Is Pop Cool?

Rip It Up, Issue 212, 1 April 1995, Page 11

Is Pop Cool?

I usually take all contributors’ comments in your magazine with a pinch of salt, but [Grant McDonagh, interviewed in last month’s Christchurch scene report, Rockin' in the City That Shines, almost] stated in your March issue that pop music was oppressive, unstimulating and that it stopped people thinking. Well, imagine a world where only black/death metal or industrial music was played or received airplay. Gee, what a happy, communicative, uplifting environment we would live in! Imagine Western Civilisation without Buddy Holly, the

Beatles, the Stones or the Velvet Underground. Youth rebellion has been encouraged and endorsed in society through the marketing of pop and rock music, creating the generation gap. Pop music’s role in giving sexist, racist, ciassist, homophobic attitudes a kick in the pants can never be overemphasised. Besides, a life without ABBA, Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Kylie Minogue or disco would be cool and ‘credible’, but also very, very, very unsexy and dull — a bit like that person’s opinions. Yours melodically, Thoughtful, Stimulated Pop Fan. PS: Music critique should not be used as a platform for political rhetoric.