There are various genres of popular music. Ranging from Karen and the Bee Gees’ vocal harmonies overdubbed with vocal overdubbing to Rod Stewart’s rock-influenced piano pop and Barbra Streisand’s confessional singing, there are endless options.
Bruno Mars has perfected the art of pop by mixing elements such as funk, R&B and hip-hop into his musical style. Artist Lil Nas X also excels at this approach with her hit song “Old Town Road.”
Beyonce
Beyonce stands out among female pop superstars as one of the most powerful and accomplished figures ever. From her first single to her latest release, Beyonce has proven time and time again that she is one of history’s greatest artists, thanks to her iconic style and powerful self-assurance that has cemented her place as an international icon. Here are some of her greatest songs:
As the inaugural track from her fourth album, I Am… Sasha Fierce, this anthem celebrates feminism and empowerment with its combination of stuttering backing vocals, militant snare drums, and buzzing guitars for an explosive, energetic jam that explodes with attitude.
Beyonce’s ballad “For Beyonce,” featuring mellismatic runs reminiscent of Whitney Houston and chilling synths, is one of her most powerful works and serves as an emotional testament to love as it marks her maturing as a singer.
Hold Up can’t be separated from its video, in which Beyonce wields a baseball bat around her head, but without the visual distraction, Hold Up stands alone as an impressive work of music. Mixing elements from Andy Williams, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Soulja Boy into an unbridled, fiery vocal performance by Beyonce herself, this track stands as one of her fiercest tracks from this decade, making Hold Up one of Beyonce’s finest tracks and possibly her greatest of them all.
ABBA
ABBA became one of the world’s best-known pop groups from 1974 to 1982 with their series of top hits that topped music charts globally. Comprised of Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad as vocalists and Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus as producers respectively – their popularity outlasted fashion fads such as glittery boots or pert bottoms; it’s estimated they sold between 380 million and 500 million records worldwide!
Take A Chance On Me is an exceptional example of ABBA’s talent at crafting songs with rock elements while remaining accessible to mainstream audiences. Gimme!, another timeless gem by the band, shows its ability to turn minor chords, hair-raising harmonies and dark production into pop perfection.
The Name Of The Game stands out as an exception among ABBA’s flashy dance-pop hits and showcases their great variety. Boasting an ominous and melancholic tone along with exotic synth effects (such as piccolo trumpet sound) The Song was an instantaneous success that propelled their international reach; multiple versions recorded both in English and Spanish helped cement ABBA as one of music’s premier international acts.
It may be the only ABBA song on our list because it sounds so unique; yet its dramatic orchestral arrangements and delicate ballad vocals – with both Faltskog and Lyngstad adding solo sections – ensure its place amongst their greatest hits.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears has done more to define pop music than anyone else in her lifetime. From her Vegas-diva persona and pop-rock force to being an avant-disco pioneer – she’s become an icon. But whenever her popularity wanes or she is written off as irrelevant or irrelevant again, Spears always returns stronger than ever.
She first found fame as a teen idol with the 1998 release, Baby One More Time, due to its catchy tune and contentious music video. Subsequent chart-toppers followed suit, such as Oops!… I Did It Again and Overprotected.
At a time when Eurodance-influenced pop was dominant, Spears stood out with her unique brand of Eurobeat-influenced dance pop. Me Against the Music was an immense dance hit that served as a prelude for her iconic kiss with Madonna at the 2003 MTV VMAs.
Everytime is an exceptional example of Spears’s crushing vulnerability as an artist. It traces heartbreak’s devastation and her desperate search for relief, while her last album Glory wasn’t an overwhelming success; but its lead single Make Me is proof she still possesses what it takes to dominate pop charts; its rich synths and pillowy electric guitars pair beautifully with Spears’s voice, sounding more relaxed than previous work; guaranteeing plenty of dancing as intended by any great pop song!
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 are one of the most iconic bands in pop music history. Comprised of four brothers – Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon – they were an unstoppable force during the 60s and 70s; changing modern music forever with their unique blend of soul, funk, R&B. With timeless classics that still resonate today. Their influence continues to this day!
“I Want You Back,” their first major hit from 1969, marked an extended run at the top of the pop chart. Its catchy melody and lyrics tell a poignant tale about an impetuous young man pleading with his former love to return, with its production blending various musical styles for an infectious sound that is sure to bring smiles of joy and satisfaction to listeners everywhere.
The Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975, and while their solo careers and overexposure have somewhat depleted them since, their greatest hits remain some of the most vibrant mainstream pop/R&B of that era. Their third album Third Album brought Michael more into focus through dense vocal harmonies and charming spoken-word interludes while its funk backing provided a more mature sound than previous albums.
Simon and Garfunkel
Once they parted ways in 1970, their haunting harmony and poetic lyrics remain among pop music’s most revered. Their chemistry from their first album (late 1950s as Tom & Jerry) to folk musicians before making it big with Columbia Records under Simon and Garfunkel remains evident today.
“Sparrow” marks an early sonic departure from their folky beginnings, featuring fingerpicked guitar and folk rhythms giving way to an orchestral arrangement and boasting an atmospheric melodie. The song provides an early glimpse of what would become their signature earthy lyricism.
This beautiful track, a minor hit that showcases Garfunkel’s angelic tenor, may be their most melancholic recording and heartbreaking one too; capturing that feeling between lovers where memories remain but laughter has faded away.
The duo’s chemistry is unmistakable here, with simple acoustic guitar accompaniment and lovely melody giving way to orchestral arrangements and soaring harmonies. Although lesser-known, this track should definitely be part of any S&G collection – its “bleeding intellectualism” may not have commercial success, yet is considered an S&G classic today despite not selling as many copies; unfortunately it was also their last joint recording project together.
Madonna
Madonna, born Louise Cicconi in 1958, is widely considered one of the top pop music artists. Beginning her career as a gymnast and dancer before switching over to singing professionally with Sire Records after initially experiencing difficulties. Soon thereafter she achieved star status, with her album ‘Like a Virgin’ reaching number one on several countries’ charts.
She made a name for herself as an actress in films such as ‘Desperately Seeking Susan,’ ‘Shanghai Surprise,’ and ‘Dick Tracy. Her career took off thanks to her award-winning role in Evita; which won her the Golden Globe award. Additionally she worked on 26 feature films, 10 short films, three theatrical plays, and 2 television episodes during her tenure.
In the 1990s she continued experimenting with music, producing albums like ‘Ray of Light’ and ‘Music.’ In 1998 she received a Grammy Award for co-writing and performing her song ‘Beautiful Stranger,’ co-written and performed for Austin Powers movie. Also during this year, Maverick label was established and coffee table book titled ‘Sex’ was published which showcased various sexual poses of her body.
Madonna found an early balance between her rebellious streak and drive for excellence and high achievement in school, cheerleading, dance training, and high-achieving academics – graduating one semester early from high school with straight A marks, cheerleading letters, cheerleader positions, disciplined dance training. Madonna has two children: Lourdes Maria from her physical trainer Carlos Leon and Rocco with second husband Guy Ritchie.