Electropop

{{short description|Form of electronic songs/music}} {{redirect|Electronic pop|the related genre|synth-pop|popular electronic music|Electronic music#Late 1960s to early 1980s}} {{other uses}} {{hatnote|Not to be confused with Electro (music), a genre influenced by the use of the Roland TR-808 drum machines that infuses funk and early hip-hop and is sometimes called electro-pop.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox music genre | name = Electropop | stylistic_origins = * Synth-pop * pop * electronic * electronica * dance | cultural_origins = Early 1980s, <br> United Kingdom and Japan<ref name="Baltimore"/> | derivatives = * Chillwave<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/arts/music/22sxsw2.html| title=Spilling Beyond a Festival's Main Courses| author=Jon Pareles| date=March 21, 2010| work=The New York Times}}</ref> * dance-pop * uplifting trance<ref name=NYT>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/arts/music/22sxsw2.html|title=Spilling Beyond a Festival's Main Courses|date=22 March 2010|work=The New York Times}}</ref> | subgenrelist = | subgenres = | fusiongenres = | regional_scenes = | other_topics = {{hlist|Alternative dance|bitpop|chill-out|C-pop|J-pop|K-pop|V-pop|Europop|post-disco|electro|electroclash|electro-industrial|electro house|indie electronic|electronic rock|indie pop|progressive house|recession pop}} | current_year = yes }} {{Electronic music top}}

'''Electropop''' is a popular music fusion genre combining elements of the electronic and pop styles.

Electropop has been described as a variant of synth-pop with emphasis on a hard electronic sound.{{sfn|Jones|2006|p=107}} The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a revival of popularity and influence in the late 2000s. The genre is often confused with electro, which is sometimes called electro-pop. However, electro is a separate genre incorporating funk and early hip hop.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-22 |title=What Exactly is "Electro" and Why Does It Matter? |url=https://grayarea.co/magazine/what-exactly-is-electro-and-why-does-it-matter |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Gray Area |language=en|url-status=live|archive-date=6 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206004944/https://grayarea.co/magazine/what-exactly-is-electro-and-why-does-it-matter}}</ref>

==History== ===Early 1980s=== {{Main|Synth-pop}} {{See also|Electronics in rock music}}

Depeche Mode's composer Martin Gore said: "For anyone of our generation involved in electronic music, Kraftwerk were the godfathers".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/9837423/Kraftwerk-the-most-influential-group-in-pop-history.html |title=Kraftwerk: the most influential group in pop history?|work=The Telegraph|date=30 January 2013}}</ref>

During the early 1980s, Japanese artists such as Yellow Magic Orchestra and Ryuichi Sakamoto<ref name="Baltimore">{{cite news|title=Sakamoto hears music's sounds, not its styles|work=The Baltimore Sun|author=J. D. Considine|date=March 23, 2000|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/51630773.html?dids=51630773%3A51630773&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Mar+23%2C+2000&author=J.D.+Considine&pub=The+Sun&desc=Sakamoto+hears+music%27s+sounds%2C+not+its+styles%3B+Performance%3A+The+popular+Japanese+pianist+is+moving+toward+acoustic+music+because+he+is+not+sure+he+can+rely+on+electricity.&pqatl=google|access-date=June 9, 2011|archive-date=February 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210005526/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/51630773.html?dids=51630773%3A51630773&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Mar+23%2C+2000&author=J.D.+Considine&pub=The+Sun&desc=Sakamoto+hears+music%27s+sounds%2C+not+its+styles%3B+Performance%3A+The+popular+Japanese+pianist+is+moving+toward+acoustic+music+because+he+is+not+sure+he+can+rely+on+electricity.&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref> and British artists such as Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, the Human League, Soft Cell, John Foxx and Visage helped pioneer a new synth-pop style that drew more heavily from electronic music and emphasized primary usage of synthesizers.{{sfn|Reynolds|2005|pp= 296-308}}

{{Blockquote|Some fascinating new music began arriving on these shores; it was dubbed electropop, because electronic instrumentation — mainly synthesizers and syndrums — was used to craft pop songs. "Pop Muzik" by M was one of the first. There was a gradual accumulation of worthy electropop discs, though they were still mostly heard only in rock discos. But in 1981, the floodgates opened, and "new music" at last made a mighty splash. The breakthrough song was "Don't You Want Me" by the Human League. |source= Anglomania: The Second British Invasion, by Parke Puterbaugh for ''Rolling Stone'', November 1983.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Anglomania: The Second British Invasion |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/anglomania-the-second-british-invasion-52016/ |access-date= 29 April 2019 |magazine= Rolling Stone}}</ref>}}

