The paradox of Indie Pop.
Isn't it?
Indie originally as in independent. As in independent from labels and corporate control. As in styles that are unconventional and not adhering to a formula that guarantees success.
Pop originally as in popular. Popular music that arises from talent, yes talent to a certain extent. But also popular because of certain formulaic recipes such as pretty faces, herd-mentality type catchy choruses, conventional structures.
Paradox because how can an independent type of music also be popular in the conventional sense. Unless, it evolves. And that's what happened.
I'm not laying judgment on the 'indie pop' label. Just pointing out that words like 'indie' and 'pop' and 'indie pop' have become just another genre. Indie pop; now connoting a certain way of singing that suggest rebellion or deep introversion, or a certain attitude, or a certain quirk that differentiates, etc. This new genre-fication is perhaps inevitable and not even undesirable. It addresses some people's belief that indie is just a first step to pop. On the other hand, pure indie should always be radically different. But that leads to its own problems about some people just being crazy (know what I mean?) And so indie pop seems to bridge this chasm in the philosophy of indie vs. pop as a compromise of sorts.
I think this thought could be stretched out to a discussion of being true to yourself and selling out, which might extend to a broader discussion about individuality vs. society. But I'll stop here.
Anyway, I think "The Philosophy of Indie" would make a great movie title.
Indie originally as in independent. As in independent from labels and corporate control. As in styles that are unconventional and not adhering to a formula that guarantees success.
Pop originally as in popular. Popular music that arises from talent, yes talent to a certain extent. But also popular because of certain formulaic recipes such as pretty faces, herd-mentality type catchy choruses, conventional structures.
Paradox because how can an independent type of music also be popular in the conventional sense. Unless, it evolves. And that's what happened.
I'm not laying judgment on the 'indie pop' label. Just pointing out that words like 'indie' and 'pop' and 'indie pop' have become just another genre. Indie pop; now connoting a certain way of singing that suggest rebellion or deep introversion, or a certain attitude, or a certain quirk that differentiates, etc. This new genre-fication is perhaps inevitable and not even undesirable. It addresses some people's belief that indie is just a first step to pop. On the other hand, pure indie should always be radically different. But that leads to its own problems about some people just being crazy (know what I mean?) And so indie pop seems to bridge this chasm in the philosophy of indie vs. pop as a compromise of sorts.
I think this thought could be stretched out to a discussion of being true to yourself and selling out, which might extend to a broader discussion about individuality vs. society. But I'll stop here.
Anyway, I think "The Philosophy of Indie" would make a great movie title.