The debate has been on everyone’s mind, but why are we so obsessed with finding “the answer”?
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Ah, Main Pop Girls. Whether you want to admit it or not, we live for them. They take over our playlists, feeds, and the culture at large. And honestly? They eat it up every time. One thing about Main Pop Girls, they define their generations. For Gen Z, stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Charli xcx, and Chappell Roan dominated the world with their respective releases. Sabrina had all of us hooked on Short ‘n Sweet, Chappell helped unlock our inner Midwest Princess, and, well, have you heard of Brat Summer?
These ladies are at the top of their game, and they’re following a long line of women who’ve done it before (and continue to do so today). The title of being a Main Pop Girl is a coveted one, but it’s also a supposedly exclusive one that many pop listeners feel only a few deserve.
There are many successful pop girlies that some people online don’t think truly “fulfill” the title of a Main Pop Girl. Despite having large fanbases and successful singles, that still isn’t enough for some. It’s a conversation online you can see follow certain young female pop musicians, such as Tate McRae. Search her name on social media, and chances are you’ll find someone who thinks “she isn’t there yet.” But what does it take to get there? Is there even a certified way to establish yourself as a Main Pop Girl amongst all pop listeners? And most importantly, was it ever that serious to begin with and are we just playing into stan Twitter pettiness?
POP CULTURE POLITICS
When it comes to being a Main Pop Girl, one thing we’ve seen from the pop greats before and now is that these artists define the culture. More so than scoring hits or being great performers, Main Pop Girls’ influence needs to transcend fandoms. It’s all about an artist and the bigger picture if we’re going by how the internet sees things.
Remember when everything stopped when Beyoncé dropped her self-titled album in 2013? Or when Ariana Grande came back better than ever with thank u, next? Iconic eras, and they’re not the only pop stars to give those moments to us. Many people think these pop culture moments and the ability to run the game are key requirements for being a Main Pop Girl. Another thing that people are critical about is whether or not these artists are influential to the music landscape. Taylor Swift, for example, has inspired a whole generation of singers with her sound and approach to music, making her an important figure in the industry and for fans alike.
Yet, it’s important to note that there’s no set defined criteria to be a Main Pop Girl. There’s no organization that officially bestows the title, it’s one given or generally agreed upon by netizens. As you can imagine, that is where the problem can lie with how the discourse can turn messy. Take Tate McRae, for example.
Arguably one of the most prominent rising pop stars in the scene right now, Tate has found herself in the middle of the Main Pop Girl discourse thanks to the release of her new album, So Close To What. Her mentions, at least on Twitter, are lowkey messy with opinions ranging from the Canadian pop star being the next big thing to just another copycat. Despite pulling in huge numbers and having songs with over a billion streams, there still seems to be a crowd that can’t seem to view her as a Main Pop Girl.
Whether these criticisms have a point or are just mean-spirited, we see yet again how the Main Pop Girl discourse can get heated, and it can also admittedly be used as an excuse for some fans to just throw hate with comments that lean too uncomfortably to misogyny.
MORAL OF THE STORY
So, why are we so obsessed with the idea that female pop stars need to give us a story in order to ascend to greater career heights? Just because no one knows every detail about Tate’s life through her music doesn’t mean she has nothing to say (Purple Lace Bra is right there!).
Truthfully, the title of Main Pop Girl is an elusive one that people feel very strongly about. Just because Tate, or any other young female pop artist on the come up for that matter, doesn’t 100% fit the bill now doesn’t mean it can’t happen later, nor is it an excuse to just willfully throw shade at a talented artist. And even if she never gets considered one by the culture at large (which we doubt), was it ever that serious?
Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate our relationship with the Main Pop Girl discussion. Do we need all our faves to be one? Should it be something all pop artists should strive for? Is a musician deemed irrelevant if they aren’t one? We think not, nor should your decision to stan an artist revolve around whether or not they are deemed a Main Pop Girl by social media.
We’re in an era in which the concept of celebrity is democratized. Anyone can be famous, and it can happen at any time. The concept of the Main Pop Girl has become a goalpost for many to legitimize their careers. Yet, it doesn’t have to be the be-all and end-all. Being a Main Pop Girl has become one of the newest ways modern fandoms judge female artists. But there’s a lot more to being a pop artist these days, especially for women in the space. Many pop girls find a niche, have their loyal fans, and, more importantly, do what they love with motivations not rooted in superficial stats.
Ultimately, we can engage in all the discourse we want, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that these girls have appeal, and judging their value or worth soley based on if their career is on a trajectory towards Main Pop Girl status is not it. Honestly, any female pop artist you stan can be your Main Pop Girl, so why should you let random stan accounts on Twitter tell you otherwise?
At the end of the day, all we want from these artists is dedication to their craft, making great music, being great performers, and keeping us excited with their projects. Regardless of whether or not your fave is a pop star in the eyes of the public, they’re your fave for a reason, and they deserve that support.
Continue Reading: Here’s Why Tate McRae Is The New Main Pop Girl On The Rise
