The Origin Of Pop-As-Genre 1976-1996

The Origin Of Pop-As-Genre 1976-1996

This playlist lays out the story of how POP became a hybrid genre unto itself, distinct from its component parts in disco, rock, R&B, freestyle, house music, and hip-hop. The goal is to explain how by the time Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake arrived in the late 90s they were immediately understood as belonging to an established genre called POP, as opposed to being positioned as R&B acts. An extra bit of emphasis is placed on Madonna and Janet Jackson, who I see as the two most crucial artists in forming the modern conception of pop and pop stardom that became dominant in the 2010s with the ascent of artists like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift.

This playlist is very long, but is broken into five eras here so you can get a better sense of the implied narrative arc. The first section nods to the genre’s roots in disco but I don’t belabor the point as that moment is really a prelude to what starts in the early 80s as use of synthesizers and drum machines become increasingly common. As you move through this you can gradually hear the more “organic” qualities of rock and R&B get bred out of the sound as synthesizers and drum machines become defining elements of the POP aesthetic. I make some nods to R&B-based pop along the way but generally err on the side of leaving it out if it’s too R&B unless the song had a direct impact on the POP that came immediately in the wake of where this playlist cuts off. R&B has its own fascinating history of mutating with the times, and that’s a playlist for another day.

Phase 1: Late Disco Era

ABBA “Dancing Queen” [1976]
Andrea True Connection “More, More, More” [1976]
Donna Summer “I Feel Love” [1977]
Blondie “Heart of Glass” [1978]
Gloria Gaynor “I Will Survive” [1978]
Michael Jackson “Rock with You” [1979]
Donna Summer “Hot Stuff” [1979]
Diana Ross “Upside Down” [1980]
Dolly Parton “9 to 5” [1980]
Olivia Newton-John “Magic” [1980]
Irene Cara “Fame” [1980]
Tom Tom Club “Genius of Love” [1981]
Grace Jones “Pull Up to the Bumper” [1981]
ABBA “One of Us” [1981]

Phase 2: Early MTV Era

Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” [1981]
The Go-Go’s “Our Lips Are Sealed” [1981]
Depeche Mode “Just Can’t Get Enough” [1981]
The Human League “Don’t You Want Me” [1981]
Olivia Newton-John “Physical” [1981]
Carly Simon “Why” [1982]
Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” [1982]
Michael Jackson “Human Nature” [1982]
Daryl Hall & John Oates “Private Eyes” [1982]
Steve Winwood “Valerie” [1982]
Laura Branigan “Gloria” [1982]
The Weather Girls “It’s Raining Men” [1982]
The Pointer Sisters “I’m So Excited” [1982]
Yazoo “Don’t Go” [1982]
Yazoo “Situation” [1982]
The Waitresses “I Know What Boys Like” [1982]
Bow Wow Wow “I Want Candy”[1982]
New Edition “Candy Girl” [1983]
Culture Club “Karma Chameleon” [1983]
Donna Summer “She Works Hard for the Money” [1983]
Lionel Richie “All Night Long” [1983]
Prince “1999” [1983]
Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” [1983]
Irene Cara “Flashdance…What A Feeling” [1983]
Hazell Dean “Searchin’ (I Gotta Find A Man)” [1983]
Shannon “Let the Music Play” [1983]
Bananarama “Cruel Summer” [1983]
Madonna “Lucky Star” [1983]
Madonna “Holiday” [1983]
Cyndi Lauper “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” [1983]
Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time” [1983]
Tina Turner “What’s Love Got to Do with It” [1983]
Stevie Nicks “Stand Back” [1984]
Duran Duran “The Reflex” [1983]
Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” [1984]
Wham! “Freedom” [1984]
Wham! “Everything She Wants” [1984]
Eurythmics “Here Comes the Rain Again” [1984]
Prince “When Doves Cry” [1984]
Prince “I Would Die 4 U” [1984]
Madonna “Like A Virgin” [1984]
Madonna “Material Girl” [1984]
The Pointer Sisters “Jump (For My Love)” [1984]
Bruce Springsteen “Dancing in the Dark” [1984]
Pat Benetar “We Belong” [1984]
Sheena Easton “Strut” [1984]
Nayobe “Please Don’t Go” [1984]
Sheila E “The Glamorous Life” [1984]
Chaka Khan “I Feel 4 U” [1984]
Deniece Williams “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” [1984]
New Edition “Cool It Now” [1984]

