They don't write pop songs like they used to

[HappyFace2025]

Just listened to 'i'm a believer' by The Monkees and it got me thinking that nobody writes toe tapping pop songs like this any more.

Not strictly pop but popular in my 1970s junior school assembly,...... Kumbaya. Still hate it.

I never thought of it that way before to be perfectly honest with you. I mean of course I heard the lyrics after those, but I don't often see the deeper meaning in songs 😂 so I appreciate you explaining that to me

I think pop music is in a bad state at the moment, even compared to a few years ago. The lyrics are rather banal, but I am not convinced that's the main issue, there has always been pop music where that's not the most important part of the song. As Maurice white say in 197-something, never let the lyrics get in the way of the groove.

But what I have really noticed is a lot of samey production, lack of structure, and especially a real lack of melody and hooks. And especially a really significant lack of musicianship.

There are exceptions of course. But man, a lot of the pop charts just seem full of go nowhere songs.

I make a point of listening to the newer artists who seem to offer something better, but I'm mostly listening outside pop music. I think my biggest current stable is the Tedeschi-Trucks Band. Just all round fabulous musicians, tight arrangements, great songs.

I’m 50 and I love modern pop music as well as all the stuff I grew up with. Chappell Roan is awesome, I also love Sam Fender - People Watching is an incredible album. Also Taylor Swift (until the new album which is very boring) Harry Styles, Little Mix both done some bangers too.

Profound!

There was more culture of living with live music though. A piano in a corner was more likely than a TV in their early years. Music would have been heard on the radio or played/ sung in person. Even the familiarity of school hymns was part of a foundation of musical knowedge; the secular community songs sung in primary school assemblies (with backing tracks) lack that classic musical richness that emerged through songs such as Eleanor Rigby.

Their earliest music came from skiffle which was basic, cheap and pretty rudimentary, and a long way from what would be classed as a professional standard of music today. That wouldn't be a foundation to making it as a music artist today.

80s music is interesting as the increased affordability of keyboards spawned a lot of distinctive duo acts such as the Eurythmics, Pet Shop Boys and Tears for Fears, and allowed for more experimental styles. Music was very much tied in with fashion and sub-cultures and that link has fragmented in an individualised digital world.

I recently chatted to a 12yo who didn't know what was meant by "pop music" or "rock music". When I asked if he (or his family) listened to the radio, they didn't. When I asked if he could name any singers/ bands/ artists, he looked blank then suggested doubtfully "Michael Jackson?". In a world of algorithms that tend to focus in on narrower and narrower topics it's surprisingly easy for child to only know music as anonymous background noise at a very superficial level.

Yes my DS sometimes listens to them, he also likes some older stuff from 70s

I must admit I like 60s, 70s and 80s but some good stuff in 90s, 00s and 10s

Thank you. That's really a point I was trying to make - that so much is samey.

I'm completely out of touch now, but a lot of the older songs told a story, or were about someone, literary or real ( wuthering heights/Rasputin) . I often listen to them and can't imagine modern musicians producing music like it.
From the few times I listen to current stuff it relies on bad language and sex. The shock music of the past was less explicit and went over kids heads.

Yes we used to sing hymns and folk songs at school and my df played the piano so again songs like Oh my darling Clementine or Polly Wolly Doodle for me to sing along to as a child

it was a navy bound book of songs

@HappyFace2025Go and listen to the debut album by Welly, ‘Big in the Suburbs’ and you won’t say that. Brighton band and the lead singer sounds like Damon Albarn. Very clever lyrics and I defy you not to end up dancing. Saw them live earlier in the year and the energy was off the scale. Music how it should be and how it was in the 70’s/80’s before the big acts only played arenas.

Cd’s in the car? Surely your son has Spotify?
Missing the point of the thread I know.

I recently chatted to a 12yo who didn't know what was meant by "pop music" or "rock music". When I asked if he (or his family) listened to the radio, they didn't.

Round about that age we were glued to Radio Luxembourg and the pirates (who did a lot for pop music). The new chart was eagerly awaited each week, the Beatles, the Stones and the Beach Boys all had their devoted followers (Cliff was a bit passé by then). Then there was Flower Power and the Summer of Love....

That time, from the summer of 63 to the summer of 67, was really a great time to be young. Off to YouTube now, having sparked off a lot of memories.

He does but we haven’t managed to get “connected” to my new (to me) car yet! I must get it sorted because I’m getting sick of listening to the same 2 CD’s.

I don’t drink very often anymore but my family can always tell when I’m pissed… I’m on YouTube listening to 30 seconds of a song that reminds me of another song and so on. Mostly 80’s metal 😂😂

Jade from Little Mix has done some interesting stuff lately. Her (extended) album is great.

@cobrakaieaglefang but there is loads of storytelling in modern music! I can't quite believe what I'm reading. What are you listening to? Don't get me wrong, I love a bit of dance music, I love synth too.... but songs are jampacked full of story telling.

This is very true; however, I think they were widely acknowledged as being a bit cheesy and not really 'cool' There were definitely some acts/songs that made an art to being unashamedly cheesy yet catchy - Black Lace, The Birdie Song etc.

Nowadays, there are quite a few 'cool' acts that use that same formula and seem to 'get away with it'.

I remember the days of Milli Vanilli being a huge scandal and a serious disgrace when it turned out that they were only dancers and didn't actually sing their own songs themselves. Now, we have so much technology that a lacklustre singer can be made to sound much, much better; and if Mariah Carey is to be believed, Jennifer Lopez never actually sang on her own songs at all... but people don't seem to care anymore.

That's a fair point. Although Lewis does come across as having charisma, personality and presence on social media and the like... which, granted, obviously wasn't a thing in the 60s.

the same could be said of Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman who wrote most of the pop songs in the charts from mid 70s through early 80s. They were very catchy, formulaic and were definitely more concerned about keeping the hits churning out than musical brilliance.

But at the same time, there was Queen. Freddie wrote great songs, he (and the rest of the band) sang them brilliantly, and he had terrific stage presence.

Probably because most of those you have listed don’t compare to older music! My DC and their friends mostly listen to 70s - 90s music because recent music is pretty shite so not a generational thing. I haven’t heard of half of the recent artists mentioned but DC have and they still choose to listen to older music.

So do we and with a few exceptions we forward most of the 90s episodes because it all got a bit shite by then. 😂

He has taste, the Smiths are one of the greatest British bands. They are about as far from basic as you could get.

Hahaha my username and I disagree.