Pop 101 Explained

Pop 101
Cover:Marianas Trench - Pop 101 (Official Single Cover).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Marianas Trench featuring Anami Vice
Album:Something Old / Something New
Genre:Pop
Length:4:14
Label:
Producer:Josh Ramsay
Chronology:Marianas Trench
Prev Title:By Now
Prev Year:2013
Next Title:Here's to the Zeros
Next Year:2014

"Pop 101" is a song recorded by Canadian pop rock band Marianas Trench, featuring hip hop artist Anami Vice. Written and produced by lead singer Josh Ramsay, it was released July 29, 2014 through 604 Records, Cherrytree Records, and Interscope Records.[1] [2] Originally announced as the lead single off the band's forthcoming fourth studio album, Astoria (2015), the song was later scrapped from the album and serves only as a buzz single; it is also included on their 2015 extended play, Something Old / Something New.[3] "Pop 101" entered the Canadian Hot 100 at No. 27, and was certified Gold by Music Canada in November 2014.

Content

"Pop 101" is primarily a pop song with influences of pop rock, but also features allusions to hip hop, EDM, and folk music.[4] The song is satirical in nature, scrutinizing the music industry and particularly the trends and clichés of modern pop music.[5] Ryan McNutt of AUX.TV found the song to be "oddly compelling" given writer/producer Josh Ramsay's own formulaic work and success with "Call Me Maybe" (2011).[4]

Music video

The video for "Pop 101" was directed by Kyle Davison and parodies music video tropes and current trends of celebrity culture, including house parties, twerking and harems.[6] [7] It premiered August 1, 2014 exclusively on MuchMusic[7] before being uploaded to the group's official VEVO page on August 4.[6]

Chart performance

"Pop 101" debuted at No. 27 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 on the chart dated August 16, 2014.[8]

Chart performance for "Pop 101"! Chart (2014)! Peak
position

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pop 101 (Barely feat. Anami Vice) - Single. iTunes Store (CA). Apple Inc. https://web.archive.org/web/20141125110749/https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/pop-101-barely-feat.-anami/id899326309. live. 25 November 2014.
  2. Web site: Multi-Platinum Selling Group Marianas Trench Release New Single "Pop 101" (Barely Feat. Anami Vice) Today, July 29th. Cherrytree Records. 28 December 2014.
  3. Web site: Something Old / Something New  - EP by Marianas Trench. iTunes Store CA. Apple Inc.
  4. Web site: McNutt. Ryan. Ironic pop can still make for great music. AUX. Blue Ant Media. 28 December 2014.
  5. Web site: Sternall. Allison. NEWS: Marianas Trench Release "Pop 101" on iTunes. https://web.archive.org/web/20140914084116/http://www.confrontmagazine.com/2014/07/news-marianas-trench-release-pop-101-on-itunes/. usurped. September 14, 2014. Confront Magazine. 11 August 2014.
  6. Web site: Pop 101 - Marianas Trench. VEVO. 11 August 2014.
  7. Web site: Melody. Marianas Trench Take On Robin Thicke, Mumford & Sons and LMFAO In Their New Video. MuchMusic. 11 August 2014.
  8. Web site: Chart Search. Billboard Canadian Hot 100 for Marianas Trench. 28 December 2014.