POPTASTIC V.POP-PLASTIC

They're everywhere. We can't escape the wrath of teen pop-bands and you either love 'em or hate 'em. Two Sunderland students give us their views…

The case for…

I have a dream, a song to sing…

Well at least Westlife do, as they are crowned kings of pop land. Whether you love them or hate them, manufactured bands dominate the charts week after week. They are the Man United of the music industry.

Why is it that so many people seem to cringe at the mere mention of S Club 7, Steps or dare I say it, Spice Girls! What we have on our hands is a severe case of denial from certain sections of society, and it seems to be those who take it seriously who have the problem. Pop music is all about fun. It's about catchy tunes with meaningless lyrics, and if we're lucky, we even get a dance routine thrown in. It's simply feel-good music that you can have a bop to with your mates. So, when people back up their claims of hatred with the argument of nonsense lyrics or cover versions, 'cos they can't write for toffee, then they are right to a certain degree. After all that's what pop music is.

If people became less concerned with technical matters and simply accepted the fact that pop bands will always be around, they might find themselves humming along to a tune or two.

OK, maybe they are superficial, but that doesn't mean they have to be hated.

For a start, they're good to look at. Who wants to complain about toned bodies being paraded on TV? And whether it's Claire from Steps or Scott from 5ive, someone's bound to be your taste.

And how can we forget girl power! The godsend of the millennium. Who cares whether the Spice Girls can actually sing or not, surely placing belief and ambition into impressionable teenagers are of more importance? Anyone who's had the pleasure of watching Spice World- the Movie, will know that they don't even take themselves seriously as a band. So what's the big deal for us?

Of course solo careers are a different matter. Listen to Mel C's Northern Star and you'll discover meaningful lyrics by an extremely talented singer. Quite the opposite of how she is perceived within the Spice Girl framework.

It's such a pity that the narrow-minded section of society who attended V-99 failed to realise this. If you were there you'll know what I mean.

The main market for manufactured is, of course, teenagers but that's no excuse for the rest of us over 14 to slate them. If you're still not convinced, I have two words for you. (no not those two!) ROBBIE WILLIAMS. He is the reason alone why pop bands should be praised. If it weren't for the gallant attempts of Take That, then we wouldn't be graced with his presence today.

If you're still a skeptic, then why not put up and shut up! Who knows, the next Robbie might just be waiting to explode from S Club 7!

Come on, pop bands aren't such a tragedy!

By Anna Downing

The case against…

OK, here's my opinion, not that you'll like it or even agree! Boy and girl pop groups like S Club 7, Steps, 5ive etc are the scourge of the music industry.

You find yourself unable to control yourself as you whistle their mundane, monotonous, yet irritatingly catchy tunes in the most public and embarrassing moments. Then you have to think up an excuse fast. "It was on the radio before I came out and I just can't get it out of my head!" The sad fact is, it was probably your flat mates playing it (he/she's got the whole damn collection don't you know? They even went to see them in concert, bringing the average age of the audience up to about 12). You also know that by next week your mate will have taught you the dance routine and you'll be doing them in Manor Quay on Saturday!

"Why do you despise these bands so much?" I hear you cry! Well, they just don't relate in any way to the living, breathing population over the age of 13 in this country!

Every member of these bands are attractive, well toned, over-happy, designer clad, topped with perfect complexions. Even the women have six-packs!

Come on! Get an injection of reality here!

Lads, when was the last time you went out with a girl who had perfect teeth, smile, body, a wonderful attitude and could crack walnuts with her thighs?

Lasses, when was the last time you dated a guy that could actually dance, took time and pride over his appearance (including neat hair, ironed shirt, clean shaven and manicured nails), had a perfect body and smiled 24/7? I t hasn't happened yet has it? If it has, why the hell aren't you with him still? If you are please contact Degrees North

ASAP! I guess there's a good reason for the beaming popsters' smiles though. The Spice Girls are worth millions - each! And for what? Singing some terrible tune. "Zig a zig ahhhh!"

Quite honestly, I feel more pity than anything else for them. They're deprived of loads of luxuries like a curry after a night out with mates, pizza from that top take-away down the road, a donner kebab on the way home from Manor Quay. But most of all, they're deprived from life.

It's reached a stage now where the band has become the primary marketing vehicle for record companies to churn out any old song they fancy. And if they suffer a spot of writer's block they just whack out a couple of covers and Bob's your uncle.

In the days of yester-year it was the song that made the band. Now it's the other way round. No longer is music judged according to merit or aural aesthetics, but by the handpicked manufactured faces miming behind a microphone. Personally I blame Stock, Aitken and Waterman. Kylie Minogue should have been put down when she left Neighbours and never allowed to set foot in a recording studio.

Maybe I'm showing my age, but hey, they really don't make them like they used to. I can still remember when music really was music…

By Adam Jones