinions. I can't stand Justin Timberlake, and while I agree that Beyonce is a talented vocalist (as compared to say Britney or Paris), I've yet to hear anything that stands out for me the way Christina's voice does, whether on Back to Basics or not.

To me, she's one of the few pop stars that might still have had a chance at a recording career if she hadn't been considered on her physical attraction before anything else. There will never be another Janis Joplin or Cass Elliot, and that makes me sad.

― shorty (shorty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:39 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, Janis Joplin was really pop.

― James Herbert Dip (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:42 (nineteen years ago)

Definitely Justin. great album, fun, sexy, cool dude. who else :
Beyonce is pretty boring (although "irreplaceable" is nice).
paris ? like her a lot but the album is pretty average (although fun) and she sold nothing.
xtina ? who cares ?
madonna ? please...
err... I can't see anyone else !
that said, does justin's album sell well ?

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:46 (nineteen years ago)

beyonce -- not playing it safe at all!

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:56 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, Janis Joplin was really pop

Point taken Noodle, but technically anything that can be directly traced to the blues has to be considered popular music, as compared to classical, jazz, bebop, etc. Anything that appeals to the general populace as opposed to "musicians music" was seen as simplistic and completely predictable, which allowed the audience to anticipate dance moves, or even just tap their toes to the beat.

That's why the whole rockism-popism debate has never held much water for me. Rock is just a part of pop that sees itself as more talented (which is often but certainly not always the case) and "more cool" and dangerous than bubblegum and other kinds of pop.

Anyhow, all I was trying to say is that Christina's talents run much deeper than most of her contemporaries, and if she were to lose her looks, but not her vocals (and to a lesser degree writing skills), she would still have much to offer.

― shorty (shorty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 11:56 (nineteen years ago)

you may well be right but this has v little to do with whether she is the best pop act in the world right now!

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:04 (nineteen years ago)

she is appalling anyway.

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:05 (nineteen years ago)

it's JT as of today, assuming "the world" means "the parts of the world that are dominated by american and european television. not only because his album's good from start to finish but christ the boy's on every channel, all the time!

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:05 (nineteen years ago)

life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:06 (nineteen years ago)

But the album's crap from start to finish!

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:07 (nineteen years ago)

after hearing the demo version of 'temptation' off the new greatest hits album, i'd have to say, Heaven 17. but that'd only apply if 'right now' was in 1983

― frenchbloke (frenchbloke), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:11 (nineteen years ago)

Well you and me have v different ideas about how music works, shorty, but vive la difference and all that. Surely tho there have been dozens of Joplin-esque acts since JJ, now probly more than ever?

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:11 (nineteen years ago)

Wouldn't have applied in 1983 either (xpost).

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:12 (nineteen years ago)

The answer to the thread's probly 50 Cent anyway.

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:12 (nineteen years ago)

'best'?

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:16 (nineteen years ago)

Hell yeah.

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:17 (nineteen years ago)

It's a good time for pop songs but not for pop acts.

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:21 (nineteen years ago)

50 fucking Cent. Is he still alive?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:31 (nineteen years ago)

I'm really hung over. What's your excuse?

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:32 (nineteen years ago)

Surely tho there have been dozens of Joplin-esque acts since JJ, now probly more than ever?

That reached her level of popularity and stardom so quickly though? Sorry to bring up Cass Elliot's name so soon in the same thread, but during the Monteray Pop Festival (Hey! they called it a "pop" festival, and pretty much every act would certainly not be considered pop by today's (or this thread's) standards), the image of Mama Cass mouthing the word "Wow" in a sort of disbelief during Janis' performance is tatooed on my brain.

Incidentaly the Monteray Pop Festival was going on when I was 3 days old. Not that that matters in the least, I just find it personally interesting.

you may well be right but this has v little to do with whether she is the best pop act in the world right now!

You're absolutely correct Lex, but that post was just in response to Noodle and I haggling over the term "pop" and who belongs. Guess I should have typed xpost...

And as so often happens because of semantics, there seem to be two separate by related interpretations of this thread:

Who is the most popular pop act in the world right now?
*and*
Who is the most talented pop act in the workd right now?

I guess I've been aswering the second of the two, and that's why Christina is it for me. If I were to answer the first interpretation then I guess I would agree that Justin and 50 Cent are in contention, but since I really can't stand either of them I'm sure I'm lacking in exposure, so any answer I give isn't worth much.

she is appalling anyway.

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder, and I'll fully admit that none of the pop tarts are all that appealing to me. However, I can still admit that people that don't do it for me, can be considered somewhat "empirically" attractive, when enough people are polled.

― shorty (shorty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:33 (nineteen years ago)

Will "50 Cent isn't worth one cent" do? (xpost)

We don't do "empirically" on ILM.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:33 (nineteen years ago)

I don't belong to your we.

And that's fine with me.

