Imagine you’re laying on your multicolored polka dot bedspread, music blasting in your ears, a walkman laying next to your head. Britney Spears’ Toxic is playing and although you’re eight years old, you somehow find the ability to relate to this insatiable song. Let's fast forward 15 years. Instead of a multicolored polka dot bedspread, a walkman and Britney Spears it’s coquette ruffles, Spotify and Chappell Roan. Although these girls are experiencing parallel realities the components have vastly changed. One thing remains the same: female pop stars have continuously held the fascination of others. Looking at female pop stars from the early 2000s to now (the past five years) the similarities are slim and the differences are expansive. After doing my due diligence, I was confronted with some questions. What makes someone a popstar? What makes a person a lasting popstar? Does music need to be transferable through eras in order to hold the position of pop stardom?
Then: Beyoncé, Britney Spears, & Christina Aguilera
When thinking about iconic pop stars of the early 2000s, these three names readily come to mind. Beyoncé, originally a leading star for the girl group Destiny's Child, broke off in 2006 to pursue a solo career. Her vocals, creative drive and connection with her fans is unparalleled. Beyoncé has grown as an artist, but the music industry has grown with her. She is credited for popularizing the surprise release, digital release, Friday release — basically Beyoncé invented releasing music; but seriously, she really was just that influential. I find that her ability to weave conversations about politics and advocacy into her lyrics while still curating an energetic and enjoyable listening experience is what makes her so unique.
Britney Spears is another household name. The rise, fall and rise again of Spears is a pop culture phenomenon that people can’t seem to tear their eyes away from. Spears was able to pave her way into the music industry, starting as a child actor and graduating into a teen pop icon. Britney was known for her performance ability; the energy that exuded from Spears during her performances was enchanting. Her capability of dance, lyricism and vocalization packages her as a triple threat. Britney helped to shape the iconicness of the early 2000s pop scene with songs like Toxic, …Baby One More Time, and Gimme More. Spears’ tendency for gaining attention, maybe not in such a positive light, helped to curate her iconicness. Everyone remembers Britney's shaved head, but everyone really remembers Spears’ I’m A Slave 4 You 2001 VMA performance.
Christina Aguilera not only ruled the top 100 Pop Charts in the early 2000s, but paved the way for the fashion trends that you see resurfacing today. Her iconic hairstyles, two piece outfits and complimentary fashion looks solidified her as a pop and fashion icon. Her songs Lady Marmalade and Genie In A Bottle, became widely understood as pop culture sensations. Her collaboration with Mya, P!nk and Lil’ Kim on Lady Marmalade took home a grammy in 2002 for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Aguilera's adaptability within both the music and fashion industry has cemented her as one of the pop greats.
Now: Chappell Roan, Tate McRae, & Sabrina Carpenter
Pop girlies now are finding inspiration from the 2000s’ iconic looks, extravagant performances and intricate dances … but are they comparable to those who helped popularize the genre?
Chappell Roan has cemented a name for herself as a budding pop icon. What I find unique about Roan is her showmanship. Roan has stated time and time again that she dons a character when she steps on stage. Her ability to bring visuality to a marginalized group is commendable. She is helping to bring Drag into the mainstream. Roan’s vocal power and range is enchanting and makes the listener feel enamored with the vocal crescendos in her songs. Lastly, Chappell is bringing in a queer centered focal point to the media that has previously gone uncatered to. She is a powerhouse for advocacy, vocalization and bewitching performances.
Sabrina Carpenter, originally a Disney star, has transformed into the latest pop princess. Though it took her a bit of time and a heavy rebrand, Carpenter has taken the industry by storm. While her rebrand has rocketed her back into the spotlight, is it comparable to the pop icons who came before? Her fashion is fun and flirty, though many of her looks are simple variants of each other. Icons of the 2000s experimented with different fashion looks, helping to curate new experiences per each show. Carpenter's songs generally reflect her album title Short and Sweet; she focuses on curating pop music that features heavy elements of synthesizers and electronic instruments. While her music is fun and relatable, I wonder where her sound will take her in the future.
Tate McRae, once a professional dancer now turned pop star, has incorporated her dancing abilities into her pop regime. It seems McRae is following in the footsteps of those who came before her. The interwoven dancing and singing makes her performances engrossing, and the outfits she dons — while sometimes simple — are interesting and varied. Although her performances are engaging, her music seems to lack the ability to reach a wider audience. The iconicness of 2000s pop stars was their ability to make music that was enjoyed by broader audiences; nowadays musicians have begun to cater towards niche audiences, stunting their climb to superstardom.
Pop music has gone through many iterations of itself throughout the years. Now, pop music seems to be cementing itself back where it began. What made the pop stars of the 2000s so enticing was not only their music, but also their personas. People were fascinated by these women, what they were doing, wearing, seeing. The resurfacing of this type of pop girl seems to be coming back, but do you believe that the girls of today can solidify their stance as a pop phenomenon like those who came before them? Personally I’m not so sure, but I am interested to see the evolution of the newest pop icons.
Eve Riskind is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at elr229@cornell.edu.
