R&P: Indie=Independent, Pop=Popular?

Question

Does Indie still mean Independent? Or has it lost it's meaning? I mean look at the British-Indie-Bands invasion. Are they all really independent? No... But their sounds have similarities. So has ''Indie'' become a genre, and has the word lost it's meaning?

Same with pop. Pop used to mean Popular music. Bands or artists that were popular, were called pop. But now pop has become a genre on it's own, you can't just call every artist or band that's popular and sells a lot of records ''pop'', right? I mean if some Death-Metal band became the most popular band in the world and sold 1 billion records, you still wouldn't call them pop...

So, wh do YOU think? That today's indie-bands should indeed be called indie, with the word losing it's meaning? That indie still means independent, and that there is no such thing as an Indie-genre?

Why do we call Many Moore Pop, When there are tons of bands that are more popular and have sold more albums than her?

I'm very confused. I just confused myself while typing this question...

Uhm..Ok so if you are interested in helping me out....tell me what you think...

*OR...if you're too lazy to read what I wrote and/or you find this question hard to understand or silly, this is the question for you:

MQ: Your favourite love song.

Answer 1

I think "Indie" is now just a genre. It has lost its real meaning. I think bands and record labels use the term loosly in the hopes of selling more records.

Answer 2

a couple of bands I noticed a while back ago were signed bands and they were labeled "Indie" and had an alternative sound, I really cant remember where it was or what bands so unfortunately I am unable to reference a source, so I do see that it seems "indie" has been taken out of context as a sub-genre of "alternative" but yeah usually "indie" refers to artists that market themselves or are on an independent record label, but maybe if they are individual artists signed on a rather popular independent label that's not theirs can also be referred to as "Indie' that's just what I am guessing with just common sense

Answer 3

Yeah, I agree.

Indie used to be used as an adjective used to describe bands that were on independent labels, that didn't fit into the mainstream, that were different, etc. Now it has turned into more of a "sound" or "genre"

For example, many of the bands today (like The Killers, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, etc) have been labeled "indie" because of their sound, not because they have an independant record label. These bands are pretty popular, and are not indie in the way the word used to be used.

There are still real "indie " bands out there, but the whol word has seemed to lose its original meaning.  

Answer 4

Can't answer the indie Q, since I'm not sure what it means, but I totally agree with you on the pop subject. I think it's dumb to say that pop is anything that is popular. Does that make Cannibal Corpse pop? Is Opeth pop? And Cradle of Filth? What about famous black metal bands? Are they pop as well?

Even Wikipedia says (and normally I don't trust Wiki) that pop USED to mean popular, but it has evolved to its own genre now. You can have a pop artist that no one likes or knows about - an unpopular pop singer. How many people have heard of Vienna Teng, aside from me mentioning her all of the time? What about The Polyphonic Spree?

The pop-equals-popular label makes absolutely NO sense to me. What about Jenni Vartiainen? She's a well-known pop singer - in Finland. I guarantee you very few people here have ever heard of her, and even fewer that like her (and I'm willing to bet that no one on R&P knows who she is). Does that make her pop only in Finland, and some other genre here? That is absolutely ridiculous. Bah.

Interesting Q, sorry I couldn't answer the indie part. I've heard people say indie = independent, but it seems to be a genre now to me as well. =/

Answer 5

yeah, i agree, Indie and Pop have both lost their meanings. Record labels just use those kinda vague movements to try to make more and more genres. its annoying

MQ: Don't Fear the Reaper- Blue Oyster Cult, though some don't call it a love song

Answer 6

Good point !

Some bands tend to start in one "Genre" and SLIDE into another over time.

Classic Rock used to be only 70's Bands, then it started to include 80's and now early 90's bands are on those Stations.

I considered R.E.M. -- Indie or Alternate, but some people consider them Pop - because they Have had Universal success and thus, Popularity.

At one time - Billboard Magazine only had the Top 200 Pop Songs from week-to-week - Then they added specialty Lists (shorter) of R&B & Rock.  Now, it has every Lists imaginable - but if a song is a HIT - it goes to the POP list, as well.

It's a slippery slope, in my Opinion.

Maybe see what Wikipedia ( which is not always correct, but pretty good ) Says about the JON-RAHs :)

Okay - this one actually DOES refer to a STYLE not Popularity -- So forget everything I've said, so far :)) --

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_music

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_rock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_rock

.

Answer 7

Welcome Back Little Meg

I think Indie lost whatever meaning it once had long ago.

MA: Nights In White Satin-The Moody Blues

Answer 8

Indie Bands. Their music sounds the same. I can listen to a couple of Arctic Monkeys and The Libertines' songs, but I'll get bored. It's not independent anymore, "indie" bands are selling more than anything else.

Pop is kinda a genre. For example: simple lyrics, good voice (it's the main attraction, instruments aren't really the most important thing in Pop)

So yes, Indie and Pop are real genres. To me, at least.

MQ: Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits

Oh, how was Turkey? :) We have many things to catch up on, don't we? ;)

Answer 9

yes indie and pop lost their meaning....."indie" should mean independent label but bands on major labels are being described as "indie"....    

to clarify "pop" is easier, "pop" used to and still should refer to what makes the POP charts---

Answer 10

They totally lost their meaning. We describe artists or bands as pop if they're generic and girly.

I think the Indie genre is for genreless bands????

MA: Phantom Opera Ghost - Iced Earth