Klarinet Archive - Posting 000626.txt from 2002/07

From: The Guy on the Couch <jnohe@-----.Edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] FW: [kl] Music the makes you Wince
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 11:56:42 -0400

On Mon, 22 Jul 2002, Robert S. Nalezinski wrote:

> 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?

I think Pop can further divided...see below..

> 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."

But you also hear Britney and BSB referred to as 'Bubblegum Pop,' and
there's also the term Pop Rock...I think you could throw in Metal Pop and
Latin Pop (Ricky Martin, anyone?). Chicago was played on L.A. pop
stations in its heyday, according to their official history on their
website; now they're classic rock, but at the time, maybe Horn Pop? (Uh
oh, gratuitous marching band reference...I'd better quit.)

> 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."

Indeed - and I'll concur that I'm okay with MJ having the King of Pop
title, and I think his music has far more substance than the 'pop' of
today (the aforementioned Bubblegum musicians).

Aren't semantics fun? ^_^

J. Shouryu Nohe
Grad Assistant, New Mexico State University
"I think we have a ghost in our house." - Kaycee Nicole
"I should probably be playing Buffet." - Steve Moore

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