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)

Skipping 132 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

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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