What’s happened to the female artists in the pop world? (and why I still don’t get Taylor Swift)

There are so little breakthrough artists coming through in female-lead pop these days. It’s like it has ground to a halt. But why? Let's explore...

I’m a self-confessed fan of female pop stars. Always have been.

Madonna, Kylie, Pink, Janet, Christina, Mariah, Britney, Spice Girls…the list goes on. You get the picture. I grew up in the boom phase of pop music in the eighties when these Pop Queens and Princesses were thrust into global mega stardom and had hit after hit records. Let us not forget it was the likes of Tina Turner and Madge who became the first female megastars to be able to tour stadiums sizes. Before trailblazers like them, acts simply weren’t the huge entity they continue to be today.

Lately though, I’ve been struggling with female pop acts. Is it me or is there so little depth to our new pop acts? They all sound the same, the tracks being released don’t feel like records we will hear for decades to come and generally I just feel like female pop acts are very rarely getting the breakthrough opportunities of yesteryear.

This week Madonna’s Vogue was 34 years old. This song still sounds just as fresh as the day it was released. Can you honestly see many of the ‘hits’ right now still being played in 34 years? I can’t. There’s a few anomalies from the rule. For example, maybe Miley’s Flowers. But there’s not much else I can see going the distance.

Before we get into it, I ought to make an admission. I don’t get Taylor Swift. Never have, never will. I’ve really tried. I even met her, and she was a sweet girl. But I still don’t get the big deal when it comes to Tay Tay.

I’ve spent the last few months with friends and acquaintances I knew a little (but not well enough) messaging me asking if I can help them get tickets for the upcoming Stadium dates in the summer. Each time I receive the text I groan. Why? Well, I guess there’s something the kids are getting that I’m not. In some ways maybe Taylor is this generation’s Kylie. And that makes some sense. Don’t get me wrong – I can respect her and all she’s achieving but the closest I came to becoming a fan was when I watched the documentary of her life. But it still didn’t hook me in to listen. Another factor on the Taylor conversation is I might just be getting old and not understanding the pop music out there right now. But I totally get Miley. Is she not in the same sphere?

But my shocking-to-some admission on Taylor goes far further. There is a plethora of female pop acts I don’t get right now and up until now I’ve been keeping it a secret.

Dua Lipa might be releasing ear worm after ear worm for global radio play, but the music is pretty same same. She’s also never really made me sit up and take notice as a live act. Last time I saw her live I left feeling flat. She’s, like, fine. But she’s nothing major to watch live – just goes through the motions. I guess her Brits performance this year was something a little more exciting – but even so…not arsed.

There’s a long list of other acts I struggle with who are supposedly the pop world’s big hitters right now. For example, I’ve tried the Self Esteem album on numerous occasions. Can’t work out what all the fuss is about. She was fine enough in Cabaret – but I wasn’t huge on her Sally Bowles moment. Not enough vulnerability for the role if you ask me.

I’ve given it a go with acts like Charli XCX - although she’s released some great tracks it’s never really taken off for her in a big way. It’s always felt like she deserves more success than what she gets. I guess part of that is down to the state of the music industry, streaming and the fact she seems like a strong woman in a relatively male dominated industry. She’s always seemed like a fighter and that might have put people in the music world off?! Worth noting, she tours well and sells out though…

Then another act I’ve tried hard with is Raye. Sure, like the rest of the UK I’m completely thrilled she’s fought so hard to achieve success after numerous issues with labels and release dates but is it worthy of all these accolades? Maybe. I guess people must like her music a lot more than I do. Or are they commending her strive and stubbornness to never quit? Again, maybe. I couldn’t tell you one of her album titles or a single song title.

There’s no doubt the pop world has suffered at the hands of streaming services, social media and the fact there’s so much choice. It feels to me like there’s a bit of a vortex in the female pop world right now. I can’t envisage tracks from the newbies being played in 20 years’ time. If anything, I’m willing to stick my neck out and say the pop music world has never been more chuckaway and forgettable as it is today.

Even the way female pop acts and music companies handle the release of some of our major names has changed so much. Look at Ellie Goulding’s last album. Nice enough release. Nothing hugely game changing. It wasn’t vibing at all until they repackaged the plans with her Calvin Harris duet track Miracle at the forefront. Then it flew. Well, she was properly popping out and about with more of a buzz.

I guess the thing about Ellie is she’s crossed over into one of those artists who has an amazing back catalogue and she’ll always be able to sell a tour moving forwards and I love her live. But her new album stuff isn’t cutting the mustard by a long shot. Higher than Heaven did hit number one shifting 11,818 units in the first week. Yes, you heard that right – shifting under 12,000 units of an album bags you a number one these days.

One thing I feel is becoming boring are the voices of our new pop acts. They’re all being morphed into something very similar – the originality of an actual vocal has left the building. Potentially, because the radio stations have such strict guidelines and snobbery in what they will actually play out on the air. They rarely take major risks on new artists.

Maybe it’s the fact record labels have culled so many staff. Potentially expensive staff who had a real ear for talent and were on too big a salary – something that’s happening across the whole of the media industry. If you’re being paid lots, you’re at risk. The big companies want whippersnappers who will work for half the price and learn on the job. Rather than the dinosaurs who paved the way but are nowadays and expensive commodity.

You’ll notice I’ve not mentioned Adele in this piece. Purely because she’s in a league of her own. She’s the enigma that breaks the trend. Adele is in her own category entirely.

This isn’t a bitchy piece about current pop acts. Always nothing but joy for pop acts getting out there – I love seeing newbies on the scene. It just feels that right now there’s been a seismic change in the all round depth of our female pop acts.

I long for the female voices who have the music, the attitude and the longevity to be in it for the long run.

I’ll leave you with this video – Sheryl Crow’s latest track Evolution as performed on Jimmy Kimmel recently. I’m seeing her at Hampton Court Palace this summer and cannot wait to hear this voice live.

Finally, things I’m looking forward to in the female pop world sphere in the coming months and years!

·      A new Lily Allen music project. She’s the real deal. She’s off to Nashville to write. That could be a real winner.

·      Beyonce’s new album Cowboy Carter is out THIS WEEK on the 29th. Get ready for Renaissance Part Deux on a country vibe.

·      Kylie’s already back in the studio and working on her 17^th studio album. I’m here for it. She says she doesn’t want to let the momentum of Tension pass. Why not, Darl.

·      Melanie C’s back in the studio. Next album in the fall, I’m assuming. She’s been in with Biff. JOY!

Until next week, Kids.