You’ve probably heard of some of these names: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Tate McRae. These artists have blown up in popularity in the past few years, and people are always eager to hear their music and attend their concerts. Why have they gained popularity so fast?
All of these artists release mostly pop songs. Pop, invented in the mid-1950s, is a contemporary form of music that is meant to be consumed by the music industry. Pop music appeals to a large umbrella of audiences, hence its abbreviation of “popular music.” Generation Z grew up with some of the most popular and influential pop stars of the 21st century. Stars like Beyonce, Britney Spears, and Lady Gaga ruled our playlists when we were growing up. Listening to those artists, for our generation, is like looking back on our childhood and the music that we grew up with.
A huge factor in popularity is performance. How entertaining is an artist’s stage presence? Do they put on a performance, or are they just a stone on the stage? Think back to those artists that I just mentioned. They all have something in common. They truly know how to put on a show. Britney Spears engaged the audience with her choreography and flashy dance moves, complete with her upbeat track and talented background dancers. Comparatively, Beyonce is still kicking after her recent release of “Cowboy Carter” and pushes boundaries with her versatility and vocal performances. To top it off, Lady Gaga’s famous performance at the 2009 VMAs started with a dramatic dance and ended with her bleeding out on stage.
Now, in 2024, we are seeing the relaunch of bold and innovative performances. Sabrina Carpenter recently released her new album, “Short n’ Sweet”, and it’s her first album to reach #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Carpenter, dubbed a “real life polly pocket,” stunned audiences with her opening of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour.” Tate McRae’s dance break during her song “exes” went viral during her “Think Later World Tour.” Chappell Roan gained popularity at an incredible speed after she left fans awestruck with her incredible vocals and flashy, bold makeup choices.
Listening to these recently popular artists has given our generation a blast from the past. Fans can listen to these songs and feel as if they are back as their younger selves, popping in their earbuds, hitting shuffle on their iPod, and turning on Lady Gaga. The excitement leaves them anxious for more, and delighted to watch these all-new pop stars work their magic.
