Popular Music Hits Explained

Popular Music Hits Explained

MUSICAL AESTHETICS V.S. MUSIC COMMUNICATION

Author Deanna D. Sellnow discusses the difference between "musical aesthetics" and "music as communication".  Based on my understanding of what I have read I interpreted "musical aesthetics" as appreciating the art of music objectively by genres, patterns, instruments, and tempo. Examples of this can be seen in something like the Opera of Classical Music. "musical aesthetics can also be someone that listens to music just because they enjoy it but do not analyze it in any way. While "music as communication" is the basis of how most people listen to music, objectively connecting a type of emotional meaning to the art.  These are my interpretations of the two definitions. However, I believe these two definitions can be a hybrid or dynamic of some sort. For example, someone can critically analyze a song and it could be great but they have a deep connection to the art and dislike it or vice versa. A great example of this can be seen in this song;


To this day I still love Alicia Keys's hit song "All I Want for Christmas" for several reasons it is well-produced, and catchy and the vocals are amazing. However, I know and have met several people who work in retail who despise this song. The reason why they hate this song so much is their deep connection to having to work long busy hours during the holiday and being underpaid while this played on repeat at the store for hours on end. That strong emotional connection that we make to music and art is what Sellnow calls the "Illusion of Life Theory." In other words, Pop Culture music often contains emotional content that represents our feelings." These examples can be good or bad and are overall, dependent on the person.

POP CULTURE STANDARDS

In "Cultural Theory and Popular Culture a Reader" the author discusses Theodor W. Adono's concept that all popular music is unoriginal. For example, on page 64 it is stated "The whole structure of popular music is standardized, even where the attempt is made to circumvent standardization. Standardization extends from the most general features to the most specific ones." The author continues to list specific examples including the similarity of bar lyrics, and tempo patterns originating from nursery rhymes to Pop Culture songs.  

Although, I believe this concept or theory is accurate I do not believe it is fair to state all artists our unoriginal, for it is normal for creators to be influenced by one another as music evolves. One common example that people always talk about when a "sample" or artist influence goes too far is rapper Vanilla Ice's song "Ice Ice Baby" and Queen's "Under Pressure" If you have not heard these two songs you are in for a treat; 



 POP CULTURE IN HIP-HOP TODAY

Hip-hop is a great example to use when reviewing Pop Culture theories because the genre is so popular in America and the evolution is never-ending. Theodor's theory states all Popular Culture music is unoriginal and I can see this being prevalent in hip-hop within my generation because we were known as the "mumble rap era." The one group that paved the way for mumble rappers is The Migos. When the song "Bad and Boujee" was released t several artists like Lil Pump, SixNine, Kodak Black, and 21 Savage became relevant. If you are interested in learning more about Hip Hop and the connections to Pop Culture referenced review some of these music videos below and compare the similarities and differences. 






Thankfully, there are still some lyricists out there such as Jcole, Logic, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar who still make music that tends to have a deeper meaning. I believe an expansion of mumble rap that has become relevant are artists like Post Malone, Travis Scott & Juice World. It is interesting how far back this genre of music goes and how each artist and generation influences the last. Sellsnow example of nursery rhymes being used in music is more prevalent than we know. It is interesting to see some of these older artist and new artists collaborate as well.

CONCLUSION

The list of music that I can find that has similarities to others is never-ending. I believe this is due to the evolution of artists and paying respect to the artists before them. Do you think that music artists make similar music for profit or because they are genuinely inspired by others? Do you think you listen to music in a "musical aesthetic" way or "music as communication" and why or why not?


Referenced Sources

Sellnow, D. D. (2010). The rhetorical power of popular culture. London: Sage.



 

Comments

  1. Jean Noel MugaboFebruary 16, 2024 at 9:56 AM

    I agree with you on various points, especially regarding the endless similarities between songs. However, I would like to add another point to the idea of paying tribute to the artists who came before them. I believe that music should be an authentic art form, with elements that contribute to a cohesive whole, as explained in Sellnow's theory of musical ascription.

    This authenticity has been lost over time, with the introduction of music labels, studios, directors, and producers. While an artist may create a unique piece for their audience, once it falls into the hands of a producer—who may have worked with other artists shortly before—patterns from those other artists may be unintentionally or intentionally introduced, resulting in similar songs saturating the airwaves and televisions.

    In response to your question, I used to focus on the aesthetic aspects of music when I was younger. However, as I've grown older, I find myself paying more attention to its ability to communicate.

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