Electropop

Form of electronic songs/music

"Electronic pop" redirects here. For the related genre, see synth-pop. For popular electronic music, see Electronic music § Late 1960s to early 1980s.

For other uses, see Electropop (disambiguation).

Electropop

Stylistic origins|

* Synth-pop
* pop
* electronic
* electronica

Cultural origins| Early 1980s, United Kingdom
Derivative forms|

* Chillwave[1]
* uplifting trance[2]

Other topics

* Alternative dance
* Bitpop
* chill-out
* K-pop
* C-pop
* J-pop
* V-pop
* Europop
* Post-disco
* electro
* Electroclash
* Electro-industrial
* Electro house
* Indie electronic
* Electronic rock
* Indie pop
* Synth-pop
* Progressive house

Electronic music

Experimental forms

* Ambient music
* Electroacoustic music

* Musique concrète
* Glitch
* Industrial music
* Noise music

Popular styles

* Breakbeat
* Chiptune
* Dancehall
* Downtempo
* Drum and bass
* Dub
* Dubstep
* Electro
* EDM
* Grime
* Hardcore
* House
* IDM
* Synth-pop
* Techno
* Trance
* UK garage
* Vaporwave

Other topics

* Disco
* In rock music
* In folk music
* Loudspeaker
* List of genres
* Sampling
* Studio as compositional tool
* Turntablism
* Hip hop
* Sound system
* Video game music

* v
* t
* e

Electropop is a popular music fusion genre combining elements of the electronic and pop styles. It has been described as a variant of synth-pop with outstanding heavy emphasis on its electronic sound.[3] The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a revival of popularity and influence in the late 2000s.[3]

## History

[edit]

### Early 1980s

[edit]

Main article: Synth-pop

See also: Electronics in rock music

Depeche Mode's composer Martin Gore said: "For anyone of our generation involved in electronic music, Kraftwerk were the godfathers".[4]

During the early 1980s, British artists such as Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, The Human League, Soft Cell, John Foxx and Visage helped pioneer a new synth-pop style that drew more heavily from electronic music and emphasized primary usage of synthesizers.[5]

> Some fascinating new music began arriving on these shores; it was dubbed electropop, because electronic instrumentation — mainly synthesizers and syndrums — was used to craft pop songs. "Pop Muzik" by M was one of the first. There was a gradual accumulation of worthy electropop discs, though they were still mostly heard only in rock discos. But in 1981, the floodgates opened, and "new music" at last made a mighty splash. The breakthrough song was "Don't You Want Me" by the Human League.

> — Anglomania: The Second British Invasion, by Parke Puterbaugh for Rolling Stone, November 1983.[6]

### 21st century

[edit]

See also: Synth-pop § 21st-century revival (2000s–present)

#### 2000s

[edit]

Britney Spears' highly influential fifth studio album Blackout (2007) is credited for bringing the genre to mainstream prominence. The media in 2009 ran articles proclaiming a new era of different electropop stars, and indeed the times saw a rise in popularity of several electropop artists. In the Sound of 2009 poll of 130 music experts conducted for the BBC, ten of the top fifteen artists named were of the electropop genre.[7] Lady Gaga had major commercial success from 2008 with her debut album The Fame. Music writer Simon Reynolds noted that "Everything about Gaga came from electroclash, except the music, which wasn't particularly 1980s".[8] Singer Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit said in a 2009 interview that while playing electropop was not his intention, the limitations of dorm life made the genre more accessible.[9]

In 2009, The Guardian quoted James Oldham—head of artists and repertoire at A&M Records—as saying "All A&R departments have been saying to managers and lawyers: 'Don't give us any more bands because we're not going to sign them and they're not going to sell records.' So everything we've been put on to is electronic in nature."[10][11]

Ellie Goulding became one of the most notorious figures in contemporary electropop music.

