The document discusses the genre of female pop music. It provides background on the origins and conventions of pop music generally. Key conventions of female pop mentioned include catchy songs with repetitive beats and lyrics, provocative music videos and costumes that portray women as objects of desire, and themes of independence and revenge. An example video by Britney Spears is discussed that demonstrates several conventions through revealing costumes, catchy lyrics, and Spears as an attractive female artist. The goal is to include these conventions like catchy music and provocative costumes, but subvert expectations by portraying the female character as needy rather than independent.

1. Female pop

2. What is pop?Pop music originated in the mid-1950’s as a softer, less heavier alternate to rock ‘n’ roll music, which was later just known as rock music.Pop music has a focus on commercial recording and aims to make money through the singles released in the charts. Its target audience is typically a youth market and it tells a story through the short medium of love. Although it is not uncommon to have songs with the focus on sex, break-ups or revenge or other different plots that branch from love.Pop music has been criticized for having more concern about recording, editing and distribution opposed to live performance and many artists have been accused of not being able to sing live and are only popular for their edited sound and plain vocals that are not ‘special’.

3. Examples…Female pop singers have been popular for a very long time.They are, as the name suggest, popular singers. In a list of the ‘100 Greatest Female Pop Vocalists Of All Time’ Mariah Carey topped the list at number one, beating the likes of the legendary Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Madonna and Britney Spears – all veterans to the pop genre. The latter, being labelled ‘The Princess of Pop’ worldwide, with Madonna being labelled ‘The Queen of Pop’.The music is of the pop variety, but with female singers: as it would suggest.

4. Female pop stars Madonna (left) and Britney Spears (right) in concert. As this photo shows the costumes are very showy and they are both styled in a similar way, which could be representative of the female pop stars having to look sexy and appealing, as well as sing and perform (which may or may not be live, depending on the star).

5. Sound& StyleFemale pop singers usually have a song that will be very catchy, with repetitive beats and chorus’ that could be heard in a club or on the radio and will stick in your head. For example a song by Britney Spears called ‘Radar’ has a chorus that is repeated several times with the line “Got you on my radar” over and over.(Reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-miljmyig0)It is only within recent years that female pop has become so catchy. For examples Mariah Carey’s song ‘Heartbreaker’ (a very popular song) doesn’t include repetitive synths or lyrics but is a noted pop song by the artist.(Reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKQOTnWb9GU)

6. ConventionsPopular conventions of my genre include:-Repetitive lyrics and beats.-Provocative videos and lyrics.-Women being seen as an object of desire for young girls who aspire to be like them or men who aspire to be with them.-Women being seen as independent and getting revenge.-Attractive women. (It has been known that women who have ‘the voice’ but not ‘the look’ have been replaced by a more attractive woman in the videos.)-An essence of sex, either from the lyrics, costumes or the way the women acts in the video.

7. An examplehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkIytHD5v9cAs you can tell, this video shows a woman poisoning passengers (revenge), while wearing very small costumes including an iconic see-through jewel-laden bodysuit (provocative) and Britney Spears (an attractive woman), as well as catchy lyrics and repetitive beats.These, in brackets, are many of the popular conventions of a female pop video and song combination.

8. My goal.In my video for the song ‘Love Drug’ by artist Myah Marie, I aim to include the following:An attractive lead character, played by Lauren Hoskins, who will wear provocative costumes and dance in the video.The song itself also includes a very catchy chorus and lyrics that are easy to follow along too, resulting in it being stuck in your head and making it popular.In comparison to this and to go against popular conventions I have made my female character quite needy and clingy, and not necessarily independent in the video, as in the song it states she is desperate for a man to cure her need of a love drug. I think this will work because it will be quite different and will catch the eye of people watching because it doesn’t just blend in with every other female pop video; although the song will stick in your head.