===21st century=== {{See also|Synth-pop#21st-century revival (2000s–present)}}

==== 2000s ==== Britney Spears' highly influential fifth studio album ''Blackout'' (2007) is credited for bringing the genre to mainstream prominence. The media in 2009 ran articles proclaiming a new era of different electropop stars, and indeed the times saw a rise in popularity of several electropop artists. In the Sound of 2009 poll of 130 music experts conducted for the BBC, ten of the top fifteen artists named were of the electropop genre.<ref name="UK">[http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NzM1NzEwNTk5 UK gaga for electro-pop, guitar bands fight back] {{webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090723215505/http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NzM1NzEwNTk5 |date= 2009-07-23 }}, ''The Kuwait Times'', January 28, 2009</ref> Lady Gaga had major commercial success from 2008 with her debut album ''The Fame''. Music writer Simon Reynolds noted that "Everything about Gaga came from electroclash, except the music, which wasn't particularly 1980s".<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2010/jan/22/eighties-revival-decade The 1980s revival that lasted an entire decade] by Simon Reynolds for ''The Guardian'', 22 January 2010.</ref> Singer Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit said in a 2009 interview that while playing electropop was not his intention, the limitations of dorm life made the genre more accessible.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/87381-interview-michael-angelakos-of-passion-pit/?page=3#TOPCONTENT|title= Interview: Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit Boston Phoenix October 1, 2009}}</ref>

In 2009, ''The Guardian'' quoted James Oldham—head of artists and repertoire at A&M Records—as saying "All A&R departments have been saying to managers and lawyers: 'Don't give us any more bands because we're not going to sign them and they're not going to sell records.' So everything we've been put on to is electronic in nature."<ref name="NewGeneration">{{cite web|url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/music/gaga-for-girl-power/2009/02/27/1235237908240.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1|title= Gaga for girl power|work= smh.com.au|date= 28 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/5978573/La-Roux-Lady-Gaga-Mika-Little-Boots-the-80s-are-back.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/5978573/La-Roux-Lady-Gaga-Mika-Little-Boots-the-80s-are-back.html |archive-date=2022-01-11 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= La Roux, Lady Gaga, Mika, Little Boots: the 80s are back|author= Neil McCormick|date= 5 August 2009|work= Telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[File:Ellie Goulding , Positivus Festival, Latvia, July 2017-2661 (48740822596).jpg|thumb|248x248px|Ellie Goulding became one of the best-known figures in contemporary electropop music.]]

==== 2010s ==== In the 2010s, electropop music saw an increase in its commercial popularity. This owed to the success of artists such as Avicii, Lady Gaga,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-20 |title=how lady gaga's 'bad romance' changed the face of pop |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/lady-gaga-bad-romance-10-years/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref> Calvin Harris,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-04-13 |title='King of Electropop' on his way to Carlow |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/king-of-electropop-on-his-way-to-carlow/27033773.html |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref> Kesha,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kesha > PopCrush |url=https://popcrush.com/tags/Kesha/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=PopCrush |language=en}}</ref> Rihanna,<ref>{{Cite web |author=T. H. R. staff |date=2011-11-21 |title=Rihanna's 'Talk That Talk': What the Critics Are Saying |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/rihanna-talk-that-talk-reviews-264418/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Zedd,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elmer |first=Rachel |title=Zedd gives fans of electro-pop something to really enjoy |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2013/10/29/zedd-gives-fans-electro-pop/41732009007/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=The State Journal-Register |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yoo |first=Noah |date=2019-11-07 |title=Dance Dance Revolution: How EDM Conquered America in the 2010s |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/2010s-reverberations-of-edm-skrillex-zedd/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> and Ellie Goulding,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=adviser |last2=Pena |first2=Joelle De La |date=2012-10-25 |title=Music Review: Electropop artist Ellie Goulding is back |url=https://www.theonlineclarion.com/arts-culture/2012/10/25/music-review-electropop-artist-ellie-goulding-is-back/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=The Clarion}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Papathanasopoulos |first=Vasili |date=2023-04-06 |title=ELLIE GOULDING 'HIGHER THAN HEAVEN' REVIEW |url=https://www.milkymilkymilky.com/post/ellie-goulding-higher-than-heaven-album-review |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Milky |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharp |first=Erica |date=2015-11-17 |title=Ellie Goulding's new album 'Delirium' explores electropop sound |url=https://dailytitan.com/lifestyle/ellie-goulding-s-new-album-delirium-explores-electropop-sound/article_34ac1a33-2229-5450-8ad6-c651d41a5ca6.html |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Daily Titan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sones |first=Katie |title=Ellie Goulding explodes with a blitz of fresh new electro-pop |url=https://foothilldragonpress.org/4013/arts-and-entertainment/music-new/ellie-goulding-explodes-with-a-blitz-of-fresh-new-electro-pop/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=The Foothill Dragon Press}}</ref> in an era now often referred to as recession pop.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gibbs |first=Audrey |title=What is recession pop? Why Kesha's new single heralds return of late-2000s jams |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/04/01/what-is-recession-pop-kesha/82758833007/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite magazine |last=Miyashita |first=Nina |date=September 11, 2024 |title=What exactly is "recession pop"? |url=https://www.vogue.com.au/culture/features/recession-pop/news-story/e69f2df8a36feffc07729fcfbc0f2fb2 |access-date=September 29, 2024 |magazine=Vogue Australia |publisher=News Corp Australia}}</ref>

