Hate Pop music? Maybe you should think again

Hating Pop music doesn't make you cool, there I said it.

Pop music. It is the genre that you either love or hate without any in between. Now, I won't pretend that I have always been someone to preach Pop music in its entirety. When I was a teenager I would try to impress people by saying "Ohhh I only listen to good music, none of this new crap", God I was such an asshole. But that's okay, if you don't look back on your past self and cringe then you haven't grown.

Luckily with my growth, I developed a bit more critical thinking and realised that this mentality was wrong and had underlying themes of misogyny. So, if you're extremely passionate about hating all Pop music, I hate to break it to you but that's a major red flag. I understand that people have music preferences which is obviously fine, but some people are so pressed about the whole genre which is just...weird. So, if you hate Pop music, maybe you should think again.

You probably listen to music that was considered Pop in it's day.

Pop music isn't a specific style or sound, the term is used to describe music that is popular at the current time. During the 1950s and 60s, Pop music was encompassed by Rock and Roll. Let's now break down that mentality of "my music taste is better because I listen to real music from years ago, not today's bad modern music". The Beatles were Pop music. That might be shattering to some of you because you hold them to be one of the greatest bands of all time but you also hate Pop music with a passion. Let's go back in time real quick to when The Beatles were at the height of their career. Their music was mostly loved by young girls. Both their fans and The Beatles themselves were absolutely trashed because of this. Now, fifty odd years later they are held in an extremely high regard by the majority of society. The Beatles wouldn't be as influential as they are today if young girls did not popularise them.

Modern day artists such as Justin Bieber, The 1975, and all the boys from One Direction have copped similar flack throughout the years. Singer Phoebe Bridgers perfectly described the absurdity of this mentality in her The Forty-Five interview, "hating The 1975 is sexist. Teenage girls invented that band just like teenage girls invented The Beatles. Teenage girls invented music. You're trying to say something's stupid because teenage girls like it? It's fucking insane". I truly believe that if you like The Beatles you in no way should disregard or trash-talk artists who have found fame the same way as they did. If you partake in this shitty discourse, it's time for you to look in the mirror.

The 1975 Concert London 2020

Beatlemania London 1965

Bieber Concert Norway 2013

Left: Jen Five, NME | Middle: Ted West, Getty Images | Right: AFP/Getty Images

Pop music is not one style, so how can you hate all of it?

Let's be real here. It's probably not the sound or style of Pop music that makes you hate it so. It's obvious that people strive to be unique or better than others and this way of thinking is not cool at all. The way I know it's not because of the sound is because people who hate Pop music love to call artists who they once listened to"sellouts" once they become popular. My favourite example of this is Kings of Leon. Prior to their 2008 release of their album "Only by Night", the Nashville band were considered to be indie and cool because they had a small following. Once "Only by Night" hit the charts, bangers like "Sex on Fire" became massive hits (with good reason), and then almost immediately the band were branded as "sellouts" for hitting the big time.

I can't even begin to comprehend how people could even consider that Kings of Leon were suddenly lesser than because they became popular. The band's bassist, Jared Followill said in a Music Feeds interview that they could not go back to their early music, “We were just like weird potheads in 2002... We had no identity. We were just trying to be different and you can’t do that forever.” Guitarist, Matthew Followill added, “True music fans and music lovers probably think that [Sex on Fire] is absolutely terrible, but it’s just this huge song for us,”. How awful is that though? The people that regard themselves to be true lovers of music will immediately hate something that is mainstream even though it benefits a band they love. I think that is an bad attribute to have. Why would you dislike someone because they are succeeding? Big booooo to people who feel that way, shame on you.

Does anyone write their own lyrics these days?

This argument always makes me laugh. You would think that people would understand that not all blessed singers are poetic songwriters and vice versa. Obviously there are plenty of Pop singer-songwriters out there. Adele, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran are up there for being the most successful. Some artists have their songs written for them which is not a new form of music making. Elton John is noted as one of the best singers and performers and it is common knowledge that he did not write his own lyrics. Now these songs are iconic.. Rocketman, Tiny Dancer, Your Song, the list goes on. Does the fact that he didn't write his own songs make him any less of a talented singer or performer? If you say yes, there is something deeply wrong with your morals. If Bernie Taupin and Elton John never found each other, as a society we would've missed out on Taupin's poetic words and John's iconic voice and persona.

Next time you're listening to the likes of Lady Gaga or Ariana Grande, don't base their likeability on how many of the words they wrote, base it on how it makes you feel. Let go of what you think others will think about you and just enjoy the fucking music. Not everything in life is a character competition, and once you realise this... you will be at peace.

Elton John Dodger Stadium 1975

The Morrison Hotel 1973

Bernie & Elton 1973

Left: Terry O'Neill, Getty Images | Middle: Ed Caraeff | Right: Ed Caraeff

At the end of the day not everyone is going to love Pop music, but hate? I seriously think that should not be the case. It's okay if you prefer a certain style or instrument or whatever, but I think the points I've discussed prove as to why a lot of the hate that Pop music receives is actually baseless and overall, quite stupid. Music is such a beautiful thing that we are so lucky to be blessed with and when people come and try to degrade or put you down for liking one certain type, it really just ruins the fun for everyone. But hey, if you want to come across as a pretentious snob on their musical high-horse than go for it, we will be over here listening to Britney, Madonna, and Christina in the meantime because Pop music is iconic. Period.