Hey these two videos were very inspiring, watching a knowledgeable, very talented music professional comment on popular songs with an open mind and a positive attitude just makes me want to learn more. Thanks! Wonderful and needed content :)

I think corona isolation made people sick of basic progressions! love it

Rick...can you go over minor key songs. I discovered that I absolutely love songs in minor keys, but it would be cool to see you play through some really cool transitions. We were jamming some 80’s pop tunes and Madonna’s La Isla Bonita and Like a Prayer both have some really enjoyable changes in them. Id like to hear your dissection of them and other similar minor songs.

one of the songs uses technique for brain to detect something familiar. Justin Bibier Anyone - Phil Colliins Do you remember intro

the top songs are filled with generic crap that get playlisted like hell and get pushed to the top forcibly not because people love listening to them lol

I would love to be able pick out chords from songs as easily as my mans here

You've got me with this "content" Review. This old dude has recently started listening again. Good man. Thanks Rick. Appreciated.

It's funny how Rick is lying to himself saying: "Oh, oh cool, cool " to a bullshit pop songs

Rick, please do "what makes this song great" to "You Get What You Give" from New Radicals! One of the last great pop songs of the 90's, with great instrumental e lyrics :)

Thanks sir Rick. Now Its time I dislike all the 10 hit songs 😁😁. Love for rock n roll

To me, ANYONE/Justin B sounded like worship christian music

i think they pretty much all sounded better with your acoustic guitar in there! thanks for the review, i have to admit, i'm impressed at the top 10.

Interval between c3 and g3 is perfect fifth.what about the interval starting from g3 and ending at c3? Is that the same perfect fifth??

It was a great review. Though, wdym by “It sounds like a normal song” in that first song? 😂

Justin Beiber?....gimme a fucken break

Thank you sir!

These are passable pop songs with subtle chord and rhythmic changes enough to be able to outdistance the bulk out there which are even limper and less inspiring. I'm a Boomer (which I know automatically puts me into the "dad who doesn't like the new songs of the younger generation" stereotype), but I truly try to be as objective as possible. Simply put, these songs are all more alike than different. That is a common perennial copycat trend in most areas of entertainment. I remember 2 things now generally missing in pop songs: passion and originality. There is hope in returning to some updated versions of genres having those characteristics: rock, soul, blues and perhaps a touch of jazz. Courtney Hadwin, Greta Van Fleet, the Warning, Angelina Jordan and a few others are some of the promising artists on the cusp of revitalizing music culture.

Pro tip: Don't listen to the radio, nor watch television, do not use social media and avoid reading the news. You'll gain an instant 10 points IQ bonus, apart from having a relaxed life not having to get annoyed with idiots on tele, terrible blahblah lahlahlah autotune music on the radio, frustrated on stuff from the news you can't do jack about and you won't get indoctrinated. I haven't heard any pop music for the past 15 years. It's great!

@ Rick: the Bieber chorus (which is great, as you said) is a total rip off of the 1998 Toto song "Goin' Home"

Check indonesian top spotify song.

Can’t unsee musician Anthony Bourdain

Nice

Man you should at least react to one Yorushika song, I recommend just a sunny day for you.

Have you thought about doing one of these with songs of another country / language? Maybe the top songs of a recent year instead of current top 10? I find Japanese and Chinese sometimes have good songs for instance.

I took some time and listened to some of the modern pop music, but it is simply not my cup of tea. When it comes to pop, then I prefere the 80s Pop & New Wave.

I like these segments. Analyzing what's popular at the time. A lot of variety in styles if not always chords. Maybe the Beeb is getting tired of playing predictable dance hits. He may be maturing.

Love your videos

Of course #10 is good. She co-wrote the track with Jacob Collier.

As soon as I hear autotune, I'm gone.

anyone got a barf bag?

There is something so magical about people who can listen to music and read it like a book. Astounding.

Right away Justin Bieber's #2 song seems like a straight up Rockefeller Street ripoff, I didn't check if the chords are the same but it's waaayyy too similar in some parts.

"It gets points for having guitar". Even if it's just generic chord strumming?

painful

V interesting Bridge, going from Em to C, that's an 'accidental,' amongst the earliest uses is Eleanor Rigby - early 60s, then a chorus extension with another set of chords & tune - 'I guess you didn't mean what you wrote in that song about me', begins on tried-and-tested-by-the-music-industry-cliched-note - G-Em-C - then takes off elsewhere in the Chorus & Bridge while changing speeds, bloody cool, all in all a complicated song to write, but it does not sound so - that's so Beatles' like.

Thanks, Rick for keeping up with the progression/regression of modern pop music. I'd have no idea what is going on out there now if it were not for you. As always you keep it interesting and even find occasional flashes of brilliance.

