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Sophisti-pop
Sophisti-pop
Stylistic origins	Pop; soul; jazz; new wave;
Cultural origins	Mid-1980s, United Kingdom
Typical instruments	Saxophone; synthesizer; drums; guitar; bass guitar;

Sophisti-pop is a pop music subgenre that developed during the mid-1980s out of the British new wave era.^[1] It originated with acts who blended elements of jazz, soul, and pop with lavish production.^[2]^[3] The term "sophisti-pop" was coined only after the genre's peak in the mid-late 1980s.^[4]

Characteristics

Sophisti-pop is characterized by its extensive use of electronic keyboards, synthesizers, and polished arrangements.^[2] Artists also utilized cutting-edge studio technology and perfectionist recording methods.^[5] The genre has been described as mellow, romantic, and atmospheric,^[5] with artists often adopting a sharp, well-dressed and well-groomed visual presentation.

History

Stylus Magazine suggested that acts had been influenced by the work of Roxy Music (such as 1982's Avalon, often cited as the first sophisti-pop album),^[5] and Bryan Ferry's Boys and Girls (1985) and Bête Noire (1987).^[6]

Sweetwater named major artists in the genre as including the Blue Nile, Prefab Sprout, the Style Council, Scritti Politti, Everything but the Girl, and Danny Wilson.^[5] AllMusic added Simply Red, Sade, Basia, and Swing Out Sister.^[2] Writer Iain Munn added to the list Level 42, the Blow Monkeys, and Joe Jackson's 1984 album Body and Soul.^[7]

Its popularity declined in the 1990s along with other synth-pop sub-genres.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Terich, Jeff; Blyweiss, Adam; Bossenger, A.T.; Prickett, Sam (24 April 2014). "10 Essential Sophisti-pop albums". Treble. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Pop/Rock » Punk/New Wave » Sophisti-Pop". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
^ "9 different music genres in the internet age – 2/10 – Sophisti-Pop". The Economic Times. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
^ Kirkham, Neil (2017). "Polluting young minds? Smash Hits and 'high Thatcherism'". Journal of European Popular Culture. 8 (2): 139–152. doi:10.1386/jepc.8.2.139_1. Retrieved 13 December 2018. 'Sophisti-pop' (Inskeep and Soto 2007) is a term now used, retrospectively, to describe a collection of 'intelligent', lavishly produced British pop acts of the mid–late 1980s.^{[dead link‍]}
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Jenkins, Jake (30 July 2021). "Sophisti-pop: The '80s' Most Elegant Genre". Sweetwater. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
^ Inskeep, Thomas; Soto, Alfred (22 February 2007). "The Bluffer's Guide – Sophisti-Pop". Stylus. Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
^ Munn, Iain (2011) [1996]. Mr. Cool's Dream: The Complete History of The Style Council. Wholepoint. p. 23. ISBN 9780955144318.