No matter what, there will always be some form of "Popular Music": the mainstream jams, the chart toppers. This music usually consists of simple melodies, uncomplicated lyrics and a danceable beat that does not require a great deal of thought or intellectual involvement. After spending yeaaaars battling against the popular brand, I find myself experiencing a pop music genre affair. This affair most likely results from the fact that I have to deal with the radio while I'm at work, and I like to flip through commercials so I can actually hear music. So, recently I left the station on "Hot 99.5" while I was watering flowers, and a slew of songs came on that actually caught my attention. A whole new generation of pop has emerged, creating a melting pot between house music, hip-hop and just plain old pop.
I also realized that to love music, you really have to give it all a chance. What I think is dumb, trendy and unappealing could mean a lot to another person. That's when I had to take a step back and think; all of these years I've struggled to have people understand metal. The typical non-metal fan will call it just "screaming" or "angry", which always used to piss me off, and still does. Now I realize I did the exact same thing with pop music.
Aside from new Eminem and Jay-Z albums, forgotten artists such as Usher are back on the music scene with fresh tracks that sound as if they are right out of the proverbial club. Left in the wake of 1990's and early 2000's pop, I feel like we were all waiting for the genre to evolve to the next thing. Then, of course, there are two little words that have completely caught the pop world off-guard: Lady Gaga. Sure, she's just like Madonna...only better. She has pushed the pop envelope to the point of near combustion, and you either love her or hate her. Personally, I hated her when she came out with "Just Dance", but the more songs she releases, the more I love her. Not to mention, her videos are wildly creative, artistic and stylized, adding to her already wacky demeanor.
Stay tuned for more pop music in the coming days!
Lady Gaga-Alejandro
Love,
Danielle
If you like Lady GaGa, try some Roisin Murphy. Her first album (Ruby Blue) is a bit more experimental, but the second, Overpowered, comes into the whole dance/club/electronica genre more, plus she has a fantastic voice with a good range.
ReplyDelete