How We Imagined Pop Music Would Evolve

Is this the future of Pop music? In this episode I discuss Willow's new song "Symptom of Life" which alternates between a 7/4 verse and a 4/4 chorus, as well as utilizing sophisticated melodic and harmonic structures. 30 years ago, this was how I envisioned pop music would sound in the year 2024.

📘— The Beato Book Interactive - $99.00 value
🎸 — Beato Beginner Guitar - $159.00 value
👂— The Beato Ear Training Program - $99.00 value
🎸— The Quick Lessons Pro Guitar Course - $79.00 value

… all for just $99.00

My Beato Club supporters:
Justin Scott
Terence Mark
Jason Murray
Lucienne Kilpatrick
Alexander Young
Jason Wagner
Todd Ladner
Rob Kline
Nicholas Long
Tim Benson
Leonardo Martins da Costa Rodrigues
Eddie Perez
David Solomon
MICHAEL JOYCE
Stephen Stubbs
colin stead
Jonathan Wentworth-Linton
Patrick Payne
MATTHEW KARIS
Matthew Barouch
Shaun Samuels
Danny Kurywchak
Gregory Reedy
Sean Coleman
Alexander Verbitskiy
CL Turner
Jason Pappafotis
John Fulford
Margaret Carno
Toby Guidry
Robert C
David M Combs
Eric Flatt
Reto Spoerli
Herr Moritz Adam
Monte St. Johns
Jon Beezley
Peter DeVault
Eric Nabstedt
Eric Beggs
Rich Germano
Brian Bloom
Peter Pillitteri
Piush Dahal

[TheSeekingknow]

This is the most excited Rick has ever been about any modern pop music.

Good work Willow and her collaborators!

[Stallagmite]

She actually goes deeper than people realize by incorporating Persian and Middle Eastern vocal techniques when she adds those fast vocal breaks, sometimes by kind of beating her chest. The beauty of it is that it fits so well you almost can't tell it's from another singing tradition.

[franklopez]

One of things that blows me away about this song is how they fit all of this into an incredibly clear and focused mix.

[ChrisEldridgeKino]

If there's one thing Rick loves it's non-standard and unpredictable chord progressions

[custum]

I give her credit for really working to improve and not just cruise on her name and simple pop/punk music.

[Jack_Simpson]

Trilling with the break of your voice while staying in tune is actually insane and takes soooo much control and awareness. She’s something special

[Keverember]

I didn’t have Willow Smith putting out a catchy jazz-influenced pop song in 7 on my 2024 bingo card.

[TheLYagAmi]

This song really is a hidden gem. The isolated piano sounds absolutely heavenly. Rick makes songs so much richer with these deep dives.

[Tanshanomi]

As a musical dunderhead, I so appreciate someone who points out the specific elements I should be appreciating but don’t know enough to pick out or understand on my own.

[liquidsolids]

David Bennet Piano has two videos on this song, including an interview with the piano player where he talks about the chord voicings. Cool song!

[mortonwilson]

Those first few piano bars just grab you and then there's no escape . . . wow, what a song, singer, band. There's hope, then!

[willbaskin]

This feels like the equivalent of painting with new colors. She made the complexity feel cool and good and accessible to an everyday audience

[JonManos]

Nice to hear new pop music going completely over my head for a change

[peachmelba]

Kind of brings to mind aspects of Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple, Ivana Santilli, Tori Amos

[GT-mqdx]

Melancholy yet uplifting, poppy but progressive. That was something new to my ears that I wish there would be more of in this day and age. There are a lot of gems out there, I guess you just have to be looking for them.
This reminds me of two songs from a long time ago; Seal’s Kiss from a Rose and Peter Gabriel’s Games Without Frontiers.
Both of them beautiful, each in its own right.

[sleven]

I’m a prog metal/rock kind of guy with a bit of 90s grunge love sprinkled with jazz fusion and this really tickles my fancy. Didn’t know modern pop could sound this good. Bangin!

[gregheckman]

Even if she isn't your thing... You HAVE to recognize the genius and sheer ingenuity of her music.

Never mind the fact she is writing REALLY catchy modern jazz. Love it.

[richardleveille]

My 16 year-old son introduced me to Willow a couple of years ago. She is awesome! One of the few “new” pop artists I regularly listen to.

[stephenroth]

This is why I love today's new wave of Emo coming out. Jazzy, mathy, and beautiful choruses with heart breaking lyrics

[rudebuddha]

I heard Willow's "Meet Me At Our Spot" a few weeks ago because someone used a clip of it on a "short" YT video showing how to clean a dogs ears. I got out my phone and Shazam'd it. I was blown away watching the official artist video and wondered how this was released two years ago and just now heard it. Stange times for discovering new music and their non-traditional ways of getting sun in the dense forest of new artists and music. So I'm thrilled to see Rick highlighting her exceptional talent.