Ricks ability to play any song by ear is more skillful and impressive than most of these artists

Hi Rick. The 1st song was great, full of emotion and an excellent singer. I know top forty songs all don't appeal to everyone but the rest were just fillers. The Billie song sounds worlds better when you played along with it as did the last one. Everyone is holding back. They either are afraid to put themselves out there, are not allowed to put themselves out there or don't know how to do it. Kind of dull.

i’d like to hear more of a focus on the lyrics of the top 10 but great vid bro 👍👌

Having you break the songs down like that made me appreciate them, top 3-4 at least. I really like Billie's style. It is subtle and has a nice groove. I also like her Bad Guy number.

Nice!!

The two last songs have basically the same drum sounds. Also I don't know what's the point of the crackles in the kick sound. Sounds pretty bad to me.

I appreciate that Rick is not the kind of dude who automatically dismisses any contemporary music.

crazy how bad music is now. Yes, every generation has said this about the next, but it's been true since the 2000s. Just utter garbage since around then.

OMG i wish i had your ears

Wow huge changes I am blown away as well!

You like Justin Beiber.

I've wonder if this generation will still listen to this music in their 40s and 50s. It just doesn't seem worthy of carrying on that long.

Rick, you have to hear the album AmarElo, from Brazilian rapper Emicida

Your discovering is so genuine and infectious. A pleasure to watch and hear. Such a cool video. Thanks for sharing.

I no doubt just heard the number 1 elsewhere and came here. I agree! that song rocked to me. I am glad I am not crazy! thanks for what you do. I wish I would have known of you when I lived in the ATL area. I would have tried to reach out and learn from you! Peace and love brother.

Funny how he's so good that he doesn't just listen to these songs for the first time but he instantly recognizes the chords and plays it lol. Does anybody know if he has perfect pitch?

Thanks for sharing. Your guitar sounds amazing good !!

bullshit why you calling this good.? its a computer. did they get to you.

Yeah, Ariana Grande just sounds like an amalgamation of every 90's and 00's R&B female artist. She is really talented but her music is nothing new.

1:27 "How could I ever love someone else" Rick: "Okay"

Talented young artists .. probably.. would i or could i jam any of those ... No chance

Been in music for 30 years and never seen an ear like Rick.

Guys 34+35 = 69 😳

Pop ain’t pop anymore rap ain’t rap anymore nothing’s the same anymore

34+35... damn

Do these stock modern songs even feature a bridge or a middle 8 any more? It seems like they mostly just go: 'verse x4, chorus x2, [insert drop at some point], rinse and repeat' (with often little variation between the chord structures of the verse and chorus (such as they are)).

Rick you truly love music, all music and this is why I subscribe to your channel Cheers

get 2 mill subs and the chillax with reaction vids, aight !

Would like to see more reaction videos, Rick!

Got tired after hearing the first two songs. Modern pop could be so much more interesting to listen to. Punch Brothers have kind of a pop thing going for them, using the freedom of todays pop music to do advanced rythm and signature changes. This sounds like a talented teenager's first band with lots more expensive post production? Production is impressive although nothing innovative whatsoever, musically this is totally elementary. Rick, what do you honestly think about these first two songs?

Question is, would you rush to play any of these tracks after you get back from the pub?

I would not purchase any of these songs.

izdihar

Vor Tag

not even good days omg the taste jumped off

Whenever I feel like music has gone downhill, Rick puts up one of these and I feel better.

I remember when a lot of people (including myself at the time) hopped on the "Billie Eilish will be the downfall of melody in modern music" train after bad guy released. Many jazz musicians were especially up in arms against her. I've since completely hopped off that train as I realized that Billie Eilish has an extremely broad pallet of musical flavors to offer. I converted after hearing her ballad like tune "my future". I've been a fan ever since. Her entire artistic approach and demeanor is so respectable, and I regret jumping on a cancel culture train so fast in the past.

Trevor Sikorski

Vor 7 Stunden

@Ben McCann @Ben McCann Bro, this was just my personal experience with people in my community I know in real life. But if it makes you happier, I like Billie Eilish, some people don't, and some people REALLY don't. There, happy?

Ben McCann

Vor 9 Stunden

Wat. Some people like her music, others don't. It isn't as deep or dramatic as you're implying, shes just not for everyone and you're taking what people say on the internet too seriously.

Kris Van Pelt

Vor Tag

'When the Party's Over' really spoke to me about how I felt in my late 20's and early 30's.

Okay woah the top ten has *definitely* improved :0

Truly amazing that he can instantly figure out any song ...even the weird ones.

