What is pop music?
Pop music is a broad genre of popular music. It’s often associated with rock and roll, punk rock, or power pop. Pop is usually the “catchiest” kind of music anyone can imagine. It usually has strong melodies, catchy lyrics which are easy to remember, and an upbeat tempo to match. There are a number of artists who have been making this kind of music and have produced a number of hits which have become classics. The names on this list have exhibited a high level of talent and are often referenced as having made an impact on popular culture.
1. Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is an English singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer known for hit singles such as “Shape of You,” “Thinking Out Loud,” and “Castle on the Hill.” He was born in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire on February 17th, 1991. Starting at the age of 14 he taught himself how to play guitar with a three-fingered technique. Sheeran’s music career began in 2006 when he released his first EP titled “The Orange Room.” His first charting endeavor was Sheeran’s debut album “+” which spawned the singles “Sing”, “The A-Team”, and “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You”.
2. Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish is an American singer born in December 2001. She’s best known for her singles “Ocean Eyes”, “Six Feet Under”, and “Bury a Friend”. Her father is named Charlie, her mother is celebrity chef named Maggie, and her brother is Finneas O’Connell, a singer/songwriter as well. Eilish’s first EP was released in December of 2018 and featured the songs “idontwannabeyouanymore”, “Bury a Friend”, and “My Boy”. She also hosts an hour-long on SiriusXM titled Billie Eilish’s Two Hours Top 40, where she plays the most requested tracks from listeners.
3. Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande-Butera, also known as Ariana Grande, is an American singer and actress. She was born in Florida on June 26th, 1993. Grande played catty cheerleader Charlotte in the series Victorious and made her first appearance on Broadway when she was 10 years old for the musical 13. Grande’s work includes “”The Way”, “Problem” and “Break Free” which became mega-hits and are still being talked about today. In 2016, she released her third studio album “Dangerous Woman” which included singles “Side to Side” and “Every time”.
4. Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was born on December 13th, 1989 in Reading, Pennsylvania. She attended the Millbrook School and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics. Swift has won numerous awards such as five Grammys and nine Billboard Music Awards.
5. Adele
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, also known by her stage name Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. She was born in Tottenham, London on May 5th, 1988. Her third studio album “25” became the year’s best-selling album and spawned the mega-hits “Hello”, “Rumour Has It”, and “Skyfall”. In 2016 she won 5 Grammy Awards and 2 Brit Awards. She is also known for her musical collaboration with singer/songwriter, Paul McCartney.
6. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is an American Singer and songwriter. She was born in Manhattan, New York on September 16th, 1986. Her breakthrough came in 2008 with the release of her debut album “The Fame,” which featured the hit single “Just Dance” which became her first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Gaga’s second studio album “Born This Way” also won multiple awards and is regarded as one of the best albums of the 21st century. She has won 5 Grammys in total and 3 Brit Awards. She has also performed on “Saturday Night Live” six times, once reaching the finale. In 2011 she released her third album “Artpop” which included the singles “Applause”, “Marry The Night”, and “Grigio Girls”. She is also known for her songwriting prowess and has collaborated with a number of other artists including Lady Gaga, Colbie Caillat, and Lana Del Rey.
7. Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian singer and songwriter. He was born on March 1st, 1994 in London, Ontario, Canada. Bieber is known for his hit singles such as “Sorry” and “What Do You Mean?”. He also has collaborated with a number of other artists including Sean Kingston and Quavo of the hip-hop band Migos. In 2015 he released the album “Purpose”, which included the hit single “Love Yourself”.
8. Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes is a Canadian singer and songwriter. He was born in Toronto, Ontario on August 8th, 1998. His first official appearance was on the TV show “The Next Star” at the age of 15 where he won the competition, which led to his 1st single “Life of the Party” is on heavy rotation during the summer of 2013. Mendes has collaborated with a number of artists including Camila Cabello and Justin Bieber.
9. Camila Cabello
Camila Vanessa Hernandez, known professionally as Camila Cabello, is a Mexican-American singer-songwriter. She was born in the city of Miami, Florida on January 3rd, 1997. She has collaborated with a number of artists including Shawn Mendes and Cardi B. She has also earned a spot on “The Voice”. In 2017 she released her debut album “Camila”, which included the singles “Havana” and “Never Be The Same”.
10. Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa is an English singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and actress. She was born in London on January 15th, 1997. In 2015 she released her debut single “New Rules” which was featured on the Fifty Shades of Grey Soundtrack. Lipa achieved her first global success with the release of her second album “Dua Lipa” in 2016. The album’s title track “New Rules” became a worldwide hit and also received several award nominations including Best Song at the BRIT Awards and Best Dance Recording at the Grammys.
Conclusion
Pop singers are not just singers; they are also songwriters, performers, actors, models, and entrepreneurs. They use the internet and social media to promote their work and gain popularity. Some of these artists are also in relationships with other celebrities or have had past relationships with other high-profile people in the entertainment industry. These alluring young women inspire, influence, and sometimes scandalize us with their personal lives, their music, or both. What pop star is your favorite? What singer inspires you?
