Now That’s What I Call Pop

POP MUSIC is one of the greatest creations known to man.

Folk, jazz, blues, soul and the many shades of rock all have their own passionate supporters who will tell you their music is the purest and best.

But only pop -- which steals the best of every genre and injects it with terrific hooks and melodies – can command so many millions of followers of all ages.

A perfect pop song captures a moment, an experience, a generation, even a world, and gives more pleasure than most anything in our lives.

From 50s rock ‘n’ roll and 60s bubblegum to 70s novelty and 80s excesses, we all have our favourite eras.

I was expecting this three-disc album to showcase pop songs from across all those decades, but to my very pleasant surprise this compilation is living in the here and now.

It’s a collection of tracks mostly from the past two or three years, some of the most memorable recent songs that show pop is as much alive today as when Buddy, Lulu, Abba or Kim Wilde were topping the charts.

As such it draws inspiration mostly from today’s musical genres, from ear-friendly rock to electronic sounds as much at home on the dancefloor as the radio.

What these songs have in common with the classics of yesteryear are an ear for a terrific tune, and if we’re lucky a terrific voice or a terrific amount of sass to go with it.

Across the 66 tracks are annoyingly catchy numbers like Happy, Cheerleader and Timber, belters from Jess Glynne and Miley Cyrus, and modern bubblegum from Meghan Trainor and One Direction.

And to bring up the rear, a clutch of tracks from the noughties like Grace Kelly, Bad Romance and That’s Not My Name.