Is synthpop the new hype?

[Dizzyduck]

It's probably been discussed before, but since I haven't seen this topic arise for some time, I'd like to ask: Do you think that synthpop (and all its subdivisions) is the hype of the moment, something that will come, run its course and go, or is it rising again to a big driving force that is here to stay (...at least for a-long-while)?

In my part, I can speak of the situation over here, and I can say that it's not just a passing trend. In the beginning it was considered as a brief revival, but after 4 years, it's getting more and more powerful. It seems to last more than Britpop, more that nu metal, more than R+B...we have a blooming electro scene, more and more electro clubs,festivals, and it's beginning to hit the "mainstream"(in the good sense of the word). Future looks pretty bright...:-) :-)

[~interface2x]

I can tell you that, from an American's perspective, there is absolutely no hype over synthpop here. None whatsoever.

[~ericrypt]

Hate to say it, but he's right. True fans keep it alive, but ultimitley it's Britney and Christina's World.......

[~Paradoxxx]

Britney, Xtina and "gangsta drug-dealing mottafuka hip-hop type", and "spoiled teenage brat angst nu-metal" worlds also. Don't 4get those ones. Major sales!

[Dizzyduck]

The part about "spoiled teenage brat angst" reminded me of Avril Lavigne...lol!

[~cliffwalk]

Ah. See, I can't really subsscribe to that. America's a big country. It's a big music market.

We sell things differently here.

We invented the middle of the road.

Synthpop is just a word that describes a style of music so ambiguously that the very people who invented the style probably gringe at its use.

Wait... why go down this road? Do a search on the word "Genre War".

It just is what it is, kids. There's no hype. There's no newer new wave coming. The ideas will keep cycling and building on themselves.

It wasn't really all that earth-shattering in the 80s either. We just like to think it was.

Dave

[~fembot]

dont believe the hype.
watch less tv
find better music.
i dont need to see madonna and brittney tounge lashing eachother any hows.

[~pop]

Yes!!1st generation hype was '83 to '88 and the 2nd time hype (Modern Synthpop) was '98 to '01. The current state of Electronic music has no latest new thing. Least, current trend is better than people who still listen to Sisters of Mercy and Mission UK.

[~synth-master]

We certainly have alot mroe releases lately. Compare all the great releass we have had in 2003 to the past few years......

There was not much going on at all then compared to now. Although I agree that there is no hype, there is something happening big in the underground. Hopefuly soon, the big labels would wake up. I remember during the mid 90s to 2000 when the RAVE scene hit the mainstream and there was so much music to buy at the music stores.

I think this could happen with synthpop, if its given a chance :)

[~bill]

something wicked this way comes.

[~Efreak]

Originally posted by interface2x
I can tell you that, from an American's perspective, there is absolutely no hype over synthpop here. None whatsoever.
Yeah. What he said. If there was one thing I could change about our country...
Jamie

[~BNW Charlie]

Sometimes it seems like Todd Durrant at A Different Drum is the only thing keeping synth from disappearing.

Maybe we need to start a Synth Reality Show. VH1 could play it right after "I Love the 80s Strikes Back"

[~Efreak]

Originally posted by BNW Charlie
Sometimes it seems like Todd Durrant at A Different Drum is the only thing keeping synth from disappearing.


This is where cloning would be a good thing! :) Welcome to EGN, BNW! (Though I see you've been registered awhile...) ;)
Jamie

[~cliffwalk]

Originally posted by BNW Charlie
Sometimes it seems like Todd Durrant at A Different Drum is the only thing keeping synth from disappearing.

Maybe we need to start a Synth Reality Show. VH1 could play it right after "I Love the 80s Strikes Back"

as much as i like Todd... look at labels like Astralwerks...

Listen to some of the newer stuff by people like.. Alison Moyet.

I know we have these Microlabels attached to this scene who are saints for investing the time and money into it. BUT ~ look at the big picture. Songs are songs. It's the content that draws people to them in a sticky fashion.

Don't get too caught up in the involvement or lack of involvement of a synthesizer. It will lead to a confusing path.

