Does this mean I can whip out my secret stash of Backstreet Boys CDs in public again?

Pop is officially back. I knew it couldn't stay away. Artists radio-wide have once again re-embraced the time-tested tradition of melody and vocal ability. Someone must have come to the shocking realization that chanting the same note for three minutes isn't talent. It's boring. Singers who can't sing are being thrust out of the spotlight (does anyone really miss Sean Paul?), and people who might have a chance at winning a deserved award now take their place on the charts.

Enter Jason Derülo. If the name doesn't ring a bell, you may recognize him as the guy who keeps asking "Whatcha Say." Read this again in six months and you and the whole world will know exactly why he's going to be huge.

First, he collaborated with the great Imogen Heap to remake the above-mentioned song that's been played millions of times for millions of people to fall in love with. Brilliant. It's a beautiful pop-meets-R&B synergistic experience. Dare I predict stardom for Derülo and too-long-in-the-shadows Heap? They both get points for that one.

Second, his songs are instantly addictive. They are melodically awesome and unforgettable (in every way). No wonder 93.3 FLZ plays "In My Head" every 15 minutes. It's so the song can get in yours and you can memorize it by the next time you jam in the car with your gal pals.

Third, he convinces us that all those boy bands we grew up shamefully listening to with our Girl Scout friends actually had something, and that it's not that embarrassing to belt out a chorus or two in your mid-twenties. Maybe an actual melody, a legitimate set of pipes, an unapologetically glossy background track, and hip-shakin' choreography are the way to go.

So next time you cringe at your youth as an *NSYNC devotee, flip on the radio to realize just how many people are loving this pop/R&B hybrid. Emerging artists like Jason Derülo are the jumper cables to the battery of pop music. Plug his self-titled debut album in March 2.

This article appears in Feb 10-16, 2010.