Phase 3: Peak MTV + Freestyle Era

Madonna “Into the Groove” [1985]
Prince “Pop Life” [1985]
Whitney Houston “How Will I Know” [1985]
Laura Branigan “Self Control” [1985]
Shannon “Do You Wanna Get Away” [1985]
The Jets “Crush On You” [1985]
Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill” [1985]
Scritti Politti “Wood Beez” [1985]
Phil Collins “Sussudio” [1985]
Genesis “Invisible Touch” [1986]
Sweet Sensation “Hooked On You” [1986]
Prince “Kiss” [1986]
Nu Shooz “I Can’t Wait” [1986]
New Order “Bizarre Love Triangle” [1986]
Stacey Q “Two of Hearts” [1986]
Kim Wilde “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” [1986]
The Cover Girls “Show Me” [1986]
Janet Jackson “When I Think of You” [1986]
Janet Jackson “Nasty” [1986]
Madonna “Open Your Heart” [1986]
Madonna “Papa Don’t Preach” [1986]
Cyndi Lauper “True Colors” [1986]
Berlin “Take My Breath Away” [1986]
Bananarama “Venus” [1986]
Pet Shop Boys “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” [1986]
The Bangles “Manic Monday” [1986]
Belinda Carlisle “Mad About You” [1986]
Swing Out Sister “Breakout” [1986]
Lionel Richie “Dancing on the Ceiling” [1986]
Jermaine Stewart “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” [1986]
Samantha Fox “Touch Me (I Want Your Body)” [1986]
INXS “Need You Tonight” [1987]
George Michael “I Want Your Sex” [1987]
George Michael “Faith” [1987]
New Order “True Faith” [1987]
Belinda Carlisle “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” [1987]
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam “Head to Toe” [1987]
Pebbles “Mercedes Boy” [1987]
Whitney Houston “So Emotional” [1987]
Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” [1987]
Michael Jackson “The Way You Make Me Feel” [1987]
Michael Jackson “Man in the Mirror” [1987]
Prince “U Got the Look” [1987]
Prince “If I Was Your Girlfriend” [1987]
T’Pau “Heart and Soul” [1987]
George Michael & Aretha Franklin “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” [1987]
Pretty Poison “Catch Me (I’m Falling)” [1987]
Mel & Kim “Respectable” [1987]
Paul Lekakis “Boom Boom (Let’s Go Back to My Room)” [1987]
Company B “Fascinated” [1987]
Exposé “Point of No Return” [1987]
Erasure “Victim of Love” [1987]
Fleetwood Mac “Everywhere” [1987]
Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” [1987]
Tiffany “I Think We’re Alone Now” [1987]
Debbie Gibson “Only In My Dreams” [1987]
Debbie Gibson “Shake Your Love” [1987]
Jody Watley “Looking for a New Love” [1987]
Stevie B “Spring Love” [1987]
Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” [1987]
Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up” [1987]
Taylor Dayne “Tell It To My Heart” [1988]
Kylie Minogue “I Should Be So Lucky” [1988]
Sweet Sensation “Sincerely Yours” [1988]
Roxette “The Look” [1988]
Martika “Toy Soldiers” [1988]
Tiffany “Radio Romance” [1988]
Information Society “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)” [1988]
Samantha Fox “Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)” [1988]
When In Rome “The Promise” [1988]
Bobby Brown “Every Little Step”[1988]
Menudo “Gafas Oscuras” [1988]
Paula Abdul “Straight Up” [1988]
Paula Abdul “Cold Hearted” [1988]
Donna Summer “This Time I Know It’s For Real” [1989]
Jason Donovan “Too Many Broken Hearts” [1989]
Milli Vanilli “Girl You Know It’s True” [1989]
New Kids on the Block “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” [1989]
Madonna “Like A Prayer” [1989]
Madonna “Express Yourself” [1989]
Janet Jackson “Miss You Much” [1989]
Janet Jackson “Rhythm Nation” [1989]
Janet Jackson “Escapade” [1989]
Erasure “A Little Respect” [1989]
Taylor Dayne “Love Will Lead You Back” [1989]
Richard Marx “Right Here Waiting” [1989]
Kylie Minogue “Hand On Your Heart” [1989]
Debbie Gibson “Electric Youth” [1989]
Bobby Brown “On Our Own” [1989]
Jody Watley “Real Love” [1989]
Black Box “Ride On Time” [1989]
Cher “If I Could Turn Back Time” [1989]
Tina Turner “The Best” [1989]