-dave

[~dj_marimba]

Here in Lima, Peru, South America there's a well formed synthpop base but it is still a kind of underground movement, however every synthpop act that gets here fills their venues and sells all their tickets.
In my opinion the scene here is growing very fast, that is awesome.

regards
DJ Marimba

[~melibita]

Originally posted by interface2x
I can tell you that, from an American's perspective, there is absolutely no hype over synthpop here. None whatsoever.

Sad but true. So many people close their ears and stop their ears to anything that they haven't seen on MTV or heard on KIIS fm.

[~labrat]

Originally posted by Efreak
This is where cloning would be a good thing! :)

Jamie

He he, I was working on a project where I was trying to clone "synthpop fan gene" into everyone, but it appears to be recessive! ;) :laugh:

Yes, the U.S. synth scene is definitely underground and is going to stay that way as far as I can tell. But it doesn't bother me all that much...I sort of like feeling anti-establishment when I play my CDs...

[Electroswank]

Well there are a lot of american acts actually doing, synthpop, electropop and electronica at this time, its just that its' not "public". There are also mainstream acts bringing elements of synthpop into the mainstream... look at Madonna for instance.

There are also a lot of mildly popular bands imported here to the states that also have synthpop tendancies like Zoot Woman and Royksopp.

I think after the minimalistic wave of electroclash, now that its' died out, kids in the city are looking for something with more meat on it that's more complicated, be it someone mimmicking the Georgio Moroder style or an up and coming band like the Scissor Sisters, who i really believe is fantastic and have their finger on the pulse of what True Modern Synthpop should sound like.

I know guys' whove been doing synthpop for over 16 years.... so to answer you, no i dont' think it will go away, just the musical elements that may change slightly. Will it be mainstream again like in the 80s? maybe.... but not for decades at a time, maybe just like electroclash was a flash in the pan, some other transformation of synthpop will come and go, but truely never leave the underground.

[~Efreak]

Originally posted by labrat

But it doesn't bother me all that much...I sort of like feeling anti-establishment when I play my CDs...

Me too! :)
Jamie

[~cliffwalk]

Originally posted by ElectroSwank
Well there are a lot of american acts actually doing, synthpop, electropop and electronica at this time, its just that its' not "public". There are also mainstream acts bringing elements of synthpop into the mainstream... look at Madonna for instance.

There are also a lot of mildly popular bands imported here to the states that also have synthpop tendancies like Zoot Woman and Royksopp.

I think after the minimalistic wave of electroclash, now that its' died out, kids in the city are looking for something with more meat on it that's more complicated, be it someone mimmicking the Georgio Moroder style or an up and coming band like the Scissor Sisters, who i really believe is fantastic and have their finger on the pulse of what True Modern Synthpop should sound like.

I know guys' whove been doing synthpop for over 16 years.... so to answer you, no i dont' think it will go away, just the musical elements that may change slightly. Will it be mainstream again like in the 80s? maybe.... but not for decades at a time, maybe just like electroclash was a flash in the pan, some other transformation of synthpop will come and go, but truely never leave the underground.


All good points.

And to take this a few steps beyond... maybe? What I'm still having problems wrapping my tiny brain around is why so many people seem to be stuck with a very tiny definition of "Synthpop". In my eyes Synthpop has been evolving in the mainstream since synths were introduced into pop music. It hasn't stopped.

There's bands/artists who concentrate on being a bit more "obvious" about it than normal (most of the bands in this scene) but for the most part there's a rack of synths in every studio these days...

I think we put too much weight in the bands that broke in the 80s as the pioneers of a genre. Screw the fact that they pioneered a "GENRE". Larry Tee pioneered a Genre. Who cares?

Bands will come out and they will have their schtick whether it's electronic or not. Let's try not to stifle that creative process by being too closed minded not to seek out a broader appreciation.

People run and hide from bands like the ones Anna listed, or even bands that fall into stranger categories like House, Electro, etc... Listen to that stuff, it's friggin incredible... it's a lot closer to what you love about Synthpop than you may think it is if you actually give it a chance.

