What is it about an infectious but frivolous song that is so appealing? It has a stupid subject, we all know that. Our friends know it, the DJ knows it (though they're paid not to). And we're all very embarrassed that we like it. Yet every time it comes on our right hand subconsciously cranks up the volume knob while our left does the same to the windows. I've come to refer to them as "dittiepop", an intoxicating mix of a commercial's jingle and pop muzak. Mindlessly hummable dittiepops are inescapable; we're happily (if begrudgingly)under their spell.
I know a song is going to do well commercially when the lyrics aren't important at all. Couldn't make them out the first time; not going to try that hard the next time. But the chorus is a part of my soul! The singer isn't detrimental by any means. Artists groomed for dittiepop are indispensable; no skills or charisma required. As long as they're somewhat in harmony and their sneakers are reeaallyy white--that's the only validation needed that I've found my next 3 minutes of enjoyment.
I'm somewhat bewildered when I read another persons hateration of whatever dittiepop was #1ish this week. They seem so grumpy that its occupying the airwaves; don't they understand it's only for a second? Stories of musics past inevitably surface about when, you know, music was still good. The thing is, music has always been open to interpretation of value by its listener. Unbeknownst to some, there is no definition of what good music is. Only die-hard fans and their equally die-hard opinions. Even the numbers lie; charts are based on what's popular--not significant. Dittiepop isn't trying to hurt you! It wants to be your friend! I, for one, embrace my dittiepop like an old high school acquaintance. Enthusiastic and pleasantly surprised at first, then a steady recollection of why we were never that close in the first place... back to obscurity you go!
But I digress...its an astute opinion, actually. We've swiftly gone from a rags to riches story to switches on bitches glory. I don't claim to be a music historian of any kind, but even I can see what a nice recycling job the powers that be are doing. There's nary an original left. The few we have are getting on in years and albeit, scandals. Their successors are nothing but carbon copies designed to fool the new generations, and for the time being, its working. But hasn't it always worked? Isn't that how we sniff out who's got that something, and who's just biding their time until the spotlight becomes dim? I like to think so. I like to think that we're collectively putting up with mundane dittiepop because we know, we just know someone is going to claw their way into our consciousness...and they're going to deserve to be there.
In the meantime, embrace what your radio feeds you. Become plump and pacified with its harvest, because the time is inevitably coming when we'll be fed in a different way-and we'll understand why.
