Michael Hann

The death of the pop star

Over the past decade, relatability has become far more important than exceptionalism

She should be a pop star: Charli XCX. Credit: Rich Fury Getty Images 
issue 15 October 2022

The definition of ‘pop star’ in the Collins English Dictionary is unambiguous: ‘A famous singer or musician who performs pop music.’ Well, that seems fairly self-explanatory, doesn’t it? It also seems way wide of the mark, because being a pop star (or a rock star, its longer-haired cousin) encompasses a great deal more than being famous for singing pop songs.

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