All About Britney Spears

Is modern pop music not really about the music?

There is pop music playing everywhere. But many "music junkies" criticize modern pop. Are they right? Pop music seems very simple in many cases. It also seems to focus more on the artist than the music itself. In addition a lot of music is very sex-based (Britney Spears' newest album). I feel that all music has some artistic value but with so much music out there is modern pop really worth investing your time in?

Public Comments

1. Modern mainstream music has nothing to do with proper music, so to speak. Then again most mainstream pop music has always been made just to sell records. If you want to find real music you have look outside of TV and the radio. However with the internet this is now easier than ever to do.
2. Pop music is about promoting a performer for money. Listen to older music and you will see the difference in quality of art. A lot of todays hits you can't even hum to because there is no melody. Voices are strained and show cased many times with no real connection with the song. Music had to have merit to get produced in years gone by but now it's all about making money. Pop music is not about the music and it's not worth investing your time in. There is so much good music out there you could never listen to it all in one lifetime so don't waste anymore time on crap. For every new packaged and promoted song you listen to there is one less good song you will not have time to experience. Manage your time and enjoy good music!
3. I love modern pop music. Recently I've been listening to Lykke Li, Regina Spektor, and Architecture in Helsinki a lot. It's unashamedly pop but it's definitely innovative and not simple by any means. Maybe you (and all those people who criticize pop) are listening to the wrong pop?
4. I get what you're saying, and I think for the most part it's true. However, for myself, artistic value is something to be appreciated and recognized, but it has nothing to do with how much I enjoy music. I listen to anything that suits my mood or interests at the time. If I'm in a heavy mood, I'll listen to Gojira or Strapping Young Lad. If I want to chill and listen to some complex shit, it's Kayo Dot. And if I feel chipper enough, I'll go for some Katy Perry or BoA.
5. Uhh, don't get me started on Britney Spears. She acts like such a frickin' whore. I mean, If You Seek Amy...? I'd rather not.
6. I would agree if you had specified modern Top 40 music, perhaps. I find nothing wrong with some pop artists though - in fact, Vienna Teng and Regina Spektor are two of my personal favorite artists ever. As you said, all music has some artistic value - pop music is no exception. Just don't fall prey to the mindset that all pop is Britney Spears or Miley Cyrus, and you'll be fine.
7. there is an art to top 40 songs, i mean, none of my favorite bands could make a top 40 hit if they tried. dont make any mistakes about it, there are geniuses at work behind those songs, they are not always the artists themselves though. pop music has better mixing and melodies than any other type of music britney spears may not be very good, but she's got a good session bassist working for her, so if you hear her come on and you don't feel like listening to her, try to tune her out and listen for a bassline
8. Pop music has always been about the money. People act like music used to be this pure art form, but even in the 1920's and 1930's, blues musicians were playing music that would make them money, not necessarily what they wanted to play. It's ridiculous to act like all music from before the 20th century was artful and intelligent and not about the money. The Monkees weren't exactly changing the world with their music. Granted, there have always been some pop musicians who really do care about the music, but I would say that there still are. OutKast, Gnarles Barkley, and plenty of other musicians of the 20th century have been making catchy, intelligent pop music. As for the sex-based part, I'd say that sex sells. Today's society is a lot more sexually open than society fifty years ago, so musicians are going to use the sexual freedom to sell records. It's up to each individual to decided whether it's a good or bad thing, but I personally feel like there's nothing wrong with it. In general, I'm opposed to censorship of any form. It is worth pointing out that even though pop music has not always been this explicitly sexual, it has always been sexual in content. Bo Carter was a blues musician from the 1930's whose lyrics consisted almost entirely of obvious sexual puns. "Banana in Your Fruit Basket," "Pin in Your Cushion," "My Pencil Won't Write No More," and "Don't Mash My Dagger So Deep" are all song titles of his.