#### 2010s

[edit]

In the 2010s, electropop music saw an increase in its commercial popularity, owing to the success of artists such as Avicii, Lady Gaga,[12] Calvin Harris,[13] Kesha,[14] Rihanna,[15] and Zedd.[16][17] One of the most commercially successful electropop artists that came out from the early 2010s has been singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding.[18][19][20][21]

Goulding first became known in the United Kingdom thanks to her 2009 hit single, "Starry Eyed", which was featured on her folktronica debut album Lights.[22] Goulding's debut was met with critical acclaim, with Goulding ending up winning the BBC Sound of 2010 and the Critics Choice Brit Award.[23] Eventually, she became internationally known thanks to the album's title track, "Lights", a pop song with electronic beats, which became an sleeper-hit.[24] "Anything Could Happen", the lead single of Goulding's second album Halcyon marked a shift on the singer-songwriter particular blend of folk and electronica, and embracing her electronic sound with fusion of pop. Furthermore, its re-issue Halcyon Days cemented Goulding as one of the most notorious figures in electropop music, collaborating with several electronic acts and achieving mainstream attention.[25][26] In 2015, after the release of Goulding third album Delirium, Carrie Battan for The New Yorker dubbed Goulding as "the Pop star of E.D.M."[27] After 2016, Goulding went on a five-year hiatus, but she kept releasing successful stand-alone singles. At the end of the 2010s, Goulding was named Artist of the Decade by the Variety Hitmakers Awards,[28] and Billboard ranked her as one of the most successful artists of the 2010s decade.[29]

Electropop acts that achieved either commercial or critical success during the 2010s include: Sofi Tukker,[30] Lykke Li,[31] Mura Masa,[32] Empire of the Sun,[33] CHVRCHES,[34] AlunaGeorge,[35] Icona Pop,[36] Tove Lo,[37] BROODS,[38] Troye Sivan,[39] Charli xcx,[40] MØ,[41] Florrie,[42] BANKS,[43] Bright Light Bright Light,[44] Foxes,[45] AURORA,[46] Allie X,[47] and Marina.[48]

The Korean pop music scene has also become dominated and influenced by electropop, particularly with boy bands and girl groups such as Super Junior, SHINee, f(x) and Girls' Generation.[49]

#### 2020s

[edit]

Some contemporary artists that have been highlighted as part of the new decade of electropop music include: Slayyyter, Ayesha Erotica, Sigrid and Billie Eilish,[50] with the latter earning critical praise and commercial success just at the ending of the last decade. Kenneth Womack for Salon wrote that Eilish had "staked her claim as the reigning queen of electropop" with her critical and commercial hit album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?.[51]

## See also

[edit]

