How did we go from glittery disco dancefloors to Charli xcx’s futuristic pop sound? Explore the evolution of pop music in six iconic stages, from 1970s Disco and 1980s Synth-Pop to Dance-Pop, Electropop, Hyperpop and the rise of the BRAT era. Impress your friends with this timeline!
Disco (1970s)
Born in sweaty dance clubs, Disco turned every room into a glittery heaven. Think huge hair, sequins, funky basslines and dancing all night in platform shoes. Need an intro song? The hit of the decade, Stayin’ Alive, by the Bee Gees’, is one hell of a funky tune and also has quite a deep message of surviving tough times.
Synth-Pop (1980s)
Disco swapped glitter balls for futuristic keyboards. Artists like Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys proved music made by technology could be cool. Suddenly, every song sounded like it had escaped from a neon games arcade. Need a tune to get started? Take On Me by A-Ha is the defining hit of the decade, and has a wonderful music video too!
Dance-Pop (1990s)
Pop stars took club beats and made them impossible to escape, or not dance to! Britney, Kylie and Madonna filled the charts with songs designed to get stuck in your head for roughly the next 14 years. If your parents know all the words, blame this era. Need a song? Can’t Get You Out Of My Head by Kylie Minogue will get you bopping around your kitchen!
Electropop (2000s)
The internet arrived along with a new century. Auto-tune became mega cool, and artists like Cher and Lady Gaga used this perfectly. Songs got louder, weirder and more futuristic. This was pop music for the new era. Need a song? Poker Face by Lady Gaga will have you saying “mum-mum-mum-mah” all day.
Hyperpop (2010s)
Hyperpop pushed pop music to the extreme with distorted vocals, huge electronic production and experimental sounds. Artists like SOPHIE, A. G. Cook, 100 gecs, Dorian Electra and Slayyyter blurred the line between mainstream pop and underground dance music, not to mention, the huge popularity of South Korean import – K-Pop. It became one of the biggest influences on the next generation of pop artists, including Charli XCX.
Charli xcx (2020s)
Charli xcx took everything before her, added underground club culture, internet energy and a fearless “I make the rules now” attitude. BRAT turned lime green into a global aesthetic, proved messy can be iconic, and reminded everyone that the dancefloor never really left. Disco just got an update.
