R&B and pop have long shaped the modern music landscape, each leaving a distinct mark on the industry. R&B’s soulful melodies and emotional depth contrast with pop’s broad appeal and catchy hooks, yet the two genres often blend, pushing the boundaries of contemporary music. Which genre will rule music—R&B or pop?
Students share their opinions on what they think is the best genre of music to listen to and why they believe it is the best.
“R&B because I think there is more versatility in R&B that you don’t really see in pop. There are a lot of different artists with different styles that still fit the genre, while in pop, a lot of the time, you will see people trying to follow each other’s trends, and I think the trends in R&B branch out more.” Christine Lise (11) said.
“Probably pop music just because I believe I listen to it more than R&B.” Morgan Schopke (10) said.
Students believe that R&B is a more well-performed genre of music, while pop is more trend-setting, with some students listening to pop more than R&B.
“‘Hrs and Hrs’ by Muni Long because I like the background of the song, the pace of it, and the vibe it brings.” Lise (11) said.
“It would be ‘Motive’ by Ariana Grande because I think her singing is really pretty, and I like the beat of the song and listening to her overall.” Schopke (10) said.
The whole vibe of a song and the artist behind it can really affect the genre of the music, making it more interesting to listen to.
“I absolutely love SZA. I think she is so talented, and she works so hard and does a lot with the platform she has created for herself.” Lise (11) said.
“Ariana Grande is my favorite artist because she is in a lot of TV shows like Victorious and Sam and Cat, which I used to watch when I was younger, so I’ve always liked her.” Schopke (10) said.
Having a favorite artist can affect the way someone feels about a certain genre, which can relate to someone’s personality and what they believe is the best to listen to.
“I think my taste in music does reflect my personality. I think it can be a little all over the place, and I can be a little all over the place.” Lise (11) said.
“I think it depends. I feel like it really affects my style because my music taste is all over the place, and my style is too, so I would say it does.” Schopke (10) said.
