Can Popular Music Ever Really Be Unplugged?

Popular music can definitely not be unplugged. As the opening quote for Friday’s lecture states, “...without electronic technology popular music in the 21st century is unthinkable” (Paul Theberge). The reason behind this is because all music that is currently popular requires certain technology to develop the music (for example: microphones, electric guitars, electric amps, etc). Taking away the technological elements which create the popular music would essentially change the nature of popular music. Throughout the generations, popular music has always incorporated new technology to keep up with changing times. For example, the development of the microphone led to a new “crooning” style of singing which became popular in the 1920s. Thus, without the technology which already exists or without new and improved technology, what we consider popular music would cease to be popular causing the entire idea behind “popular music” to need to be redefined.