Klarinet Archive - Posting 000617.txt from 2002/07

From: "Robert S. Nalezinski" <nalezinski@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] FW: [kl] Music the makes you Wince
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 10:38:08 -0400

>> Although they were popular with the masses, the critics hated them...

> I thought that was practically the DEFINITION of "pop" music.

We might as well call McDonald's and Burger King "Pop Food" because
with billions and billions served... That is much more popular than any
particular artist or music group ever sold.

I will concede though that "pop music" is a very ambiguous term
though... As does it reflect the popularity of a musical group, or does
it reflect on the type of music that a musical group produces?

Myself, I have always tended to subscribe to the view that it refers
to the type of music that a group produces. In the 80's music scene
(*wince*), Gun's N' Roses were highly popular... Along with all those
"Hair Metal" bands... But would you consider Gun's N' Roses as "pop
music", the same term that readily fits such acts as "The Backstreet
Boys" and "Brittney Spears"? We could go further with groups like
"Nirvana" and "Pearl Jam"... Very popular "grunge rock" bands... And yet
they are considered as "grunge rock"... Not "Pop."

Although I do not doubt that the popularity of a group or artist is
important in the consideration of the term "pop music", I feel that
history has shown that a greater emphasize is placed on the type of
music that a group or artist produces over popularity.

Elvis is after all considered "The King of Rock and Roll"... Not the
"King of Pop Music."

Cheers,
Robert

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