What is the Pop Music Genre?
Contents
If you’re wondering what pop music is, you’re not alone. It’s a genre that’s often misunderstood, and even music experts can have a hard time defining it. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the pop music genre, its history, and some of its defining characteristics.
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 different styles.
Pop music is characterized by a number of distinctive features, including a heavy reliance on catchy melodies, simple (often interchangeable) verse-chorus structures, and often light, upbeat lyrics. Pop songs are usually shorter than other popular musical genres such as rock or hip-hop, and they are typically more simplistic in both their structures and instrumentation.
While pop music often draws influence from other genres such as rock, hip-hop, soul, or even classical music, it is generally seen as being less complex both musically and lyrically. This does not mean that pop music cannot be sophisticated or emotional – indeed, some of the most popular pop songs of all time have been very moving – but it does tend to be more straightforward overall.
Many observers trace the origins of pop music back to the mid-1950s, when a number of factors – including the rise of teenage culture, the growing popularity of television, and the spread of American popular culture around the world – converged to create a perfect storm for the genre’s development. One of the most important developments in this period was the rise of rhythm and blues (R&B) music, which began to take hold in African American communities in the early 1950s. R&B would go on to have a profound influence on subsequent pop trends.
The late 1950s also saw the beginnings of what would come to be known as rock and roll – a style of popular music that mix elements of R&B with country music. Rock and roll would come to dominate popmusic for much of the next decade (and beyond), but its descendants – including hard rock, soft rock, disco, punk rock, and new wave – would all help to shape popmusic in their own ways.
In recent years, popmusic has been increasingly influenced by electronic dance music (EDM). This trend began in earnest in the late 1990s and early 2000s with artists like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera incorporating elements of EDM into their hits; it has continued more recently with artists like Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga working with prominent EDM producers. This infusion of EDM influences has helped to create a more diverse landscape for modern popmusic than ever before.
What is Pop Music?
Pop music is a genre of music that is popular and catchy. It is usually simple and easy to listen to. Pop music is often seen as having a catchy melody and a light, easy-going feeling.
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. Pop music is eclectic, and often borrows elements from other styles such as urban, dance, rock, Latin, and country. Identifying factors include generally short to medium-length songs written in a basic format (often the verse-chorus structure), as well as common use of repeated choruses, melodic tunes, and hooks.
Pop music has been influenced by other genres of music including rock, hip hop, disco, and riff-based rock. It has also been influenced by classical pop music of the early to mid 20th century. Pop became one of the most dominant genres of popular music in the mid-1960s due largely to British Invasion bands such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. In the 1970s, disco became a hugely popular genre while Stevie Wonder began a string of hits throughout the decade. In the 1980s, pop continued to be a dominant force with artists such as Madonna leading the way with her unique brand of dance-oriented pop that would come to be known as “Madonna-esque.” In the 1990s and 2000s (decade), boy bands such as *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys brought pop back to its mainstream roots while artists such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera continued to push boundaries within the genre.
The Development of Pop Music
The pop music genre 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 can include any style).
Pop music is eclectic, and often borrows elements from other styles such as urban, dance, rock, Latin, and country. Identifying factors include generally short to medium-length songs written in a basic format (often the verse-chorus structure), as well as common use of repeated choruses, melodic tunes, and hooks. David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop music as “a body of music which is distinguishable from popular, jazz, folk musics”. According to Pete Seeger, pop music is “professional music which draws upon both folk music and fine arts music”.
Although pop music is seen as just the singles charts, it is not the sum of all chart music. Pop music artists create songs to be recorded by themselves or with pastiche bands and sold to consumers via entertainment media such as radio airplay, TV broadcasts via MTV or other video outlets, online digital downloads or ringtones, physical sales via records or compact discs at retail locations.
The Characteristics 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.
Pop music is usually a blend of commercial and traditional music. It is generally very catchy and easy to sing along to. It often has a simple, predictable structure and uses repetition, hooks, and refrains. Pop songs are usually between two and five minutes long, although some may be as long as ten minutes.
The pop music genre developed from a variety of musical influences, including blues, country, jazz, Latin, rock ‘n’ roll, soul, and rhythm and blues. In the 1950s, there was a wave of pop artists who were influenced by American rock ‘n’ roll performers such as Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly. In the 1960s, British groups such as The Beatles became extremely popular internationally. In the 1970s, disco became the dominant style of pop music. In the 1980s, electronic dance music emerged as a new style of pop music with artists such as Madonna and Michael Jackson becoming global superstars. In the 1990s and 2000s (decade), boy bands and girl groups were some of the most successful pop acts.
The Pop Music Genre
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 Mainstream Pop Music Genre
The pop music genre 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 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 catchy tunes and accessible themes.
The Subgenres of Pop Music
The term “pop music” can be used for a variety of different genres of music that are popular at any given time. The pop music genre is usually considered to be a genre that is lighter in tone and melody, and is often known for being catchy and easy to listen to. However, the pop music genre has many different subgenres that can be quite varied in their sound and style.
One of the most popular subgenres of pop music is “bubblegum pop.” This type of pop music is often characterized by its upbeat, positive lyrics and its simple, catchy melodies. Bubblegum pop became popular in the late 1960s with bands like The Archies and The Partridge Family, and has continued to be popular with artists like Britney Spears, The Spice Girls, and Justin Bieber.
Another popular subgenre of pop music is “electropop.” This type of pop music generally has a heavy electronic sound, and often features synthesizers and drum machines. Electropop became popular in the 1980s with artists like Duran Duran and Depeche Mode, but has continued to be popular in more modern times with artists like Lady Gaga, Kesha, and Katy Perry.
Despite its name, “power pop” is actually a fairly mellow subgenre of pop music. Power pop generally features simple melodies with distorted guitars, and often has a nostalgic or retro feel to it. Power pop became popular in the 1970s with bands like Cheap Trick and Blondie, but has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years with artists like Weezer, Fountains of Wayne, and Pavement.
Conclusion
The pop music genre is a broad category that includes a wide range of subgenres. While the term “pop music” is often used to refer to chart-topping songs, the genre encompasses a wide range of musical styles, including dance, electronic, R&B, and rock. Pop music is generally characterized by catchy melodies, simple chord progressions, and a strong focus on vocal hooks.
