What Are the Different Styles 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.

Introduction

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” and “rock” were roughly synonymous terms until the late 1960s, when they became increasingly differentiated from each other.

Generally, rock is a heavier, guitar-based style while pop is lighter and tends to use synthesizers or drum machines. Pop also incorporates other genres to create subgenres, such as dance-pop, teen pop, and pop rock. As the term has been used since the 1950s, its meaning has changed significantly over time.

One of the earliest definitions of pop music was given by Lester Bangs in Creem magazine in 1971:

Pop music is rock ’n’ roll that doesn’t take itself seriously. It’s wholesome. It aspire[s] to nothing more than the beatific vision of casual sex and low-cut dresses fleeting romances set to a backdrop of sunlit beaches and twinkling cityscapes…But half of it isn’t even that good; it’s bland product by mining companies that have polished off most of our good old rock ’n’ roll gold but still feel compelled to strip-mine a few final nuggets from what’s left of our cultural heritage…The other half…is simply awful, low-budget cartoonish schlockarette that represents what happens when creativity dies – product by people who have no business even pretending to make art

Over time, pop music has been divided into different subgenres based on musical style, origin, and era. These include 1950s rock and roll, 1960s British Invasion bands, 1970s disco, 1980s synth-pop, 1990s grunge, and 2000s hip hop.

Defining the Different Styles 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.

Bubblegum pop

Bubblegum pop (also known as bubblegum music or simply bubblegum) is a subgenre of pop music with an upbeat sound contrived and marketed to appeal to pre-teens and teenagers, which may be produced in an assembly-line process, resulting in catchy songs containing simple verses and often choruses, as well as hooks.

Dance-pop

Dance-pop is a catchy, club-oriented style that arose in the early ’90s. It’s built around programmed beats and often features samples of older pop, disco, or R&B tracks. Lyrically, dance-pop tends to be about falling in love and partying. Some well-known dance-pop artists include Madonna, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Kylie Minogue.

Electropop

Electropop is a type of pop music that is made with electronic equipment. This includes anything from synthesizers to computers. The first electropop song is believed to be “Popcorn” by Gershon Kingsley, which was released in 1969. However, the genre did not gain popularity until the 1980s. In the 1990s, electropop became more mainstream with artists such as Kraftwerk, Devo, and New Order. In the 2000s, electropop was popularized by artists such as Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, and Lady Gaga.

Experimental pop

Experimental pop is a subgenre of pop music that pushes the boundaries of what is considered “pop” music. Experimental pop is often characterized by its use of unconventional sounds, textures, and instrumentation, as well as by its incorporation of elements from other genres such as avant-garde, art rock, electroacoustic, and ambient.

Folk pop

Folk pop is a musical genre that combines elements of folk music and pop music. Folk pop typically uses acoustic instruments such as guitars, pianos, and drums, and stresses traditional songwriting over formal structures such as verse-chorus-verse. This genre first became popular in the 1960s with artists such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, and continued to grow in popularity in the 1970s with artists such as Simon & Garfunkel, Carole King, Johnny Cash, and Jim Croce. In the 1980s, folk pop saw a resurgence in popularity with artists such as Tracy Chapman, Suzanne Vega, Melissa Etheridge, and Shawn Colvin. In the 1990s and 2000s, folk pop maintained its popularity with artists such as Jewel, Michelle Branch, Goo Goo Dolls, Natasha Bedingfield, Avril Lavigne, and Train.

Indie pop

Indie pop is a genre of popular music that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. Originally used to refer to independently released records, the term became associated with the development of a culturat movement in the 1980s and 1990s. Indie pop was influenced by a number of different genres, including punk rock, new wave, and folk music.

The term “indie pop” is sometimes used interchangeably with “twee pop”, although the two genres are not really identical. Indie pop is generally more guitar-based than twee pop, and it often has a more traditional pop sound. Twee pop, on the other hand, is often cutesy and electronic-based.

Pop punk

Pop punk is a subgenre of punk rock that emerged in the late 1970s. It is characterized by its catchy hooks, melodic guitars, and energetic vocals. While early pop punk bands were influenced by the raw sound of punk rock, they also incorporated elements of power pop and new wave to create a more radio-friendly sound.

Pop punk became a mainstream phenomenon in the 1990s with the rise of bands like Green Day, Blink-182, and Sum 41. These bands brought the genre to new heights with their hook-laden songs and energetic live performances. In the 2000s, pop punk continued to evolve with bands like Fall Out Boy and Paramore incorporating elements of emo and hardcore punk into their sound.

Today, pop punk is one of the most popular genres in music with countless bands from all over the world enjoying success. Whether you’re a fan of early pioneers like Green Day or modern chart-toppers like All Time Low, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant and ever-changing genre.

Power pop

Power pop is a genre of pop music that combines elements of punk rock and pop. Power pop is typically guitar-driven, with hooks and melodies influenced by 1960s British and American pop music. The genre gained popularity in the mid-1970s with bands such as the Ramones, Cheap Trick, and the Knack.

Synth-pop

Synth-pop (also known as technopop) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. This was achieved by using synthesizers for all aspects of the music, including melody, harmony, and rhythm, as well as for sound effects and weird noises. The earliest synth-pop hits were produced by artists like Kraftwerk, Gary Numan, Ultravox, and the Human League.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many different styles of pop music. It is important to find the style that suits you best. There is no right or wrong answer, it is all about what you enjoy listening to. Thank you for reading!