Pop music

Pop Music

Pop music is a genre of popular music which first appeared in the 1950s. It is mainly American and British singers and musicians that have dominated pop music all these years however most countries have also their own form of pop music. Pop music has grown to be a profitable industry mainly in the USA.

            Many artists belong to this genre, such as Madonna and Michael Jackson who have been emblematic figures of pop music and culture during the past three decades, but also younger artists who are very popular today. Such artists are Rihanna, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber to name but a few.

            Pop music encourages dancing and having fun, and pop songs touch upon many issues which are of interest to young people. Such issues are, among others, love, friendship, having fun, everyday life, money but also serious problems that the modern world faces or charity.

            In the following paragraphs we would like to cite some examples on how issues, like love, money or charity, have been tackled with in some of our favourite pop songs, so as to show the variety of perspectives that pop music offers in its discussion of an issue.

More specifically, in the song “Rehab” by Rihanna, the artist talks about her break up with her partner and wishes she had never have met him in the first place. However, in “Wonderful Life” by Hurts, the artist aims at encouraging a couple to love each other despite the fact that they will never be together since the man is already married to someone else. In another song, entitled “Unconditionally” by Katy Perry, the singer talks about her boyfriend with whom she is deeply in love and promises to love him forever and unconditionally. The difference between the three songs is that the first one talks about a break up, the second one refers to a very strong love story with an unfortunate ending and the last one celebrates a young girl’s profound feelings for her boyfriend, her devotion and deep love. All these are only some of the different viewpoints from which pop music approaches the same issue, that is, love and romantic relationships.

Except from the love songs there are also many pop songs that refer to world problems and how to face them. For example, the song “Getting’ Dump” by Will.I.Am ft ZNEY encourages people to have fun and not work so hard everyday and it gives hope to them by reminding them that they are not alone. Another song, entitled “Price Tag” by Jessie J ft B.O.B., talks about money, claims that money is not the most important thing in life, that people do not need money to be really happy and it makes people think about their real purpose in life. In addition, the world-known song entitled “We are the World” which was sung by many famous artists, urges people to care about others and raise money for charity. The artists who participated in this song foreground charity as really important, as the only solution to help children in need and they encourage people to donate money. So, all these songs offer different aspects of the same issue, that is, money and what our attitude towards it should be.

In conclusion, pop music is one of the most popular kinds of music today, especially appealing to young people, which offers a variety of perspectives in issues that preoccupy contemporary people in an entertaining way.