Phase 4: Welcome To the 90s Era

Lisa Stansfield “All Around the World” [1989]
Madonna “Vogue” [1990]
Deee-Lite “Groove in in the Heart” [1990]
Betty Boo “Doin’ the Do” [1990]
Wilson Phillips “Hold On” [1990]
Mariah Carey “Vision of Love” [1990]
Sinead O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” [1990]
George Michael “Freedom 90” [1990]
Cathy Dennis “Touch Me (All Night Long)” [1990]
New Kids on the Block “Step By Step” [1990]
Kylie Minogue “Better the Devil You Know” [1990]
C&C Music Factory “Gonna Make You Sweat” [1990]
Whitney Houston “I’m Your Baby Tonight” [1990]
Celine Dion “Where Does My Heart Beat Now?” [1990]
Roxette “It Must Have Been Love” [1990]
Mariah Carey “Emotions” [1991]
Amy Grant “Baby, Baby” [1991]
Paula Abdul “Rush, Rush” [1991]
Shanice “I Love Your Smile” [1991]
The KLF “Justified & Ancient” [1991]
Roxette “Joyride” [1991]
Lisette Melendez “Together Forever” [1991]
Color Me Badd “I Wanna Sex You Up” [1991]
Saint Etienne “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” [1991]
Londonbeat “I’ve Been Thinking About You” [1991]
Crystal Waters “Gypsy Woman” [1991]
SNAP! “Rhythm Is A Dancer” [1992]
Whitney Houston “I’m Every Woman” [1992]
SWV “Right Here” [1992]
TLC “Baby-Baby-Baby” [1992]
Sophie B. Hawkins “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” [1992]
Annie Lennox “Little Bird” [1992]
En Vogue “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” [1992]
CeCe Peniston “Finally” [1992]
Madonna “Deeper and Deeper” [1992]
Mary J Blige “Real Love” [1992]
Salt-N-Pepa feat. En Vogue “Whatta Man” [1993]
Janet Jackson “Again” [1993]
Janet Jackson “If” [1993]
Björk “Big Time Sensuality” [1993]
Robin S “Show Me Love” [1993]
Mariah Carey “Dreamlover” [1993]
Celine Dion “The Power of Love” [1993]
Ace of Base “All That She Wants” [1993]
Ace of Base “The Sign” [1993]
Haddaway “What Is Love” [1993]
RuPaul “Supermodel (You Better Work)” [1993]

Phase 5: The Pre-TRL Era

Blur “Girls & Boys” [1994]
Nicki French “Total Eclipse of the Heart” [1994]
20 Fingers feat. Gillette “Short Dick Man” [1994]
Crystal Waters “100% Pure Love” [1994]
Madonna “Secret” [1994]
TLC “Waterfalls” [1994]
Des’ree “You Gotta Be” [1994]
Mariah Carey “All I Want for Christmas Is You” [1994]
Real McCoy “Another Night” [1994]
La Bouche “Sweet Dreams” [1994]
Kylie Minogue “Confide In Me” [1994]
Adina Howard “Freak Like Me” [1995]
Brandy “Sittin’ Up In My Room” [1995]
Mariah Carey feat. Ol Dirty Bastard “Fantasy” [1995]
Alanis Morissette “Hand In My Pocket” [1995]
No Doubt “Just A Girl” [1995]
Shampoo “Trouble” [1995]
Mariah Carey “Always Be My Baby” [1996]
Boyzone “Love Me For A Reason” [1996]
Ace of Base “Beautiful Life” [1996]
La Bouche “Be My Lover” [1996]
Everything But the Girl “Missing (Todd Terry mix)” [1996]
Gina G “Ooh Aah…Just A Little Bit” [1996]
Donna Lewis “I Love You Always Forever” [1996]
Spice Girls “Wannabe” [1996]
Spice Girls “Say You’ll Be There” [1996]
The Cardigans “Lovefool” [1996]
Luscious Jackson “Naked Eye” [1996]
Ginuwine “Pony” [1996]
Aaliyah “If Your Girl Only Knew” [1996]
Backstreet Boys “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” [1996]
Celine Dion “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” [1996]