Pop Music is like a Prostitute

So, in the world of music, the question is always being asked in the car, at the house, or at any time we’re just listening to someone who, let’s face it… sucks, and how in the world they seem to be successful. Why is it that music that sucks does so well, and music that is great does so bad? That is the question in life that involves many more topics than I can elaborate in a blog, well, at least in a single blog. However, we’re going to hit on a few topics that will highlight some of the answer.

On all Fours!

First, let’s start on why people listen to music in the first place. If you look at the Top 100 of Billboard today, February 7^th, 2012, you’ll see Katy Perry, Rihanna, Adele, and some other artists. But I can tell you that 70% of the artist in the top 10 of the Billboard 100 have what are called “Four on the Floor” beats. These are used primarily in club songs. They’re easy to mix and people can move almost any way they want to, and still be on something close to the beat. In everyday terms, we can call this “good drunk-dancing music”. If you blushed, then that’s probably you. The girl, or guy, who is too scared to dance because you feel like a fool, because you probably mostly look like a fool. But oh when you’re drunk, that liquid courage flows through your veins and gives the feeling that everyone else around you is too drunk to notice that you suck at dancing. That’s okay. Everyone needs to be freed of inhibition every once in a while.

So, why is it that this music is so popular now? Well, just like the beat commands your butt to move, it’s easy music to listen to. There’s not much in it. Most of the songs have no metaphors, or very flat metaphors that use popular terms that people can get. Also, let’s face it, the people who are buying this music are young, and love fun. So, even if you hate the song, you’ll find yourself singing the catchy “oh-oo-oh-oo-oh” of Katy Perry songs. It’s okay, I do it too. You’ll notice that the “thump-thump-thump-thump” and overly synthesized 1980’s brass sounds are all over the music nowadays. It rules the radio charts and the top singles. What was once the stomping grounds of ecstasy popping, neon light wielding, rhythm-less ravers is the sought after sound for pop stars the world over. Yup, the pop music today is built for clubbers and DJs, it’s an expert when it gets down on all fours! I’m surprised no one has made it into a dance where girls get down on their hands and knees. When they do, lord save us all.

Where did all the singers go?

However, there is hope for you lovers of “good” music. Adele, the sumptuous songstress, gives the charts voices that are missing in the industry, with her “Set Fire to the Rain”. I’m sure if you think about it, there are very few actual great voices in pop nowadays. It was easy for Adele to slide right in, because the voices are missing, in the major label pop realm. However, if you listen closely, you’ll also recognize that this song is made for the radio. Even the pop stars that can sing have to play by the rules of commercial success. This song follows the rules of catchy melodies, and repeatable sections. Things that repeat stay in your head easier and melodies that are simple to sing are songwriting gold. You will most likely remember the melody before you pick up any of the words. So, to make the song catchy, it will stick to your soul and never let go… well, at least until the next melody hijacks the space.

But to end all, we won’t only use Billboard as our end all, be all on music success. Let’s take a look at another artist in another genre, Ms. Janelle Monae. Janelle has been active for quite some time in music, and came out with an album that was a follow up to her EP, and continued the story she began in this EP. It was a story of an android who fell in love with a human, a reference to an old film called “Metropolis”. Janelle released two singles from this album “Cold War” and “Tightrope”, the latter featuring Big Boi from Outkast. Janelle performed in the 2010 Grammys, and had many performances of these two songs on various shows like So You Think You Can Dance and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. As of February 2011, Janelle Monae has sold 141,000 copies of the album. Depending on the promotional budget, advance and several other budget factors, those missing figures will determine whether or not the album was actually a success to the artist and team themselves. However, the response, in the music critic world was very positive.

The factor that I would like to point out is that out of 18 tracks, 15 full songs, only 2 were released as singles. This is rather curious, don’t you think? But when you listen to the album you will see that the concepts in most songs past the seventh track, are deep musically and are too in depth for a radio audience. In the first seven tracks, “Cold War”, “Tightrope”, and “Locked Inside” are probably the only tracks that are SFR (Safe for Radio) on the entire album. However, the other tracks deliver deep musicality that lacks the simple easy to swallow format like the majority of popular music nowadays.

So, remember, next time you ask the question, “why is this horrible song so popular?” You only have to have to listen for the pattern, and I’m sure it won’t take long to discover. Popular music that sucks is easy to listen to. It does what you want, to help you move your butt. In short, it gets down on all fours, and does it well.