Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Music docu only skims topic's surface, has profanity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
This Is Pop
What's the Story?
THIS IS POP seeks to understand the history of popular music, from the 1950s to the present, one musical ingredient at a time. Each episode takes a look at a different era of popular music, from the 1950s and 60s songwriting community in the Brill Building to the prevalance of autotune in today's hits. The series takes a look at both the artistic and the business side of making songs that are immensely popular, whether they be rock, R&B, country, or all of them at the same time.
Is It Any Good?
This anthology series casts a wide net for its episode subjects, and the documentary's diverse range of interests and eras is its greatest strength. One of the exciting things about pop music is that it has a seemingly infinite range of sounds, from guitars to synthesizers to doo-wop harmonies, and sometimes all of them at once. Unfortunately, like some pop music, This Is Pop doesn't often feel like there's a ton of substance underneath the surface. The episodes never go too deep into their subjects, which makes them pleasant enough for casual viewing but potentially unsatisying for the die-hard fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about pop music. What type of pop music do you listen to? What makes something "pop"? Has your definition of pop changed after watching This Is Pop? Why, or why not?
In the episode or episodes that you watched, how did the artists become popular? What was it about the music that made it appeal to a wide audience? Are they still popular? Why, or why not?
How does the business of music affect the art? What are some ways that business and entrepreneurship pushed pop music forward? What are the drawbacks to creating music that's driven by the market?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 24, 2021
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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