History of Pop Music
The term Pop music originally derives
from an abbreviation of ‘Popular’. The genre of popular music originated in its
modern form in the early 1950’s, deriving from rock and roll. According to
Grove Music Online, the term pop music originated in Britain in the mid 1950’s
as a description for rock and roll and the new youth’s music styles that it
influenced.
As a genre itself Pop music
incorporates elements from other styles such as rock, urban etc. s well as
having its own core definite elements which express pop. Pop is a very eclectic
style of music, which creates short-to-medium length songs written in a basic
arrangement, melodic tune, and verse chorus structure all of these components
are combined into Pop music using instruments such as drums, bass and guitars
to create an enjoyable and pleasant tune. As pop music is seen as a genre that
is commercially recorded and desires to have a mass audience appeal.
Early Pop Music
During the 1950’s Pop music was used
for a commercial sense of enjoyment, this was due down to the arrival of the
broadside ballad in the 16th century which was the first form of
commercial popular music in Britain this was a result of the print revolution,
therefore they was sold cheaply at a low budget at a large scale until the 19th
century. During the early 19th century society evolved to become a
lot more complex way of life through the development of technology as well as
economic and social changes.
This in led to a more advanced forms
within the music industry. Music began to be a sense of entertainment of the
new urban societies, adapting the existing forms of music to produce and create
popular songs with an upbeat rhythm that would appeal to the people of the new
industrial society. In the 930’s, the influence of American Jazz led to the
creation of British dance bands, who provided a social and popular music that
began to dominate social occasions and radio air.
Instruments Used
A musical instrument is an instrument created or adapted to
make musical sounds, without such apparatuses and instruments Pop music
wouldn’t be as advanced, upbeat and rhythmic as it is today. As with instruments it enables music to become
an art form consisting of sound and silence.
Vocals: Leading force of the pop
music. Music is often structured to fit around the lyrics written by the
vocalist. Types of vocals can include singing, rapping or spoken word.
Wind instruments: Such as saxophones,
flutes help give pop music a realistic and full sound.
Drums: Within pop music drums can
produced electronically by a computer as well as played by the artists. However
they sound more digital sound that can feel robotic and less natural than drums
played by a person.
Guitars: This particular instrument
in very common in most pop music songs, there are specific types of guitars
used within this genre such as – bass guitar, electric guitar and acoustic
guitar.
Key Artists within
the Pop Music Industry
In 1956- Elvis Presley emerges as one
of the world’s first rock star. With so many hit songs, he was referred to as
the king of rock n roll. He is one of the best-selling artists in the history
of popular music.
1960- American country singer Patsy Cline becomes a mainstrem pop music
hit. Cline was the first female vocilaist who adapted to the change and became
a successful pop singer.
1972- Micheal Jackson’s first solo hit “Ben” recahes No.1 is the number
one hit song recored by the teenagers Micheal Jackson for the Motown label. The
song theme of the
1972 film ‘Ben’ spent one week at the top of the U.S pop
chart.
1975-83- populairty of disco and hip-hop lead to the populairty of pop.
The movie Saturday night fever was realsed.”Disco music “ gained popuilairty.
Hip hop emgared as a blend of rock,jass and soul with african drumming in the
city of New York. Nonstop msuic videos were relased by MTV. As well as Madonna’s
debut album becomng a hit.
1985- Britney spears emerges as a
star of the music world. At age 8, she made her musical television on star search.
In 1999, 1,319,193 copies of “Baby One More Time” were sold in the first week
after release.
2003- Marshall Mathers, known as Eminem, rapper of the evergreen ‘The slim
shady’ gained populairty. Eminem was a radio and video superstar. In 2003, he
won an oscar for the song’lose yourself’, he was the first rapper to win an
oscar.
