When pop music is put on trial, who is there to defend it? It's certainly not the music business. It's certainly not other artists. That leaves the defense of pop in the hands of the all too capable fans.
Before I begin my tirade, blasting a music industry that is ungrateful and altogether rude towards its greatest market, I think a few things should be defined.
MUSIC - the art of making sounds that are beautiful, and putting them together into beautiful, pleasing, or interesting arrangements.
MUSICIAN - a person skilled in music; a person who sings or plays on a musical instrument.
INSTRUMENT - a device for producing musical sounds.
Having cleared that up, pop remains the butt of musics "inside jokes" and a public wash. I'm here to defend pop music, quite frankly because I can.
This stretches beyond the bounds of 'N Sync for me, although they're my main focus in the 'pop' market. If you search through the dictionary for a definition of pop, you'd find something that resembles this:
POP - having to do with pop art; of or having to do with the popular arts and fashions, especially those reflecting the values and mores of the younger generation.
Under that definition isn't ALL music pop? Sure you have classifications. You have Britney Spears singing bubble gum pop. 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys singing pop (by classification). I'm going to focus mostly on 'N Sync in this thesis, because quite frankly that's why you're here isn't it?
It's not an embarrassment to be classified as a pop act nowadays. If you are, chances are you're also making money, selling CD's, selling tickets (note: 'N Sync's S/T album is diamond *10 million sold*, 'N Sync's tour was the 4th of 1999). Despite all the positives of fame and fortune it is still seen as a negative things. Jokes are cracked. Endless, boring parodies are made. Quite frankly... it's old.
MAIN ARGUEMENTS...
(1) "... they don't write their own songs ..."
Point taken. But they're not the only ones. On their first album 'N Sync co-wrote one song (albeit not a lyrical masterpiece - Giddy Up). Another followed on the Christmas Album (Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays). More are to come on the long awaited sophomore album, (No Strings Attached. due out 3.21)
As a counterpoint I offer up the example of Whitney Houston's 'My Love Is Your Love' album. There are 13 tracks on that album and how many are written by Miss Whitney Houston? If you said none, you'd be right. But when was the last time a complaint was made about her writing her own songs? I have yet to hear one.
Counterpoint 2. Just because a song isn't written by a person doesn't mean they don't FEEL that song as they sing it. I know I haven't written any songs in my life, but I still feel emotions as I hear them. Why? Because happiness, sadness, loneliness, love, joy are universal feelings. No matter who places them into words for a song.
(2) "... they don't play instruments ..."
Point taken.
Counterpoint. If playing instruments makes you a musician then that discounts MANY MANY famous solo artists and groups who have been crucial to the history of music. The Temptations, The Supremes, old Motown artists, Boyz II Men and most of the R&B/Rap artists out today... Mariah Carey is tremendously talented, but I have yet to see her play the guitar. I have never witnessed Jay-Z or DMX by a piano. Does that NOT make them musicians?
Counterpoint 2. The voice IS an instrument, by definition.
In a world that is constantly besieged by hostility and anger is it so wrong to have a form of music that makes people happy. A form of music that preaches about love and all its components as opposed to hate and violence. Do you really want the young children in America walking around singing the words to "Nookie" or "Can I Get A..."? If you do, do you really have the right to complain about generation Y's views toward sex, love and the world in general? While both are good songs, are they really ones you want your children to sing in the schoolyard?
I have no idea what makes the great pop backlash warranted. Is it jealousy? Or, is the idea that they're actually an intimidating force in music, despite docile lyrics and flashy dance moves?
All artists can say what they want, they can be skits on SNL and made fun of until the people in music are blue in the face. But not many have records certified diamond.
Are they all flashes in the proverbial pan? Will they all fade into our subconscious? Are there any that can pull themselves out when the ashes of pure pop have settled and a new form of music takes over? Time will tell. But until then... we don't need people telling us who the talented ones are. We know. 10 million records are just a small shred of proof.
