Does pop music only accept one style of singing? Why just soul/ R&B?

Question

Let me clarify. I notice that Yahoo users from different countries have very different definitions of 'pop'. I'll just keep it simple: let's just say very mainstream, top-40, American Idol stuff. In other words, no My Chemical Romance; no Sarah Brightman. Got it?

It's interesting that one of you mentions Backstreet etc. Yes, they are 'pure pop' - but...listen carefully to them...it is impossible to sing their songs without trying to sound soulful! Get the point?

Answer 1

There are some has beens like: N'Sync, O-Town, Mandy Moore, Brittany Spears, and the Backstreet Boys; they were all true pop. But everyone has broken up and gone their own ways, and something has to be put into the category until someone new makes an appearance that actually fits in with the category.

Answer 2

It doesn't. There are pop rockers like Avril and Ashlee Simpson(if you can call her a singer). But pop has those roots to get to a wider audience using mainly white singers singing with an r&b style to appeal to whites. I'm not being mean but that's how records make their money and have doing that for decades.

Answer 3

I think pop music accepts a lot of different styles of singing , not just soul/R&B. I think they accept alot of the softer rock tunes in pop music as well.

Answer 4

I think "pop" , (because it stands for "popular") music is categorized because the style is typically offensive to no one.And is equally uninteresting as well (my opinion).Think of "soul" R&B...rhythym and blues...distinctive style and vocals.In the old, old, days it was considered "offensive" to Caucasians.Rock n Roll came out of R&B (think Elvis) and was threatening to whites as well. So SOMEBODY out there had to come up with all these categories to warn people. LOL..

Answer 5

Don't you think pop-rock, classic rock, EMO, and punk can all fit into 'Pop Music'? Plus many more?