What’s So Great About Teen Pop Music?

What’s So Great About Teen Pop Music?

Many people write teen pop music off as being shallow and meaningless. But there’s actually a lot to like about it! In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the things that make teen pop music so great.

Introduction

Most people think of teen pop music as a recent phenomenon, but it has actually been around for quite some time. The term “teen pop” was first used in the early 1940s to describe the music that was popular with teenagers at the time. This type of music continued to be popular throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with artists such as Bobby Darin, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles becoming teen idols.

The popularity of teen pop music really took off in the 1990s, however, with the advent of MTV and other 24-hour music channels. Teenage girls in particular became avid fans of such artists as NSYNC, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera. Teen pop music often gets a bad rap from music critics, who accuse it of being too bubblegum or manufactured. However, there are many teen pop songs that are actually quite good and have stood the test of time. Here are just a few examples:

The Good

It’s catchy

The first time you hear a new pop song, it’s easy to write it off as juvenile or simplistic. But many of these songs are crafted by experienced professionals using proven techniques to get stuck in your head. And whether you like it or not, earworms can be hard to resist.

Teens are especially susceptible to the powers of catchy pop tunes because their brains are still developing. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functioning skills like decision-making and impulse control, isn’t fully mature until the early 20s. This means that young people are more likely to give in to the urge to sing along or dance without thinking about it first.

And let’s face it: many of us enjoy a good sing-along or dance party regardless of our age. There’s just something about catchy pop music that makes it hard to resist. So the next time you find yourself humming a teenage pop song, try not to judge yourself too harshly. After all, it’s not your fault that the song is so darn catchy.

The performers are relatable

One of the things that makes teen pop so appealing is that the performers are relatable. Teens can see themselves in the music and the lyrics, and it helps them to feel connected to something larger than themselves. The performers are also usually around the same age as their fans, which makes them even more relatable.

The lyrics are (usually) appropriate

A lot of music today is pretty racy, and a lot of it is pretty darn explicit. If you listen to the radio, or watch many popular music videos, it’s easy to be pretty blown away by how naughty some artists can be. It’s not just the language either — a lot of what passes for “art” these days is pretty darn suggestive, if not downright graphic.

Now, contrast that with teen pop music. For the most part, the lyrics are pretty appropriate. They may sing about boys and kissing and all that other teenage stuff, but they don’t usually go too far beyond that. And that’s a good thing! We don’t need our kids being exposed to explicit lyrics and suggestive content — there’s plenty of time for that when they’re older. For now, let them enjoy their innocence and listen to music that won’t corrupt their delicate minds.

The Bad

Too often, teen pop music is sexualized, with lyrics and videos that are unnecessarily suggestive and leave little to the imagination. This can be damaging to young girls who are impressionable and may start to believe that they need to look and act a certain way in order to be popular or to be considered attractive.

It’s repetitive

The biggest problem with teen pop music is that it’s repetitive. It’s the same three or four chords over and over again, with the occasional bridge thrown in to mix things up. It’s easy to listen to, but it doesn’t really offer anything new or exciting. This can get extremely boring after a while, especially if you’re used to listening to more complex music.

The performers are over-produced

The performers are over-produced. The songs are over-produced. Even the videos are over-produced. There’s just too much going on, and it’s all so synthetic. It’s hard to tell if the performers are even singing live, or if they’re just lip syncing to a track. And if they are singing live, it’s hard to tell if they’re really singing, or if they’re just using a lot of vocal effects and Auto-Tune.

The lyrics are (often) shallow

Most teen pop songs are about love and relationships, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, the lyrics are often shallow and uninspired. They tend to be about falling in love, going on dates, having a boyfriend or girlfriend, or getting dumped. Some songs are about kissing or dancing, and many of them are simply about looking good. There is very little depth to the lyrics, and they often lack the emotional honesty that can make great pop music so special.

The Ugly

There’s no denying that teen pop music is catchy. The hooks are catchy, the lyrics are (usually) easy to remember, and the productions are always polished. But there’s a dark side to this genre that often goes overlooked.

It’s formulaic

Pop music, especially teen pop, is often criticized for being formulaic. That is, the same basic elements are used over and over again in order to create a hit song. This can make the music sound repetitive and unoriginal.

The performers are manufactured

The ugly truth about teen pop music is that the performers are often manufactured by record labels. In other words, they are not usually signed to a record label because they have natural talent or star potential, but because the label knows that they can make money off of them.

This is why you will often see groups of teenage girls who all look and dress alike, and who sing the same kind of sappy love songs. They are not there because they are the best singers or songwriters in the world, but because they fit a certain mold that the record labels are looking for.

What’s even worse is that these performers often have very little control over their own careers. The record labels dictate what kind of music they will sing, what they will wear, and how they will behave in public. In some cases, the performers are not even allowed to write their own songs!

So if you’re a true music lover, you might want to steer clear of teen pop music. It’s not really about the music at all; it’s about making money off of impressionable young people.

The lyrics are (sometimes) explicit

Sexualized lyrics are nothing new in the world of popular music, but there seems to be an increase in the number of songs with graphic, explicit lyrics being marketed to teens and tweens. While some parents may not be concerned about their children listening to these songs, others may find the lyrical content to be inappropriate for younger ears.

One of the biggest concerns about explicit lyrics is the way they can sexualize young girls. Many of these songs objectify women, portraying them as nothing more than sex objects to be used and discarded. This can give girls a distorted view of their worth and value, and can lead them to believe that they need to sexually perform in order to be accepted and loved.

In addition to sexualization, explicit lyrics can also promote other risky behaviors, such as drug use, alcohol consumption, and violence. When children are exposed to these lyrics at a young age, they may be more likely to engage in these activities themselves. This can put them at risk for developing substance abuse problems or engaging in violent behavior.

Parents who are concerned about the lyrical content of teen pop music can take steps to protect their children from exposure to it. They can buy only censored versions of songs or albums, or only allow their children to listen to music that has been approved by them ahead of time. They can also talk to their children about the lyrical content of the songs they’re listening to, and help them understand why some lyrics may be inappropriate. By taking these precautions, parents can help ensure that their children are not being exposed to explicit lyrical content that could be harmful

Conclusion

After exploring the history and appeal of teen pop music, it’s easy to see why this genre has remained popular for so long. Teen pop songs are usually catchy and easy to sing along to, and they often deal with relatable topics like love, friendship, and school. Additionally, many teen pop stars are talented dancers and performers, which makes their concerts even more enjoyable.

If you’re a fan of teen pop music, or if you’re just curious about what all the fuss is about, be sure to check out some of the genre’s biggest hits. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy them!