"Pop 101" is primarily a pop song with influences of pop rock, but also features allusions to hip hop, EDM, and folk music.[6] The song is satirical in nature, scrutinizing the music industry and particularly the trends and clichés of modern pop music.[7] Ryan McNutt of AUX.TV found the song to be "oddly compelling" given writer/producer Josh Ramsay's own formulaic work and success with "Call Me Maybe" (2011).[6]
Music video
The video for "Pop 101" was directed by Kyle Davison and parodies music video tropes and current trends of celebrity culture, including house parties, twerking and harems.[8][9] It premiered August 1, 2014 exclusively on MuchMusic[9] before being uploaded to the group's official VEVO page on August 4.[8]