Music

Could This Be the Year of Alternative Pop?

Alan Cross 1 Comment

Maybe.  This is from Sean Ross’ newsletter:

While a lot has been made recently about the return of “Alternative Rock” crossover to the Top 40 chart, it’s hinging heavily on two records, Fun’s “We Are Young” and Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know.”

It’s true that both Fun and Gotye represent a change for Mainstream CHR after three years of “Turbo Pop.” Yet, as noted here recently, either song is described more accurately as quirky pop than “Alternative Rock.” Each is something of an outlier at the Alternative format as well. But if Gotye and Fun don’t represent the comeback that “rock” people are waiting for, they are a breakthrough for “Alternative Pop.”

Read the rest here.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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One thought on “Could This Be the Year of Alternative Pop?”

  • +1 for this…a long-time listener of alt-rock tending toward the harder end of the spectrum (RATM, Tool, etc), along with some more quirky stuff (CAKE, Primus), I've found that both Gotye and fun. have stuck in my head in a way that nothing on the radio has in a while.

    If they are a vanguard of an impending radio trend, then I can only applaud their widespread adoption!

    Reply

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