The catchy tunes and the compelling energy only scratch the surface of why pop music has so much universal appeal. The women of the industry only work to help push the genre. These women have invented what it means to be a pop star with a certain stage presence and sparkle that not many are born with. Pop music has produced true stars and performers for many years, with attempts to challenge norms and create an unignorable style of performance.
Earning her title as the “Queen of Pop,” Madonna began releasing music in the 1980s, using the idea of female empowerment to shape her image. She challenged what was the generally accepted image of women at the time with her daring fashion and controversial music videos. One of her most famous songs, “Material Girl,” released in 1984, mocked the materialism of the Ronald Reagan era, going against the accepted standard of living and encouraging the youth to go against the materialistic nature of American society.
Pop music continued to develop through the 90s and 2000s with the rise of Pop Princess Britney Spears. She earned the title of pop star at only 16 with the release of her song “…Baby One More Time” in 1998. The music video that was once controversial (with Britney Spears dressed as a schoolgirl) turned into an iconic video of the era. The legendary looks didn’t stop there. Spears continued to keep pop star status with her red jumpsuit with her “Oops!…I Did It Again” video and her performance with a live snake on the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, highlighting what it means to be a pop star.
No one can talk about Pop Music without mentioning Beyoncé. From Destiny’s Child’s self-named debut album to Beyoncé’s most recent Cowboy Carter, she has earned herself the title of pop star. Her rise to fame started in 1997 with one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, Destiny’s Child. Shifting into her solo career in 2003, she is the only female artist who has topped the Billboard 200 with all eight of her solo albums and was the first Black woman to headline Coachella. The ever-talented artist became the most awarded artist in history, earning her 32nd award at the 65th Grammys. In the past year, her Renaissance Tour flooded the media and sold out stadiums internationally, making her one of the most-known women in the entire world.
Though there are many female pop singers in the modern industry, the next true Pop Princess is a mystery. With Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter gaining popularity, there is a lot of potential for the next big star. Though from the aforementioned singers, it’s quite obvious that people need more than just their music to be a true star. They need a certain presence. They need a certain sparkle. They need pazzazz.