― shorty (shorty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:35 (nineteen years ago)

my chemical romance obv

― pscott (elwisty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:36 (nineteen years ago)

By George, I think he's got it.

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:38 (nineteen years ago)

Flexible definition of "best" there.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:47 (nineteen years ago)

weird al

― Britain's Obtusest Shepherd (Alan), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:49 (nineteen years ago)

Who is the most popular pop act in the world right now?
*and*
Who is the most talented pop act in the workd right now?

I guess I've been aswering the second of the two

neither 'most popular' nor 'most talented' = 'best'!

50 cent good, my chemical romance crap

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:52 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, MCR's probably the right answer right now. Pop acts need to make the adults confused, and nobody does that better than Gerard Way and the boys right now.

― Sadly, he will be the next Alexis Petridish. (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:54 (nineteen years ago)

I'm not confused about their frankly straightforward post-Queen conceptual pomp-rock!

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:55 (nineteen years ago)

yes, my parents who grew up listening to the rolling stones have real trouble with a band who dress a bit weirdly.

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:56 (nineteen years ago)

The best current act that is pop rather than rock (or R&B/hip-hop) is The Feeling.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 12:59 (nineteen years ago)

I've thought about mcr but i'm not sure they are as big "pop stars" as justin. I mean, they're not that big in france, for instance.

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:00 (nineteen years ago)

which means a lot, huh !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

post blink conceptual pomp rock actually. nah it's not so much the dressing weirdly it's that people, some on ilx even, believe they are part of some teenage suicide cult. it was on my local news last night about the scary new trend of goths and there dangerous ways.

― pscott (elwisty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

The Feeling are wuss-rock.

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

shame on a pisces

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

Btw. Annie and Kylie Minogue may count as pop. Justin Timberlake is not, he is R&B and R&B is not pop.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

Pop acts need to make the adults confused

yes but uh they don't and haven't and wtf are you talking about, as ever.

ciara isn't the answer here but she is the pop act on the longest unbroken run of great - GREAT not merely good - singles right now:

goodies
1 2 step
oh
get up
promise

and throw 'hotline' in there for good measure.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:07 (nineteen years ago)

and indeed 'so what' and 'lose control'

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:08 (nineteen years ago)

Geir, you are now the drunk bloke sat at the back of the bus shouting to himself.

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:09 (nineteen years ago)

DING DING I HAVE TO GET OFF

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

Geir, you are now the drunk bloke sat at the back of the bus shouting to himself.

"Geir"

― Sadly, he will be the next Alexis Petridish. (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

ciara is a great choice but i don't think she's big enough to compete for the pop throne.
same for cassie. great album but not big enough. for now at least.

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:12 (nineteen years ago)

yes but uh they don't and haven't and wtf are you talking about, as ever.

Elvis Beatles Stones disco Pistols Frankie ~~Judas Priest~~ Guns N Roses 2Pac Eminem Slipknot So Solid

― Sadly, he will be the next Alexis Petridish. (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:12 (nineteen years ago)

~~Susan Maughan, Helen Shapiro~~ Ciara, Cassie

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:14 (nineteen years ago)

you are getting your pop confused with your rock for most of those.

kylie? britney? prime jacko? pop can be embraced by parents too! a lot of great pop unifies generations: this is how people become national treasures.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:15 (nineteen years ago)

xp to dom

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:15 (nineteen years ago)

I would enjoy a steel cage battle royale between Lex, Dom, Geir, Marcello, Benrique and whoever the fuck else really cares.

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:16 (nineteen years ago)

Sure. Those acts are all either rock or hip-hop. Pop is pleasant and polished and entertaining, and - most of all - melodic and harmonic.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

Not big at all, but after "Dream On" and "Hey You", Robyn is the pop star who I think has the most potential to do amazing things whatever she does next.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

i'd pay for a stevem / southall

― pscott (elwisty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

She's not a pop star, though (xpost).

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

here we go again.

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

xxpost

Only if it's two men enter, nobody leaves.

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

robyn is an internet popstar like MIA and annie, except with less good songs, ie no one cares about her in the real world

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:19 (nineteen years ago)

Robyn is a pop comet

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:19 (nineteen years ago)

The probable real answer (in terms of current popularity) is the Scissor Sisters.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:21 (nineteen years ago)

What's hot
Most Blogged
Getting the most buzz
Klaxons
Beck
120 Days
Ben Folds
Lady Sovereign
Tom Waits

― pscott (elwisty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:21 (nineteen years ago)

but no-one outside the UK gives a shit about the SS

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:21 (nineteen years ago)

xxpost

In the World?

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:22 (nineteen years ago)

(But this is best, not biggest selling, so yeah well mebbe.)

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:22 (nineteen years ago)

Robyn and Annie are at least popular in their own country, I mean, Tiziano Ferri and, I dunno, Johnny Halliday (note to self: check french charts) are "pop stars" as well. MIA isn't.