Zedd's debut album ''Clarity'' was one of the records that influenced the development of electronic pop music into the mainstream, mixing strong electronic beats with catchy tunes performed by pop artists that made him and the genre gain commercial popularity in during the 2010s,<ref>{{Cite web |last=BassGorilla |first=Micha from |date=2024-10-22 |title=What Genre is Zedd? Exploring Zedd's Musical Journey |url=https://bassgorilla.com/what-genre-is-zedd/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=BassGorilla.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and as well carving his own pop persona.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zedd describes sound as good mix of electronic, pop music |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2015/10/08/zedd-describes-sound-as-good-mix-of-electronic-pop-music/30096436007/#:~:text=Zedd%20describes%20sound%20as%20good,in%20a%20word,%20go%20crazy. |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Spartanburg Herald Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Elmer |first=Rachel |title=Zedd gives fans of electro-pop something to really enjoy |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2013/10/29/zedd-gives-fans-electro-pop/41732009007/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=The State Journal-Register |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-25 |title=The Dazzling Beauty of Zedd's "Clarity": An EDM Masterpiece - Songs Magazine |url=https://www.songsmagazine.com/dance-edm/2024/02/25/the-dazzling-beauty-of-zedds-clarity-an-edm-masterpiece-2012/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CClarity%E2%80%9D%20is%20characterized%20by%20a,its%20originality%20and%20emotional%20impact. |access-date=2025-05-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Electropop acts that achieved either commercial or critical success during the 2010s include: Sofi Tukker,<ref>{{Cite web |last=ABCNews |first=ABC |title=Music Review: Electro-pop duo Sofi Tukker dances to own beat on new energetic album 'BREAD' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/music-review-electro-pop-duo-sofi-tukker-dances-113026194 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> Lykke Li,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Review: Lykke Li – moody, introspective electro-pop |url=https://edinazephyrus.com/lykke-li/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Edina Zephyrus}}</ref> Mura Masa,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heffler |first=Jason |date=2021-11-29 |title=Mura Masa Drops First Single of 2021, Teases Third Studio Album |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/mura-masa-2gether |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists |language=en}}</ref> Empire of the Sun,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-23 |title=Electronic duo Empire of the Sun finally returning to Perth |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/music/electro-pop-pioneers-empire-of-the-sun-announce-australian-tour-ahead-of-first-album-in-eight-years-c-14768088 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=PerthNow |language=en}}</ref> CHVRCHES,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Paul |date=2015-09-24 |title=Interview: CHVRCHES discuss second album anxiety, Depeche Mode and Glasgow |url=https://nbhap.com/blog/interview-chvrches |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=NBHAP |language=de}}</ref> AlunaGeorge,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Ilana |date=2013-07-24 |title=AlunaGeorge's 'Body Music' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/2013/07/24/alunageorge-british-electropop-duo-coming-u.s.-237774.html |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> Icona Pop,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-25 |title=Icona Pop Announces First Album in a Decade |url=https://hypebeast.com/2023/6/icona-pop-announces-club-romantech-album-info |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Hypebeast}}</ref> Tove Lo,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jonze |first=Tim |date=2014-08-30 |title=One to watch: Tove Lo |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/31/one-to-watch-tove-lo-interview-electro-pop |access-date=2024-09-01 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> BROODS,<ref>{{Cite web |title=VIDEO: "Free" by BROODS – Indie Music Filter |url=https://indiemusicfilter.com/broods-free |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=indiemusicfilter.com}}</ref> Troye Sivan,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Troye Sivan's Road To 'Something To Give Each Other': How Transparency & Exploration Led To His Most Euphoric Album Yet {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/troye-sivan-something-to-give-each-other-new-album-rush-road-to |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=grammy.com}}</ref> Charli xcx,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charli XCX: An Evolution of Style and Sound {{!}} SHOWstudio |url=https://www.showstudio.com/projects/charli-xcx/charli-xcx-an-evolution-of-style-and-sound |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=www.showstudio.com}}</ref> MØ,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet MØ, the Danish Electro-Pop Sensation with a Punk Heart |url=https://www.phoenixmag.co.uk/article/meet-mo-the-danish-electro-pop-sensation-with-a-punk-heart/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=PHOENIX Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref> Florrie,<ref>{{Cite web |author=Wonderland Staff |date=2014-08-26 |title=New Noise: Florrie {{!}} Wonderland Magazine |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2014/08/26/new-noise-florrie/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Wonderland |language=en-GB}}</ref> BANKS,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Shaffer |first=Claire |date=2019-08-08 |title=The First Time: Banks |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jillian-banks-songs-album-868260/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Bright Light Bright Light,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-10-26 |title=Discovery: Bright Light Bright Light |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/discovery-bright-light-bright-light |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> Foxes,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foxes reveals new video for single 'Youth' |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/foxes-reveals-new-video-for-single-youth-134509 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}}</ref> AURORA,<ref>{{Cite web |title=AURORA announces her first book, The Gods We Can Touch |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/aurora-announces-her-first-book-the-gods-we-can-touch |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}}</ref> Allie X,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feinman |first=Amanda |date=2019-10-22 |title=Allie X On Subverting Trends and Keeping Her Infectious Electro-Pop Fresh |url=https://bedfordandbowery.com/2019/10/allie-x-on-subverting-trends-and-keeping-her-infectious-electro-pop-fresh/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Bedford + Bowery |language=en-US}}</ref> and Marina.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tadic |first=Nina |date=2019-10-21 |title=MARINA brings "Love + Fear" to Aragon Ballroom |url=https://www.stagerightsecrets.com/marina-brings-love-fear-to-aragon-ballroom/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Stage Right Secrets |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Korean pop music scene has also become dominated and influenced by electropop, particularly with boy bands and girl groups such as Super Junior, SHINee, f(x) and Girls' Generation.<ref>{{cite news|last= Mullins|first= Michelle|title= K-pop splashes into the west|url= http://www.pucchronicle.com/k-pop-splashes-into-the-west-1.2741892|access-date= 22 June 2012|newspaper= The Purdue University Calumet Chronicle|date= 15 January 2012|url-status= usurped|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130604184727/http://www.pucchronicle.com/k-pop-splashes-into-the-west-1.2741892|archive-date= 4 June 2013}}</ref>

