Does Anyone Make Pop Music Anymore?
Gaywired.com publishes today an interesting article by Bryan Ochalla, titled Does Anyone Make Pop Music Anymore?, discussing the situation of pop music today with the sound of Madonna’s coming new album as a starting point.
You know something is up in the world of music when the Queen of Pop herself decides to leave the dance floor in search of something more ‘mainstream’.
Madonna‘s last album, Confessions on a Dance Floor, may have been a massive hit on a global scaleselling more than 8 million copies worldwidebut only a fraction of those sales came from the U.S. (about 1.6 million, according to Billboard magazine). Likewise, whereas the set’s lead single, Hung Up, broke records by reaching the pole position in 41 countries, it stalled at a ‘ho hum’ number seven on the American charts.
Despite that worldwide success, the former Material Girl seems to be angling for a hit on her home turf with her next album, set to be released sometime next year. A quick look at the co-writers and producers lined up to work on the as-yet-unnamed album (Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and Pharrell have been all but confirmed, with Akon and Swiss Beatz being heavily rumored as well) suggests the British transplant believes the key to reaching that goal is to approximate a more urban sound.
Madonna isnt the first popstar to make that move, of course. Janet Jackson and Jennfier Lopez, both of whom have roots in dance and pop, are prime examples of how much the American music industry (and the tastes of consumers) have changed over the last few years. Compare JLos “Waiting for Tonight” with anything from her 2005 release, Rebirth, or Janets “Control” with “Call On Me”, the lead-off single from her latest album, 20 Y.O.
Even the pretenders to Madonna‘s throne have thrown their crowns into the ring. Britney Spears‘ comeback single, Gimme More, was produced by Nate Danja Hills (who rose to fame by helping Timbaland craft “Promiscuous” for Nelly Furtado and “SexyBack” for Justin Timberlake), while the rest of the album is being produced by Jonathan Rotem (who has worked with 50 Cent, Lil Kim and Rihanna) and Sean Garrett (previous clients include Ciara, Destinys Child and Usher).
Britneys former castmate on The New Mickey Mouse Club, Christina Aguilera, also has moved toward a more urban sound, enlisting DJ Premier, Kwamé and Mark Ronson to produce last years Back to Basics, which Aguilera called “a throwback to the 20s, 30s, and 40s-style jazz, blues, and feel-good soul music. Quite a change from her past pop hits like Genie in a Bottle, eh?
Madonna‘s movement in the same direction could be taken as a clear sign pop music finally is out of favor in the U.S., though theres still hope for fans of the genre. Former teen queen Hilary Duff released the respectably edgy, dance-pop album, Dignity, early this year, though it hardly lit the charts on fire, while Madonna‘s biggest fan, Kylie Minogue, is set to do the same (though with much more talent and verve) later this yearoverseas, at leastwith X, her 10th studio album and first since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005.
And of course… you can always count on a certain few “divas of dance” to deliver something dance floor ready. Though she left the dance genre momentarily for her Dinah Washington tribute, at the same time, Deborah Cox, dropped a new dance floor anthem. But in doing so, she’s also made it very clear as of late… she is more than a dance artist, and she won’t let you forget it.
So with all the writing on the wall, does that mean dance music is on its way out? Dance music will never truly die, but in a shape-shifting music industry, the days of club-ready dance anthems coming out of our divas may be behind us.
But fear not… these ladies know who continues to buy their CDs year after year… I’m sure there’s a dance mix or ten brewing up in Madge‘s brain even as I type!
Source: gaywired.com
Article by Bryan Ochalla
Thanks to our team member Vincy for selecting each day the best Madonna related articles on the internet for our readers.