― Sadly, he will be the next Alexis Petridish. (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:25 (nineteen years ago)

MIA is a pop red shift.

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:26 (nineteen years ago)

I want this so much

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:28 (nineteen years ago)

whether these obscurist people are popstars or not it's still fairly clear that the answer is between justin, beyoncé and xtina, yes?

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:32 (nineteen years ago)

and fall out boy

― pscott (elwisty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:33 (nineteen years ago)

and panic! at the disco

― pscott (elwisty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:34 (nineteen years ago)

Google Image Search for "Pop Star":

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=%22pop%20star%22&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&sa=N&tab=wi

1. Madonna
2. Madonna
3. A south african race horse
4. Some guy called "Peyton"
5. Madonna
6. That horse again
7. Billie Joe Armstrong
8. Some shitty comic strip
9. Micky Mouse
10. Mickey Mouse

― Sadly, he will be the next Alexis Petridish. (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:34 (nineteen years ago)

robyn is an internet popstar like MIA and annie, except with less good songs, ie no one cares about her in the real world

-- The Lex

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robyn :D

― Moderation Request Line (fandango), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:34 (nineteen years ago)

maybe evanesence

― pscott (elwisty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:35 (nineteen years ago)

Still no advance on Girls Aloud!

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:35 (nineteen years ago)

neither 'most popular' nor 'most talented' = 'best'!

I'm not saying you're wrong lex, but tell me then what criteria for you = best

For me though, musical talent simply must be part of what = best, while dancing, fashion and all the other window dressing means almost nothing (again, just for me).

― shorty (shorty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:36 (nineteen years ago)

I'm swinging back to Madonna now. She looks 25 again in the video for 'Jump'. Really tho I just wanted to point out how dumb it was to say/be quoted as saying she would return the baby to his father when he was 18 i.e. at the age where the kid can make his own damn decisions about where he wants to be.

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:37 (nineteen years ago)

LEX CRITERIA:

1. No Guitars.

― You've Had Your Chances (noodle vague), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:39 (nineteen years ago)

my answer is pj harvey

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:42 (nineteen years ago)

2 no men

i think the REAL answer to the thread is there is always arguing. so nobody is.

― Britain's Obtusest Shepherd (Alan), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:42 (nineteen years ago)

xpost! (that wasn't to say ha ha PJH is a MANG)

― Britain's Obtusest Shepherd (Alan), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:42 (nineteen years ago)

PJ Harvey isn't pop.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:43 (nineteen years ago)

she's an R&B space-omelette

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

what would the answer be in 1996, 1986, 1976, 1966 and 1956?

― pscott (elwisty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:47 (nineteen years ago)

spice girls
madonna
abba
your mum
jesus

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:47 (nineteen years ago)

The Who and Little Richard are the two correct latter answers.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:49 (nineteen years ago)

i'd say The Long Blondes if the album had 10 'Swallow Tattoo's on it.

― pisces (piscesx), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:50 (nineteen years ago)

Equivalents of the Long Blondes in previous decades:
1996: Sleeper
1986: Primitives
1976: Deaf School
1966: The Breakaways
1956: The Stargazers

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 13:54 (nineteen years ago)

a lot of these suggestions are taking the piss frankly!

i mean just say to yourself "FALL OUT BOY/LONG BLONDES/WHATEVER ROCK CRAP YOU LOT ARE COMING UP WITH is a BETTER POP STAR THAN BEYONCÉ" and you will realise how utterly ludicrous you sound.

For me though, musical talent simply must be part of what = best

THIS IS POP MUSIC NOT INDIE MUSIC

PREVIOUS EXAMPLES OF GREAT POP STARS = KYLIE MINOGUE AND BRITNEY SPEARS

MUSICAL TALENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 14:02 (nineteen years ago)

http://img111.echo.cx/img111/9478/59725132005123038jb6rm.jpg

This pic never gets old.

― Sadly, he will be the next Alexis Petridish. (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 14:05 (nineteen years ago)

Kylie and Britney do have musical talent, just not the sort of musical talent that most people can agree on.

There are reasons why Kylie's Fever works so well and all the numerous attempts at doing the same thing by unknown wannabe pop-divas that I have to review every week don't. And one of those reasons is musical talent.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 14:07 (nineteen years ago)

i vote fergie ferg, and nicole scherzinger. and j-me, and tony matterhorn.

it's a dumb question.

― rtccc (mwah), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 14:14 (nineteen years ago)

lex you need to use word to explain what's good about these people -- xtina, beyonce, justin. haha writing that i just thought how early 00s this all is.

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 14:14 (nineteen years ago)

what's the fucking point? nobody here will change their ways/thinking because of what somebody else here says in any length or detail.