* Dance-pop
* Minimal wave
* Vaporwave
* Futurepop
* Auto-Tune

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Jon Pareles (March 21, 2010). "Spilling Beyond a Festival's Main Courses". The New York Times.
2. ^ "Spilling Beyond a Festival's Main Courses". The New York Times. March 22, 2010.
3. ^ a b Jones 2006, p. 107.
4. ^ "Kraftwerk-the-most-influential-group-in-pop-history". 2013.
5. ^ Reynolds 2005, pp. 296–308.
6. ^ "Anglomania: The Second British Invasion". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
7. ^ UK gaga for electro-pop, guitar bands fight back Archived 2009-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, The Kuwait Times, January 28, 2009
8. ^ The 1980s revival that lasted an entire decade by Simon Reynolds for The Guardian, 22 January 2010.
9. ^ "Interview: Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit Boston Phoenix October 1, 2009".
10. ^ "Gaga for girl power". smh.com.au. February 28, 2009.
11. ^ Neil McCormick (August 5, 2009). "La Roux, Lady Gaga, Mika, Little Boots: the 80s are back". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022.
12. ^ "how lady gaga's 'bad romance' changed the face of pop". VICE. October 20, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
13. ^ "'King of Electropop' on his way to Carlow". Irish Independent. April 13, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
14. ^ "Kesha > PopCrush". PopCrush. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
15. ^ Staff, T. H. R. (November 21, 2011). "Rihanna's 'Talk That Talk': What the Critics Are Saying". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
16. ^ Elmer, Rachel. "Zedd gives fans of electro-pop something to really enjoy". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
17. ^ Yoo, Noah (November 7, 2019). "Dance Dance Revolution: How EDM Conquered America in the 2010s". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
18. ^ adviser; Pena, Joelle De La (October 25, 2012). "Music Review: Electropop artist Ellie Goulding is back". The Clarion. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
19. ^ Papathanasopoulos, Vasili (April 6, 2023). "ELLIE GOULDING 'HIGHER THAN HEAVEN' REVIEW". Milky. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
20. ^ Sharp, Erica (November 17, 2015). "Ellie Goulding's new album 'Delirium' explores electropop sound". Daily Titan. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
21. ^ Sones, Katie. "Ellie Goulding explodes with a blitz of fresh new electro-pop". The Foothill Dragon Press. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
22. ^ "Ellie Goulding: Lights, PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. April 12, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
23. ^ "Ellie Goulding tops Sound of 2010". January 8, 2010. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
24. ^ "Review: Ellie Goulding - Lights". September 24, 2012. Archived from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
25. ^ "Ellie Goulding Talks Songwriting, Loving Skrillex & Björk & Growing Up On Electronic Music | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
26. ^ Bein, Kat (May 3, 2017). "Ellie Goulding's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
27. ^ Battan, Carrie (November 1, 2015). "Ellie Goulding, the Pop Star of E.D.M." The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
28. ^ Variety Staff (December 5, 2019). "The Hitmakers and Hitbreakers Who Defined the Sound of 2019". Variety. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
29. ^ Cusson, Michael (October 31, 2019). "Top Artists". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
30. ^ ABCNews, ABC. "Music Review: Electro-pop duo Sofi Tukker dances to own beat on new energetic album 'BREAD'". ABC News. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
31. ^ "Review: Lykke Li – moody, introspective electro-pop". Edina Zephyrus. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
32. ^ Heffler, Jason (November 29, 2021). "Mura Masa Drops First Single of 2021, Teases Third Studio Album". EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
33. ^ "Electronic duo Empire of the Sun finally returning to Perth". PerthNow. May 23, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
34. ^ Thomas, Paul (September 24, 2015). "Interview: CHVRCHES discuss second album anxiety, Depeche Mode and Glasgow". NBHAP (in German). Retrieved September 1, 2024.
35. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (July 24, 2013). "AlunaGeorge's 'Body Music'". Newsweek. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
36. ^ "Icona Pop Announces First Album in a Decade". Hypebeast. June 25, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
37. ^ Jonze, Tim (August 30, 2014). "One to watch: Tove Lo". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
38. ^ "VIDEO: "Free" by BROODS – Indie Music Filter". indiemusicfilter.com. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
39. ^ "Troye Sivan's Road To 'Something To Give Each Other': How Transparency & Exploration Led To His Most Euphoric Album Yet | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
40. ^ "Charli XCX: An Evolution of Style and Sound | SHOWstudio". www.showstudio.com. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
41. ^ "Meet MØ, the Danish Electro-Pop Sensation with a Punk Heart". PHOENIX Magazine. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
42. ^ Staff, Wonderland (August 26, 2014). "New Noise: Florrie | Wonderland Magazine". Wonderland. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
43. ^ Shaffer, Claire (August 8, 2019). "The First Time: Banks". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
44. ^ "Discovery: Bright Light Bright Light". Interview Magazine. October 26, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
45. ^ "Foxes reveals new video for single 'Youth'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
46. ^ "AURORA announces her first book, The Gods We Can Touch". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
47. ^ Feinman, Amanda (October 22, 2019). "Allie X On Subverting Trends and Keeping Her Infectious Electro-Pop Fresh". Bedford + Bowery. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
48. ^ Tadic, Nina (October 21, 2019). "MARINA brings "Love + Fear" to Aragon Ballroom". Stage Right Secrets. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
49. ^ Mullins, Michelle (January 15, 2012). "K-pop splashes into the west". The Purdue University Calumet Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 4, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
50. ^ "Electro-Pop Is Back, Baby!". fyzzymag.com. June 11, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
51. ^ Womack, Kenneth (May 10, 2019). "Billie Eilish is the new pop intelligentsia". Salon. Retrieved February 2, 2020.

Bibliography

* Jones, Hollin (2006). Music Projects with Propellerhead Reason: Grooves, Beats and Styles from Trip Hop to Techno. PC Publishing. ISBN 978-1-870775-14-4.
* Reynolds, Simon (2005). Rip it up and start again : post-punk 1978-84. London: Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-21570-6.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Howell, M (February 16, 1982). "Synthesizing pop: The new electronic garage bands". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved August 2, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Synth-pop

* Electro house
* Electroclash
* Electropop
* Electropunk
* Freestyle

* v
* t
* e

Pop music

Stylistic origins|

* Tin Pan Alley
* Traditional pop
* Rock and roll

Styles|

* Adult contemporary
* Christian
* Quiet storm
* Rhythmic
* Urban
* Alternative
* Paisley Underground
* Ambient
* Art
* Avant
* Beach
* Beat
* Brill Building
* Bubblegum
* Chamber
* Contemporary Christian music
* Country
* Bro-country
* Cowboy
* Cringe
* Dancehall
* Dance
* Freestyle
* Disco polo
* Dream
* Experimental
* Folk
* Hyperpop
* Hypnagogic
* Indie
* Dunedin sound
* Twee
* Operatic
* Orchestral
* Baroque
* Pop rap
* Pop rock
* Emo
* Jangle
* Pop metal
* Pop-punk
* Power
* Progressive
* Psychedelic
* Schlager music
* Sophisti-pop
* Space age
* Sunshine
* Swamp
* Synth-pop
* Electropop
* Futurepop
* Teen
* Traditional
* Wonky

