Today's Popular Music
 

To be honest, I don't really understand popular music these days. If The Beatles began in the times of today's generation, I think One Direction would still get more screaming fans. Honestly, all it takes to become a worldwide superstar is to wear nice clothes and have a 'cute' haircut. I suppose the quote "don't judge a book by it's cover" is out of date - that's all anybody does - if a musician looks really handsome, then they're sure to get a 'number one' (just as long as their song is relatively catchy).

Nowadays, the best-selling and most popular artists don't even write their own music. Record labels pay songwriters to write a hit, the song is 'covered' by the musician, and then they have another number one thanks to the screaming Harry Styles-obsessed girls.

Meanwhile, while the charts are ruled by these 'pop' artists, 'real' bands and solo artists are working day-in-day-out writing new songs, promoting their work, and trying to make a living from their work. It's a no-brainer that if you can write a great song, sing it well, and play an instrument, then you must be very talented. If this is so, then why are One Direction achieving much more than Arctic Monkeys?

Now of course, people are entitled to their own opinion, and I would believe these opinions were legitimate if Justin Bieber and One Direction had a tenth of the fans they really have. It's true that some people have 'different' music tastes to other people, and I'm not saying there is only one correct genre within music.

I'm sure you've realised by now, that I am certainly against current pop music. Whilst I admit, it can be catchy, it usually ends up becoming annoying. Also, songs like 'Gangnam Style' and 'What does the Fox Say?' I find pretty stupid. But that's the point isn't it? Kids find a song funny and weird, they share it to all their friends, and there's another viral song and another one-hit-wonder. Gangnam Style has got the most views on YouTube by far. So that's more than The Beatles, or The Rolling Stones or Michael Jackson, some of the most famous music artists ever. Don't you think that's just plain wrong?

Pop music used to be fantastic; Michael Jackson, Joy Division. Some of the biggest songs of all time were born. Nowadays, Katy Perry and Rihanna rule the pop music kingdom. Makes me want to cry.

why oh why cant people who listen to one direction listen to joy division instead why why why why why

People who listen to music like that are arrogant. They think that there is nothing that can compare to their favourite. The main annoying One Direction fans won't listen to anything other then them.

Take a look at any Now That's What I Call Music compilation from the past 30 years and I guarantee you will find tons of crap on it. It's hardly a recent development.

I admit a part of me wishes ppl would analyse music more by it's depth not their commercial appeal.

Alot popular music nowadays are just fads
disposable party anthems with no real heart but apparently that's what ppl want to hear not everybody takes music seriously.

And i understand it, sometimes i don't wanna over analyse music i just wanna hear a nice tune so it doesn't bother me bands like one direction exist because i can always seek out other music artist with more depth.

i think it's all about personal choice and im glad ppl have that liberty to choose among so many musical options because it kinda reflects what kinda person they are (to an extent)

i also consider that stupid Fox song annoying but ppl like gimmicks so why not make them into a song? sometimes they're alright i myself like a few of them

Seriously, there's so much great music around today and in the advent of the internet age this music is more accessible than ever. I don't see why crappy chart music should bother someone so much as to write an essay ranting about it, when they have the choice to ignore it all and focus on the good stuff.

Why do I feel like this isn't the first thread at this forum about this exact same topic?

Chris, there has always been good music and there has always been crap music (or if we're being truthful, music that you like and music that you don't like). I watched a documentary a while ago about how the Brits stormed America after the Beatles euphoria and, boy oh boy, there was some crap British 60s pop music (translate = music I didn't like) highlighted in that show.

Forget the stuff you don't like. Play the stuff you do. It's that easy.

Sorry, I had already made it for my media work, and thought to put it on here and see what you think. I had to write a whole essay because that's what I had to do for it.

I hate Michael Jackson...apart from Man in the Mirror...that's a great song...I also hate Joy Division