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 14:16 (nineteen years ago)

haha writing that i just thought how early 00s this all is.

a great (pop) act is one who can last more than just a third of a decade, so the argument may go...

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 14:17 (nineteen years ago)

Yes Nicole Scherzinger! I was so knocked out by her performance on "Buttons", she has to go solo and become huge (or is this a redundant statement, considering she is already effectively solo?)!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 14:24 (nineteen years ago)

i think nicole scherzinger works really well within the pussycat dolls entity. hurrah for 'buttonz' love: the "baby can't you see?" verse is particularly great in terms of her vocals.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 14:27 (nineteen years ago)

PREVIOUS EXAMPLES OF GREAT POP STARS = KYLIE MINOGUE AND BRITNEY SPEARS

MUSICAL TALENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS

So you agree then, that Paris and Britney have no talent? Good enough for me man. The rest is just semantics, and I'm an anti-semantic bastard!

― shorty (shorty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 14:34 (nineteen years ago)

i suppose her from the pussycat dolls is the kind of pop star this world deserves.

― benrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 14:35 (nineteen years ago)

We all know that wikipedia has to be treated with the appropriate caveats, but http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_music seems to show that many people agree that pop music is not limited to the pop tarts and the like. Quick excerpts:

The dance music element of pop music can be traced back to Ragtime... Styles influencing the later development of pop include the Blues....and Country coming also from "hillbilly music" of poor folk, white and black (Sun Records in Tennessee), which blended to become early Rock and Roll.... Pop music generally uses a simple, memorable melody and may use stripped-down rhythms.

Over to you Lex! Any rebuttal on what is or isn't pop, and/or how one can judge "the best", or are you just going to stick with the "i think xyz is the best because I really love xyz" argument?

― shorty (shorty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:09 (nineteen years ago)

pop music != Pop

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:14 (nineteen years ago)

no, nicole's actual solo solo is happening apparently. and the great thing is that it feels anything but redundant - if she works well within pcd it's yet more amazing how well she works alone, as if people's slowly confirmed suspicions that she was the point all along are now focusing themselves toward this commanding, talented prescence. when you saw the 'come to me' video didnt you wonder for a second if that was her draped over diddy in her underwear, and when it turned out to be someone else werent you kinda excited? like hell nicole would do that! ("i see you, i am me" etc, even tho when i sing along it always comes out "i am you") likewise in her guest spot on the avant record, she's a mature, equal figure in the conversation.

i like her 80sness, i think - statuesque, strong cheekbones, seemingly always shoulderpad suited and booted, still v feminine. and yeah, a firm, authorative lady is the kind of popstar this world deserves right now, why not?

― rtccc (mwah), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:18 (nineteen years ago)

god I dislike her. she's so vulgar... in a bad way !
what about diddy as a great pop act ? guy's been in the spotlight for years now, has no musical talent whatsoever and is famous worldwide !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:22 (nineteen years ago)

pop music != Pop

More semantics. I simply don't have the energy to go back and double-check, but I'm willing to bet that every example used in this thread has been about pop music.

― shorty (shorty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:23 (nineteen years ago)

or maybe i'm just secretly craving a spanking, i dunno.

it's great how she says "it's bad boy, bitch" first! she should totally teach classes on how to say bitch. no way is she vulgar.

― jackie collins, bitch (mwah), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:24 (nineteen years ago)

it's funny cos i can see why people might think she's hot etc. but there's something in her face that repulses me. no harm still !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:32 (nineteen years ago)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robyn :D

Hmmm... According to Wikipedia, Annie is a musical. :)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:43 (nineteen years ago)

More semantics. I simply don't have the energy to go back and double-check, but I'm willing to bet that every example used in this thread has been about pop music.

perhaps i should change the thread title so it says 'popular' instead of 'pop' to avoid any further confusion, outrage etc.

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:47 (nineteen years ago)

A more correct description of the pop genre than the "pop music" one is found under http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powerpop

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:48 (nineteen years ago)

That's definitely an interesting read Geir; thanks for the link.

― shorty (shorty), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:54 (nineteen years ago)

Futurepop?

― ;_; (blueski), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 15:56 (nineteen years ago)

Futurepop is also mentioned in Ishkur's site, which is highly recommended: http://www.di.fm/edmguide/edmguide.html. Not a lot of pop there though ;)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 23:26 (nineteen years ago)

Right now it's Ciara. Seriously.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 23:29 (nineteen years ago)

Alan Pardew

― Sadly, he will be the next Alexis Petridish. (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 23:31 (nineteen years ago)

LOL at Fischerspooner being the second act mentioned on this thread.

― chap who would dare to welcome our new stingray masters (chap), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 23:36 (nineteen years ago)

Dario Gradi.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 07:50 (nineteen years ago)

so pop is completely in the shitter right now then?

― Moderation Request Line (fandango), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 20:57 (nineteen years ago)

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