What is Pop Music?

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

Origins of pop music
Characteristics of pop music
Pop music in the present day

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Origins of pop music

Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid-1950s. The terms “popular music” and “pop music” are often used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular and includes many disparate styles. “Pop” and “rock” were roughly synonymous terms until the late 1960s, when they became increasingly differentiated from each other.

Generally, pop music is understood to be commercially recorded music with the goal of having mass audience appeal, with a focus on recording, often using multiple parts and instrumentation, presenting a song as a sort of package. The precise definition of pop music has been subject to debate among scholars.

The term “pop music” can be used for all kinds of different genres and style of music that became popular in the twentieth century. It is sometimes used to refer specifically to chart hits from a particular decade – for example, one might say that they love 1980s pop – but it can also encompass much more than that.

Characteristics of pop music

Pop music is often catchy and easy to remember

One of the most defining characteristics of pop music is that it is often catchy and easy to remember. This is due in large part to the fact that pop music is generally created with the goal of being commercially successful. To that end, songwriters and producers often strive to create hooks – melody or lyric snippets that are particularly catchy or memorable – that will help a pop song stand out and become popular.

Pop music is often produced with the help of computers and synthesizers

Pop music is often produced with the help of computers and synthesizers, which allow artists to create the sound they want without having to learn how to play traditional musical instruments. This means that the music can be created by anyone with access to the right technology, which has led to a more democratized music industry. While this has its benefits, it also means that there is a lot of pop music that sounds alike, which can be difficult for listeners to distinguish.

Pop music often has a simple, predictable structure

Pop music is often criticised for being too simplistic, with a catchy tune and easy-to-remember lyrics. However, there is more to pop music than meets the eye. Pop songs often have a simple, predictable structure which makes them easy to remember and sing along to. This does not mean that all pop music is bad, or that it is not complex enough. There are some great pop songs out there which are both catchy and lyrically complex.

Pop music is often about love, relationships, and other relatable topics

Pop songs often deal with themes like love, relationships, heartbreak, and other relatable topics. The music is often catchy and easy to sing along to, which helps make it popular. Pop singers often have a wide range of vocal abilities, which allows them to sing both high and low notes. This genre usually has a strong beat that you can dance to.

Pop music in the present day

The popularity of pop music

Pop music is a genre of music that is often played on the radio and is popular with people of all ages. It is usually upbeat and has a catchy melody. Pop music is often written by professional songwriters and producers, and many pop songs are about love, relationships, and heartbreak.

There are many subgenres of pop music, including boy bands, girl groups, dance-pop, pop-rock, and synth-pop. Pop music is continuously evolving, and new subgenres are constantly being created. Some of the most popular pop songs in the past few years have been “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran, “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, and “Hello” by Adele.

Pop music is generally considered to be any type of popular music that is not classical or folk music. It can be anything from country to rap to rock.

The influence of pop music

In recent years, pop music has been increasingly influenced by hip hop and R&B. This can be seen in the popularity of artists such as Drake, Rihanna, and Justin Bieber. while the lines between these genres have become blurred, there are still some distinct differences between them.

Pop music is usually more upbeat and positive than hip hop or R&B, with a focus on catchy hooks and melodies. It is often produced with synthesizers and drum machines, giving it a polished, electronic sound. Lyrically, pop songs often deal with themes of love, friendship, and fun.

Hip hop is a genre that originated in the African-American community in the early 1970s. It is characterized by its use of rhythmic spoken word poetry over a driving beat. Lyrically, hip hop often deals with themes of poverty, violence, and social injustice.

R&B is a genre that emerged from the African-American community in the 1940s. It is characterized by its smooth sound and emotionally resonant lyrics. R&B songs often deal with themes of love, heartbreak, and regret.

The criticism of pop music

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of people criticizing pop music. Critics argue that pop music is shallow, formulaic, and lacks substance. They claim that pop songs are often about meaningless topics such as love and heartbreak, and that they rarely address important issues such as politics or social justice.

There is some truth to these claims – many pop songs are indeed about love and heartbreak, and it is rare to find a pop song with a message about something more important. However, this does not mean that all pop music is shallow or meaningless. There are many pop songs that deal with important topics such as mental health, body image, and relationships. In addition, even though most pop songs are not explicitly political, they can still have a political message – for example, by celebrating diversity or critiquing sexism.

Pop music is often dismissed as being shallow and formulaic. However, there is more to it than meets the eye. Pop songs can be about important issues, and even though they may not be explicitly political, they can still have a political message.