Regional variants|

| Africa|

* Africa
* Afrobeats
* Moroccan

|

The Americas|

* American
* Argentine
* Brazilian (MPB)
* Brega pop
* Latin
* Tropipop
* Mexican
* Nueva ola

Asia|

* Arabic
* Armenian
* Assyrian
* Azerbaijani
* Chinese
* Cantopop
* Hakka
* Hokkien
* Mandopop
* French
* Xinyao
* Zhongguo feng
* Chinoiserie
* Hong Kong English
* Indian
* Bhangra
* Filmi
* Hindutva
* Indonesian
* Iranian
* Japanese
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* Ryūkōka
* Shibuya-kei
* Kazakhstani
* Korean
* North
* South
* Lao
* Malaysian
* Pakistani
* Philippine
* Thai
* Vietnamese

Europe|

* Austropop
* Balkan pop-folk
* Chalga
* Laïko
* Manele
* Tallava
* Turbo-folk
* British
* Dutch
* Nederbeat
* New pop
* Eurodance
* Europop
* French pop
* French Mandopop
* Yé-yé
* Hungarian
* Italian
* Macedonian
* Čalgija
* Romanian
* Manele
* Russian
* Schlager
* Serbian
* Swedish
* Turkish
* SFR Yugoslavia
* Soviet
* VIA music
* Ukrainian

Related topics|

* Celebrity
* Bobby soxer
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* Teenybopper
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* Rockism and poptimism
* Songwriter
* Talent manager
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* Teen idol
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* Verse–chorus form
* Virtual band
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Electronic-based music styles

Electronic dance music · Electronica

Genres by
decade of origin|

| Early|

* Amplified guitar
* Electric blues
* Hawaiian guitar
* Jùjú
* Rock
* List of rock genres
* Western swing
* Biomusic
* Computer music
* Electroacoustic music
* Acousmatic music
* Musique concrète
* Tape music
* Elektronische Musik
* Live electronics
* Noise
* Sound system (Jamaican)
* Space age pop

|

1960s|

* Ambient
* Drone
* Dub
* Electronic rock
* Jazz-funk
* Krautrock
* New-age music
* Progressive rock
* Psychedelic music
* Psychedelic funk
* Psychedelic rock
* Sampledelia
* Space music
* Space rock

1970s|

* Afro/cosmic music
* Space disco
* Boogie
* Chiptune
* Dancehall
* Electropunk
* Eurodisco
* Hi-NRG
* Industrial
* Industrial rock
* Japanoise
* New wave
* Cold wave
* Dark wave
* Minimal wave
* Post-disco
* Dance-punk
* Dance-rock
* Italo disco
* Reggae fusion
* Synth-pop

1980s|

* Acid jazz
* Alternative dance
* Baggy
* Ambient pop
* Breakbeat
* Florida breaks
* Contemporary R&B
* New jack swing
* Dark ambient
* Dubtronica
* Electro
* Freestyle
* Electro-industrial
* Electronic body music
* Electropop
* Ethnic electronica
* Funk carioca
* Kuduro
* Kwaito
* Tecnocumbia
* Turbo-folk
* Eurobeat
* Eurodance
* Grebo
* House
* Acid
* Ambient
* Balearic beat
* Chicago
* Deep
* Garage
* Funky
* Italo
* Jersey sound
* Hip house
* Latin
* Tech
* Tribal
* Industrial hip hop
* Industrial metal
* Martial industrial
* Miami bass
* New beat
* Power electronics
* Ragga
* Sophisti-pop
* Synth-metal
* Techno
* Acid techno
* Bleep techno
* Detroit techno
* Tracker music

