As the Rolling Stones are described as Pop and so are a zillion other bands, I think it would be hard to find anyone who did not like Pop.
So much music has been made and recorded and evolved that the terms like POP, Rock, and Blues, for example, are becoming less meaningful.
Boubacar Traoré (born 1942 in Kayes, Mali) is a Malian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. When someone asks me if I like the blues, he certainly does not come to mind first. If you don't speak French, you most likely never heard of him. He is considered a blues player but very different from people we are all more familiar with.
I am not sure if I answered your question or not...lol
Billy
Last edited by Planobilly; 09/19/2111:52 AM.
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig? “Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
More seriously, I think most people would consider the music they like to be popular music, so I'm not sure what the definition of pop music is. And jazz players should be able to play on just about anything, and I've been asked to.
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I think relevant to the question is how you define pop, as the definition seems to change every 8-10 years. In the late 0s when Debbie Gibson was one of the queens of what was then called pop, I was quite into her because for a kid she wrote good songs. Actually went to see her in concert because I knew she would have a killer band behind her. Madonna was once considered pop.
So give the relative difference in our age, allow me to ask what you call pop. Give me maybe 4-5 bands and I'll know where you are at. I may like pop as you define pop.
Yes, but please define pop from your perspective...
I think at least half of the stuff I have posted here qualifies as "pop" of one variety in that it is not country, rock, blues, or folk, but more "techno...", but that is not to say the other genres can't be pop as well...
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
Harry Connick Jr. is an interesting case. He’s so versatile. I think if you can classify him at all, which may be a mistake to do anyway, that you should use the band he created as an indication of what he would call himself. His band, with his piano and singing, is jazz.
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Which one? They have had 10, 3 of whom are male. The one I met at a meet and greet was Mark Wood, a Julliard guy. I saw them perform 4 times and all 4 times happened to be during his 9 years with the troupe so he is the only one I ever saw with them. I CAN say that no matter who they use it follows that it is an outstanding player. He also owns Wood Violins. Bring your checkbook AND your credit cards... They start at about $2500 and as always, when you add "more" the price goes up. They make 4, 5, 6 and 7 string instruments, both fitted with electronics and without. He played mainly a gorgeous blue violin with a wireless transmitter built into the underside every time I saw him. During the meet and greet I said that I had seen the transmitter built into the body and asked if that was strictly an audio transmitter or if he was sending MIDI out to modules. And he smiled and said "Nobody has EVER asked me that. You must be a player yourself." And my reply, always the wise guy, was, "No. YOU play music. I play AT music."
If it was him that you had play, you may see that he looks a lot like Steve Vai. His wife is Laura Kaye, a great singer singer and a drop dead gorgeous model type who also runs the Electrify Your Symphony program with Mark, and in their spare time (LOL!) they run music camps. Quite a career package between the two of them.
It was so long ago, but I remember his first name was David...Friedman or something similar. They had several different touring companies, one that performed in Europe, one in the States, and another one for Japan and the Far East. I never met him, it was all via the Net.
If you define "pop" as what is currently popular on the radio, then I've rarely been into pop.
I haven't turned the radio on in my car or elsewhere for at least 10 years or more. I actually never listen to anything in the car. I find it annoying.
I've never really liked much of what the general public wants to hear. You'd have to go back to the 60's or 70's for me to care much about pop.
If you define "pop" as what is currently popular on the radio, then I've rarely been into pop.
I haven't turned the radio on in my car or elsewhere for at least 10 years or more. I actually never listen to anything in the car. I find it annoying.
I've never really liked much of what the general public wants to hear. You'd have to go back to the 60's or 70's for me to care much about pop.
Same here with only one exception. My car radio is set for 60's - 80's oldies, jazz, and classical music. I like the radio on while driving.
As far as music there are only two kinds; songs that I like and songs that I don't like, regardless of genre or singer/band. YMMV
Last edited by MarioD; 09/21/2103:17 AM.
Dad, how will I know when I've become an adult.
When your day is ruined because they rearranged the grocery store.
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I liked Note's comment. It made a lot of sense to me.
Quote:
For me there are only two kinds of music (1) music I like and (2) music made for someone other than myself.
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I couldn't go pop if you put a firecracker in my mouth Randy Travis
Everybody wants a definition ... why not just look at the charts?
FWIW, I think technically whatever currently generates hits is pop music. And generally irrespective of genre those hits nowadays are more, but not totally, based on loops and electronica, etc. than pop music from a decade ago.
And again, FWIW, to my old ears pop can range from engaging to awful...but I felt that way about it 50 years ago
Bud
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Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
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Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
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