Pop is good.

Just think about how many 'pop' songs you know the words to
 
 

Wanna be a gunslinger?
Don't be a rock singer
Eenie meenie miney mo
Which way you want to go
Talk about pop muzik
Talk about pop muzik

Pop is good....
especially corny pop that works.

I miss Madness and Bad Manners. That will always be "pop" to me. Pop seemed to take itself far less seriously back then and it was a real fun time to be a kid. 

"If it's popular, it's pop".
             -some guy whose name I can't remember

^^ Ha, that answers it! ;D

...I'm too old to be of any value, but I like music that takes some measure of skill to play.  I like songs that evoke a feeling or a mood.  I like lyrics that say something.  I like singers who know that passion is not about your dance moves, but about your soul.  I want real Artistry.  I want creativity.  I like a song that resonates with me, where I can't stop thinking about it, where I personally identify with it.   That's what I want to hear, regardless of the label that is placed on it.  Rock, pop, funk, metal, electronica, dubstep, etc. - I want something that blows me away...


I'm not sure I could have said this any better myself. 
It's certainly how I feel as well, so I can completely relate.


It seems just 40-70 years ago, what was heard in the music business was largely considered art and was introduced to the masses via the 'music business', albeit for profit.


Now it seems that that very same 'music business' exists simply for business sake, regardless of whether any real art comes along or not, due to the endless hunger for profit for the business, despite the onslaught of entrants, realistic participants and countless wannabees. 


I will admit that I like much of what I hear in today's 'pop music', particularly in many of the female vocalists, most of which whos' names I don't even know.


On one hand it's surprising how many young folks listen to and even prefer the older tunes, and yet on the other hand, it's not. 
When I ask, it's usually, "Oh my Dad used to have this record", or, "My Mom & Dad...", etc.


I remember Shania Twain saying that they had her gather around a bunch of others on Monday morning with guitars and try to pump out some tunes in Nashville, just like a business meeting.  
She said she just can't do that, on que, and with the expectation of having something done by 5 PM.


Like most businesses I believe that the music business has reached what is known as 'market saturation', where there are so many 'players' in it now, that quantity has gone up while quality has gone down.


For me, when I write a song, they're few & far between, they come without notice, and they could fit into any one of several genres, styles & categories, although it matters not whatsoever. 


What matters is what I think and subsequently feel about the song, regardless of who, if anyone else ever hears it or not. 


For the record, most would likely be considered pop songs though. 

When someone says pop to me, immediately I think of Fountains of Wayne, not Shania or any of that other super popular radio / e-channel stuff.  I lean more towards the upbeat song, with clever lyrics, interesting changes, bright instrumentation.

To me Stacey's Mom, Leave the Biker, Hat and Feet and Mexican Wine are the best recent examples of my type of pop....but even that is considered old now I guess,  and probably not pop by a lot of people too.

Having Middle School kids, I am exposed to Pop probably more than most here. And it doesn't hurt that I have always loved respected and appreciated a well-crafted pop tune.

Thankfully, today Pop doesn't mean just Beyonce, One Direction, Rhianna and Kelly Clarkson's  "group art projects". Pop can mean Macklemore (what a great track), fun., Philip Phillips (I have a feeling we will never stop hearing that song), Bruno Mars (great gifted songwriter), Lumineeers and those Mumford hillbillies. Flo Rida does a terrific job recycling old hits into something current and catchy.

Honestly, people who complain about Pop probably never actually listen to Top 40 anymore, just the same few hits they hear while shopping.

I love Pop music and I try to create it but generally never finish it.  I dig Katy Perry and I analyze what's going on it the songs and it ends up being the same progressions used in the early 70s and 60s but with layers and layers of various sonic doodads and production.  The songs are very simple and without the production help they just kind of fall apart.  IMHO.