What's Happened To Pop Music?

[andy-hughes]

I am entirely aware that modern pop is not designed to appeal to me, and I have no issue with that.

But even so, most of the pop I hear on radio seems to consist of young women either shrieking at the top of their limited range, or dropping their voices to the bottom of their limited range and then gurgling down their noses with enough glottal stops to start another language entirely, or else they are so produced with effects and noises that they no longer sound even vaguely human.

I know I am getting old, but I still enjoy well-made pop even if it is not something I would listen to from choice particularly - anyone else notice what seems to be a change for the worse?

[ToraToraTora]

there has been very little decent music since about 1990 Andy!

[Mamyalynne]

I wouldn't say all of the changes are for the worse - there's still some good stuff out there.

There's less what I call 'Bubblegum' where you knew all the words and could sing along but lots of decent offerings too.

[Baldric]

We are a house-full of Music Lovers. It was only commented on Saturday evening, reruns of TOTP, that a few years back you knew exactly what was coming by the intro, with the more recent stuff, haven't got a clue and we do try to stay up to date, honest!

[Theland]

Who invented Rap?
Opportunists who can't sing I believe.
Another sad influence of black culture asserting itself and the Political Correct Brigade falling over themselves to accept it, spread it, and acclaim it.
How terribly sad.

[Mamyalynne]

Styles aren't invented, they evolve organically.

[Theland]

Rap relies on dumb down taste surely?

[sunny-dave]

I sort of lost touch when John Peel died - he'd been my guide through any number of genres and changes over the preceding 40 years.

Without him I lost touch and (now) hear very little new that appears to have much 'bottom' - all flim flam and little substance.

[Mamyalynne]

Not all of it, but we all pick and choose what we listen to - goodness knows there's plenty to choose from.

[Theland]

The stupid dancing that goes with it all is just as frustrating to watch. Even on advertisements.
What a croc!

[Mamyalynne]

See ya later alligator ;-)

[Theland]

Mamya cheers.

[melv16]

When Ed Sheeran can become a multi millionaire, there must be something wrong, surely.

[Theland]

Agree. A good pub singer, no more.

[douglas9401]

It's the equivalent of that tattoo that everbody gets, just to be different except that the music is disposable, like the 'artists'.

[Theland]

These things are sent to try us.

[Mamyalynne]

Only if you let them :-)

[chrissa1]

I remember, and I don’t know why, that on a showing of Juke Box Jury, (showes how old I am) that one of the jurists said that, with a finite number of notes in the 4/5 octaves there are, there must come a time that songs become, repetative. This was in the 60s. What do you think?

In my opinion the era of great songs has passed.

[ToraToraTora]

Status Quo only ever needed 3 chords!

[Cloverjo]

It's your age, Andy! ;)
Pop music has always been incomprehensible to the generation before, as you know, being a music journalist.
I agree though. Today's music sounds like a load of pap to me.

[Voltage]

i only listen to music from the 70s-90s after that cant stand any of the tripe that's about now i bet i couldn't name one person who's in the top 40 at present!