Don't close you mind at age 30 and you'll be a happier person... god knows you chilodhood doesn't end at 25.

Peace
Dave

[Electroswank]

What I'm still having problems wrapping my tiny brain around is why so many people seem to be stuck with a very tiny definition of "Synthpop". In my eyes Synthpop has been evolving in the mainstream since synths were introduced into pop music. It hasn't stopped.

Dave, you're spot-on.... I wish more people thought like you.

Its funny, you know....I see lots of praise on this and other forums for the standard textbook 80s defintion of synthpop bands; comparing the songs to bands like Depeche Mode even though DM hasnt' sounded that way since the 80s.

Its as if people don't want to listen or think outside the box and develop thier sound. Any musicians / bands out there, please prove me wrong and step up to correct me, I'd be really interested in your thoughts on the subject.

There are a lot more options and varieties of Modern Synthpop elements in other bands even though at first listen they don't sound so dated... Don't get me wrong, I love the nostalgia of a band that sounds 80s, but I also love bands who take creative challenges with Synthpop.

Some examples, in my opinion of Modern / Evolved Synthpop besides the ones i already listed (Zoot Woman, Royksopp, Sissor Sisters) Please keep in mind these aren't traditional Synthpop bands, so no genre nit picking with me please :)

Brand New Idol
Platform One
I, Monster
My Computer
AlpineStars
BlackStrobe
Alice in Videoland
Jay Jay Johanson
Pop Star Who Kill
Codec and Flexor
Dannii Minouge

[~cliffwalk]

Originally posted by ElectroSwank
...Synthpop bands, so no genre nit picking with me please :)

but, but, but, but...

*exhale*

wait, i don't care about genres. YAY!

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

and only like 2 posts away from 2000.

dave

[~ali_cahmal]

There are always various types of people that like various types of music, I think people who tend to think of synthpop type music as being only a thing of the "80's" I would have to say they watched too much VH-1 music specials in the 90's and still have that same way of thinking in the 2000's. Time to update your way of thinking. The 90's are over.

I think it is the media that has alot to do with what is mainstream or not mainstream.

[~A04]

I have always hated getting into subgenre battles with people. I love my music cold and precise, or is it rich and sensual. I look more for attitude than anything else. I don't want someone to argue whether it's futurepop, neo-goth, darkwave, industrial, ebm, or synthpop or even electro vs. electroclash. Personally, I like music to be where it's supposed to be. Perhaps I'm anal retentive. I don't like free jazz. I don't like a lot of punk if it sounds like the band spent the entire studio session smoking up and the last ten into recording an album. I've followed bands like Anything Box from Living in Oblivion up to Love is Lo-Fi. No one would call them synthpop to hear them today. They're still cool. And cool works with me.

And Swank, thanks for the band info. I love Alice in Videoland and Brand New Idol (among others), but I'll be checking out some of the others on your list. I'm past 30, but I'm always looking for something new.

By the way, I recently read something about Malcom McClaren (sp?) getting all set up to push bit music: electro made on reverse engineered Gameboys and C64s. I'm looking forward to it. It could be bigger than DHC!

[~ali_cahmal]

i will have to listen to there stuff

[~arronc]

SYnthpop (or electro ass it is called in these parts) is expected to take a big leap into the mainstrem over here, with the next month seeing electro releases by Kylie and Holly valance.

Vic twenty are reving up for an album,and Ladytron continue to be the darlings of the Music press.

Kraftwerk are playing the MTV europe awards.

Chick on speed are doing well erasure are back in the charts.

Lots of cool adverts are now using electro music.

In europe the Bleep scene has always been strong and is beginning to merge into IDM : if you like this kind of thing, check out my personal favorites "Puss" www.pusstracks.com

Its also great to see Schmoof and Freezepop playing a combined gig at one of the ever-growing electro nights in londons electronic music scene.

However, it has to be said that the "electro" sound becoming popular is much more the european "no use of rock dynamics" rather than the american "guitar substitution" synthpop.