1990s|

* Ambient dub
* Ambient techno
* Asian underground
* Baltimore club
* Bhangragga
* Big beat
* Bitpop
* Breakbeat hardcore
* Darkcore
* Happy hardcore
* Toytown techno
* Broken beat
* Changa tuki
* Chopped and screwed
* Dark electro
* Denpa song
* Digital hardcore
* Disco polo
* Diva house
* Hardbag
* Downtempo
* Bristol sound
* Psybient
* Trip hop
* Drum and bass
* Heavy
* Darkstep
* Hardstep
* Neurofunk
* Techstep
* Jungle
* Ragga jungle
* Light
* Atmospheric
* Intelligent
* Jazzstep
* Liquid funk
* Dub techno
* Dungeon synth
* Electroclash
* Folktronica
* French house
* Nu disco
* Funkot
* Futurepop
* Ghetto house
* Footwork
* Ghettotech
* Glitch
* Hardcore
* Belgian techno
* Bouncy techno
* Breakcore
* Free tekno
* Frenchcore
* Gabber
* Hardstyle
* Lento violento
* J-core
* Mákina
* Speedcore
* Harsh noise wall
* Illbient
* Indietronica
* Industrial techno
* Intelligent dance music
* Drill 'n' bass
* Kidandali
* Livetronica
* Merenhouse
* Microhouse
* Minimal techno
* Schaffel
* Nu jazz
* Electro swing
* Nu metal
* Nu skool breaks
* Post-rock
* Power noise
* Progressive house
* Psydub
* Reggaeton
* Dembow
* Trance
* Acid
* Balearic
* Dream
* Goa
* Hands Up
* Hard
* Progressive
* Psy
* Tech
* Uplifting
* Vocal
* UK garage
* 2-step
* Breakstep
* Speed garage
* UK hard house
* Hardbass
* Hard NRG

2000s|

* Afrobeats
* Bassline
* Budots
* Christian electronic dance music
* Cloud rap
* Coupé-décalé
* Crunk
* Crunkcore
* Dancehall pop
* Dubstep
* Reggaestep
* Electro house
* Complextro
* Dutch house
* Fidget house
* Electronicore
* Future garage
* Grime
* Grindie
* Hauntology
* Hypnagogic pop
* Chillwave
* Glo-fi
* Jersey club
* Juke house
* Jumpstyle
* Mainstream hardcore
* Nightcore
* Nintendocore
* Nortec
* Phonk
* Post-punk revival
* New rave
* Rabòday
* Reductionism
* Lowercase
* Onkyokei
* Russ music
* Sambass
* Shangaan electro
* Skweee
* Synthwave
* Sovietwave
* Tecno brega
* Trival
* UK bass
* UK funky
* Funkstep
* Vocaloid music
* Witch house
* Wonky
* Wonky pop

2010s|

* Afroswing
* Algorave
* Amapiano
* Azonto
* Big room house
* Black MIDI
* Brazilian bass
* Bro-country
* Deconstructed club
* Dreampunk
* Funktronica
* Future bass
* Kawaii future bass
* Future house
* Future soul
* Hyperpop
* Gqom
* Jungle terror
* Lofi hip hop
* Mahraganat
* Melbourne bounce
* Moombahton
* Moombahcore
* Moombahsoul
* Mumble rap
* Outsider house
* Plugg
* Post-dubstep
* Brostep
* Riddim (genre)
* Rara tech
* Seapunk
* Shamstep
* EDM trap
* Tropical house
* Vaporwave
* Hardvapour
* Mallsoft
* Slowed and reverb
* Wave
* Hardwave
* Weird SoundCloud

2020s|

* Breakcore revival
* Drift phonk
* Hyperpop microgenres
* Plugg microgenres
* Rage

Other topics|

| Culture|

* Beat drop
* Club drug
* Disc jockey
* DJ mix
* Sound system
* Turntablism
* Mashup
* Microgenre
* Nightclub
* Rave
* Acid house party
* Circuit party
* Doof
* EDM festival
* Free party
* Teknival
* Remix
* Sampling
* Plunderphonics
* Rare groove
* Riddim
* Street dance
* House dance
* Rave dance

|

Genres|

* Bass music
* Celtic fusion
* Chill-out music
* Lounge music
* Disco
* Doujin music
* Lo-fi music
* Madchester
* Progressive electronica
* Rave music
* Reggae
* Sound collage
* Video game music
* Adaptive music

Tools|

* Bass
* Data sonification
* Digital audio workstation
* Drum break
* List
* Electronic musical instrument
* Drum machine
* Sampler
* Synthesizer
* Electronics in rock music
* MIDI
* Music technology (electronic and digital)
* Recording studio as an instrument
* Waveform

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