Fun Facts About Pop Music
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Contents
Here are some fun facts about pop music that you may not know!
The 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 different styles.
The 1950s
The 1950s saw the birth of pop music as we know it today. Although there had been popular songs before this decade, they were generally focused on a specific artist or group, and they were not as widely heard as they are today. That all changed in the 1950s, when radio and television began to play a larger role in the music industry. This decade saw the rise of many different genres of pop music, including rock and roll, R&B, and country.
One of the most important aspects of pop music in the 1950s was its appeal to a wide range of people. Previously, most popular songs had been targeted at a specific demographic, such as African American or white audiences. In the 1950s, however, artists began to produce music that was meant to be enjoyed by everyone. This helped to make pop music one of the most popular genres of the time.
The 1950s also saw the rise of several important pop stars. Artists such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly became household names thanks to their catchy tunes and innovative styles. These artists laid the foundation for future generations of pop stars, and their impact is still felt today.
The 1960s
The 1960s is generally considered pop music’s golden era. It saw the birth of many different subgenres, each with its own distinct style and sound.
The British Invasion began in 1964 with the arrival of The Beatles on American shores. Their infectious brand of pop quickly took the world by storm, and within a few years they were joined by other British acts such as The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Who. These artists brought with them a new style of music that was heavier and more guitar-driven than thestandard American pop of the time.
The arrival of the British Invasion acts was followed closely by the so-called “Second Wave” of American groups such as Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, and The Byrds. These acts incorporated elements of British Invasion-style pop into their own music, giving birth to the folk rock and California sound subgenres.
In the late 1960s, psychedelic rock became popularized by bands like The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Jefferson Airplane, and The Doors. This new style of music was characterized by its heavy use of distortion and feedback, as well as extended improvisational jams. Psychedelic rock would go on to have a significant impact on subsequent decades’ worth of pop music.
The Evolution of Pop Music
Pop music has come a long way since it first became popular in the 1950s. Today, there are many different subgenres of pop music, and it continues to evolve. Let’s take a look at the evolution of pop music and some fun facts about it.
The 1970s
The 1970s was the decade when pop music began to truly diversify. In the early part of the decade, you still had your girl groups and boy bands, but they were now being joined by singer-songwriters, disco divas, and hard rockers. This was also the decade when music videos first became popular, thanks in part to MTV (which launched in 1981).
Some of the most iconic artists of the 1970s included ABBA, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Queen, and The Eagles. Notable albums from the 1970s include “Queen II” (1974), “Rumours” (1977), “Bat Out of Hell” (1977), and “Thriller” (1982).
The 1980s
The decade of the 1980s was one of the most influential in the history of pop music. It was a time when music videos became an important part of the business, and when MTV first burst onto the scene. It was also a time when some of the biggest names in music emerged, including Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Whitney Houston.
Here are some fun facts about pop music in the 1980s:
– The song “We Are the World” was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie to raise money for famine relief in Africa. It was recorded by a supergroup of top pop stars, including Jackson, Houston, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan.
– “Flashdance…What a Feeling” by Irene Cara won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1983.
– Madonna’s album “Like a Virgin” spent six weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1984.
– Prince’s album “Purple Rain” spent 24 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1984 and 1985.
– Whitney Houston’s album “Whitney” spent 11 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1987.
The 1990s
The 1990s saw the continuation of teen pop and dance-pop trends which had emerged in the 1970s and 1980s. Furthermore, hip hop grew and continued to be highly successful in the decade, with the continuation of the genre’s golden age. In Europe, Eurodance,bubblegum dance, andnative American music were also popular.
In addition, alternative rock reached popularity;the term “alternative” was coined in the 1980s to describe punk rock-inspired music genres which didn’t fit into mainstream genres. Various grunge bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam brought alternative rock to prominence in 1991. Although Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain was the most visible spokesperson against mainstream music during this time, some grunge bands embraced commercial success (such as Soundgarden and Alice in Chains).By 1993, punk rock had been reinvented as pop punk by such bands as Green Dayand The Offspring. And by 1997, Britpop had begun to subside as Blur and Oasis – two of the genre’s flagship bands – broke up.
The 2000s
By the early 2000s, popular music was increasingly influenced by hip hop, with R&B also enjoying a renewed popularity. Pop music artists such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera were some of the most successful musicians of the decade. The late 2000s saw the rise of electronic dance music (EDM), which continued to be popular in the 2010s.
The Globalization 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 diverse styles. Pop music is eclectic, and often borrows elements from other styles such as urban, dance, rock, Latin, and country.
The 2010s
The 2010s was the decade that saw the rise of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, which changed the way people listen to music. It was also the decade in which social media had a major impact on the music industry, with platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud giving independent artists a way to reach a wider audience.
The 2010s was a decade of change for the pop music industry, and it was also a decade that saw some hugely successful artists. Here are some fun facts about pop music in the 2010s:
-Adele’s album “21” was the biggest-selling album of the decade, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide.
-The top 5 best-selling albums of the decade were all by female artists: Adele, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Barbra Streisand.
-Justin Bieber was the most-streamed artist on Spotify in the 2010s, with over 47 billion streams.
-The top 5 most-viewed YouTube videos of all time are all music videos: “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee (6.4 billion views), “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth (5.9 billion views), “Gangnam Style” by PSY (3.9 billion views), “Baby” by Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris (3.8 billion views), and “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran (3.7 billion views).
The 2020s
The 2020s may be the decade that pop music becomes truly global. Thanks to the internet, streaming services, and social media, music from all over the world is more accessible than ever before. And with the rise of international stars like BTS and Billie Eilish, the barriers to entry for new artists are lower than they’ve ever been.
We’re already seeing the beginnings of this pop music globalization in the success of artists like Bad Bunny (from Puerto Rico), J Balvin (from Colombia), and ROSALÍA (from Spain). In the coming years, we can expect to see even more musical styles and genres start to cross borders and find new audiences all over the world.