Pop Music: In Dire Need of a Messiah

Taylor Swift. Olivia Rodrigo. Sabrina Carpenter. Benson Boone. These are the pop artists that have ruled the charts in the past couple of years. What do they have in common, you might ask? Well, they all write derivative chord progressions, with catchy but predictable melodies, and over-rely on production and stage antics to mask the banality of their songwriting. That may sound harsh, and honestly, these artists aren't all bad (except for Benson Boone). Specifically, I really enjoy a lot of Olivia Rodrigo's songs and thought she was building towards something with Sour and Guts, until she took a step back with the utterly bland you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love. Taylor Swift can at times be lyrically interesting and does an impeccable job of being relatable to her audience. Sabrina Carpenter has a very cohesive artistic identity and has a knack for fun melodies.

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