==== 2020s ==== Some contemporary artists that have been highlighted as part of the new decade of electropop music include: Slayyyter, Ayesha Erotica, Sigrid and Billie Eilish,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-11 |title=Electro-Pop Is Back, Baby! |url=https://fizzymag.com/articles/pop-music-reinvented-electro-pop-stars-slayyyter-ayesha-erotica-charli-xcx |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=fyzzymag.com}}</ref> with the latter earning critical praise and commercial success just at the ending of the last decade. Kenneth Womack for ''Salon'' wrote that Eilish had "staked her claim as the reigning queen of electropop" with her critical and commercial hit album ''When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?''.<ref> {{cite magazine |last= Womack|first= Kenneth|author-link= Kenneth Womack|date= May 10, 2019 |url= https://www.salon.com/2019/05/10/she-was-just-seventeen-billie-eilish-is-the-new-pop-intelligentsia/ |title= Billie Eilish is the new pop intelligentsia|magazine= Salon |access-date= February 2, 2020 }} </ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

'''Bibliography''' * {{cite book|last=Jones|first=Hollin|title=Music Projects with Propellerhead Reason: Grooves, Beats and Styles from Trip Hop to Techno|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nOrhiSrz-OkC&pg=PA107|year=2006|publisher=PC Publishing|isbn=978-1-870775-14-4}} * {{cite book |last1=Reynolds |first1=Simon |title=Rip it up and start again : post-punk 1978-84 |date=2005 |publisher=Faber |location=London |isbn=978-0-571-21570-6}}

==Further reading== * {{cite news |last1=Howell |first1=M |title=Synthesizing pop: The new electronic garage bands |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_boston-phoenix_1982-02-16_11_7/page/n69/mode/1up |access-date=2 August 2024 |work=The Boston Phoenix |date=16 February 1982}}

Category:Electropop Category:1980s in music Category:1990s in music Category:2000s in music Category:2010s in music Category:2010s fads and trends Category:British styles of music Category:Electronic music genres Category:Pop music genres