Hi Rick, I envy you. Although I am from rock and find these pop songs you shared are of dubious taste, they are immensely more audible than the garbage that plays on Brazilian radio and the media in general. And to think that we already had as wonderful representatives of our MPB (Brazillian Pop Music) like Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento, .. and even in rock as Mutantes, Titãs, Paralamas do Sucesso, Legião Urbana. Today we are hostages of Sertanejo Universitário (a tacky and fake country music), funk from the favelas of Rio and gospel music. With the exception of 2 or 3 radios, the rest of the media will only play these garbage. Congratulations on the great channel.

Great. I'm now my Dad.

Feels refreshing, actually someone with talent and music knowledge that doesn't snob everyone around

The fact that nothing make Rick intresting in Ariana’s 34+35 really make me wondering about his reaction to the tiktok videos using this song 😂

The older I get the less I can stand the latest and greatest pop music. I listened to the Billie Eilish song that won all the awards... and was like 'seriously'? Mumbling over a house beat? I hated it. But I suppose my parents hated what I liked back in the day as well.

TH

Vor Tag

@izdihar That is sad (for you?). Elton John once said that he loved listening to new music because it made him feel young.

izdihar

Vor Tag

the older you get the lesser interest you have in newer music

Society has progressed past the need for a Rick Beato.

Hey, Rick. Following you for some time, and wanted to say thank you for sharing all the knowledge of music theory and production. I'd like to ask you, have you ever thought about doing reaction videos to subscribers music?

For some reason, the driver license song's chorus reminds me of a song, but I can't remember which. Is it just me? Did someone else figure it out?

izdihar

Vor Tag

lorde

First song sounds like "i love you" by Billie Eilish

didn't expect it got driver's license.. i thought this video is from mid-2020

34+35 sounds like mii theme

I'm glad he doesn't ruin the songs when he plays his guitar.

He is desperately trying to act like garbage bullcrap is music. When he starts playing his guitar with these songs it becomes better. That honestly says everything and if you don't get it......do yourself a favor and listen to ANY music that requires the entire band to be tanlented

Song one and two, pretty cool All of the Autotune makes all of these artists sound like robots.

izdihar

Vor Tag

imagine saying sza sounds like robot

3:30... yeahhh, that’s a great chorus.

I bought Driver's License based on this snippet. Man, what a song! Best pop track I've heard since Run Away with Me by Carly Rae Jepsen in 2015.

Billie gets a lot of hate just for just being popular but her and her brother put out some amazing music. They really do work on their craft

TH

Vor Tag

@izdihar agreed. Even the gloriouse past had some major garbage songs high up on the charts.

izdihar

Vor Tag

yess finally not everything have to revolve around the past

Ariana Grande's music is completely bullshit. Change my mind. Her vocals are really good, but the beats and the construction of all the songs are more or less the same.

TH

Vor Tag

@badKAPAV God Is A Woman was covered and made much more interesting by Aurora.

badKAPAV

Vor Tag

@izdihar that album is fine. But positions suck! Not a single song makes sense. In every song, she just mumbles around and the beats feel the same

izdihar

Vor Tag

positions is kinda meh yea i agree. thank u next still remains her best work yet.

Rick, man, I haven't watched your videos in a while, I come watch this, seems like you've gotten a bit older haha. Here's the deal though: I love you. I've been watching you since you had maybe 5% of the subscribers you have now. Thanks for everything you thought us!

This modern music really drives me up the wall....It all sounds like the same three artists are making ALL the music today.....Over embellished autotuned vocals......Kill me now

TH

Vor Tag

You should not lose faith in modern music, because there is lots of great pop out there.

izdihar

Vor Tag

because you don't even bother trying to really listen to it 🤷‍♀️

You are being very graceful to these songs. I Find them like annoying whinny extended TV commercials with a lack of creative; just throwing sound bites against the wall that reek of novelty and inane substance. The bar is so low that any interesting chord or movement makes Rick give it a positive spin.

I wonder if Rick has listened to much of SZA's discography. He'd really appreciate it.

Is that track at the end yours? Very cool! I LOVE IT!!

Thanks for this great review!

Anyone else think that the original Goosebumps by Travis Scott is just so much better?

izdihar

Vor Tag

that reminds me of the trash edm version of i love you yeah its good but nowhere tops the original

I’m waiting for the one song that Rick can’t figure out after 10 seconds.

Designed

Vor 28 Minuten

you probably need to get him to hear death grips for that to happen

I liked the #1 song ok the rest not so much. There's just something stylistically about many current pop songs that is unappealing to me. I wonder how far back I'd have to go until I liked most of the top 10.

PLEASE react to Kamaitachi, it's a brazilian artist