| Pop music is usually comprised of happy, | | | | Britney stagnated in the sex kitten look |
| upbeat rhythms with simple melodies and | | | | and had a breakdown. Australia's Kylie |
| lyrics that relate to love, | | | | Minogue, a former 80s icon, experienced |
| relationships, sex and dancing. It is | | | | a revival that carried her through to |
| not a genre that is meant to bring deep | | | | the next century. Latin pop burst onto |
| and serious world issues to the fore, | | | | the scene with Ricky Martin swinging his |
| nor is it meant to invoke introspection | | | | hips and Shakira shaking everything |
| and reflection. It's there simply to bop | | | | else. |
| around to, and join in the rousing | | | | The 2000s have seen a lot of artists |
| chorus at the top of your lungs. Its | | | | take time off from their bands to record |
| feel good music, designed for fun and | | | | solo albums such as Gwen Stefani, while |
| lighthearted entertainment. | | | | others simply left their bands to pursue |
| Unlike other music genres such as rock | | | | solo careers like Justin Timberlake and |
| and hip hop, where the songs are often | | | | Robbie Williams. We've seen the rise of |
| written by the artists themselves, pop | | | | Teen pop, who've been given a boost by |
| songs are usually written by | | | | the Disney Channel, as well as Pop Punk |
| professional songwriters. In order to | | | | like Fall Out Boy and pop rock like |
| generate as much exposure as possible, | | | | Pink. The popular reality show American |
| artists create music videos and stage | | | | Idol has changed the way in which many |
| extravagant live performances to attract | | | | people achieve fame and commercial |
| media interest. Music videos are | | | | success in the music industry. Some |
| particularly important as they can enjoy | | | | artists have proved that it is possible |
| international commercial success and | | | | to successfully blend pop music and R&B, |
| thus reach an extremely wide audience. | | | | artists like Nelly Furtado and Rihanna. |
| This has made pop, arguably the world's | | | | Some modern day icons include: |
| biggest music genre. | | | | Justin Timberlake, who rose to stardom |
| "Popular music" has been around since | | | | on the tails of one of the more |
| the 50s, with people such as Frank | | | | successful boy bands, N'SYNC. He chose |
| Sinatra and Elvis Presley falling into | | | | to leave the band and pursue an |
| the category. Pop music, as most of us | | | | independent solo career and in 2002 |
| know it, really came into its own in the | | | | released his debut album titled, |
| 80s with the rise of artists such as | | | | Justified. After a break of about four |
| Michael Jackson and Madonna. | | | | years, in which he recorded with other |
| Michael Jackson had nine no.1 singles in | | | | artists, began a movie career, started a |
| the US alone during the 80s, and sold | | | | fashion label, William Rast, and |
| over 136 million albums even though he | | | | established his own record label, |
| only released two, Thriller and Bad. | | | | Tennman Records, he returned to the |
| This ensured that he became the most | | | | studio and released his second album, |
| successful artist of the 80s and earned | | | | FutureSex/LoveSounds. He has sold over |
| him the title "King of Pop". | | | | 15 million albums worldwide. |
| Madonna was another emerging 80s artist | | | | Nelly Furtado first came to our |
| who reached iconic status. Widely | | | | attention in 2000 when she released her |
| regarded as the "Queen of Pop", Madonna | | | | debut album, Whoa, Nelly. "I'm like a |
| has experimented by blending pop with a | | | | bird", her breakthrough single from the |
| number of other music genres and has | | | | album, won her a Grammy award and |
| sold over 230 million albums globally. | | | | established her as an artist to watch. |
| Her album, Like a Virgin achieved | | | | In 2003, after taking some time off to |
| Diamond status; one better than Platinum | | | | have her first child, she released her |
| and her single Vogue is one of the | | | | second album, Folklore, which didn't |
| biggest selling singles in history. It | | | | fare as well commercially as Whoa, Nelly |
| has sold more than 10 million copies | | | | did. However, her latest album, Loose, |
| worldwide. | | | | which she released in 2006, has put her |
| The 90s was not a good decade for pop. | | | | firmly back on the hit parade. It has |
| It saw the emergence of boy bands and | | | | had several hit singles, most notably, |
| girl groups resulting in the Backstreet | | | | "Promiscuous", "Maneater", "Say It |
| Boys, N'SYNC and that fascinating UK | | | | Right" and "Do It". Nelly is not afraid |
| phenomenon, the Spice Girls. Groups were | | | | of experimenting with her sound and |
| assembled more for their looks and | | | | often incorporates different |
| appeal to teenage audiences than any | | | | instruments, sounds, languages and vocal |
| real singing talent. Towards the end of | | | | styles into her music. She claims to |
| the 90s we saw a rise of bubble gum pop | | | | have attributed her new youthful sound |
| and aspiring divas, Britney Spears and | | | | on Loose to the presence of her two-year |
| her competition, Christina Aguilera. | | | | old daughter. |
| Christina experimented and evolved; | | | | |