Pop Music

Pop music is a genre of popular music distinguishedwhich went on to become the best-selling album of all
from classical or art music and from folk music . Thetime, and Madonna albums "Like a Virgin", "True Blue",
term indicates specific stylistic traits, but the genre also"Like a Prayer" . Michael Jackson was sometimes
includes artists working in many styles such as rock,referred to as "The King of Pop" and Madonna was
hip hop, rhythm and blues (R&B), and country, making itnamed "The Queen of Pop". Other artists included
a flexible category. The expression "pop music" mayMichael Bolton, Prince, Janet Jackson, Duran Duran,
also be used to refer to particular subgenres (withinThe Police, ABBA, Cyndi Lauper, Whitney Houston, Phil
the pop music genre) that are in some cases referredCollins, Kylie Minogue and Culture Club.1990s and 21st
to as soft rock and pop/rock.Characteristics as acentury
subgenreThe 1990s and 21st century were marked by a
Pop "is designed to appeal to everyone" and "doesn'tresurgence of boy band and girl group trends. From
come from any particular place or mark off anythe UK came the likes of Take That, Blue, the Spice
particular taste." In musical terms, it is essentiallyGirls, a highly successful formula. Irish boy bands of the
"conservative" in that it attempts to resonate with atime include Boyzone and Westlife. The US had New
large segment of its target demographic rather thanEdition, New Kids On The Block followed by the
pushing artistic boundaries. It is "provided from on highBackstreet Boys, Hanson, girl trio Destiny's Child and
(by record companies, radio programmers and concertthen 'N Sync and Pop Princesses Willa Ford, Mandy
promoters) rather than being made from below..." (FrithMoore, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani and Christina
2001, p.95-96). But over time, pop has gone fromAguilera. Canadian Avril Lavigne became popular with
"popular in general" to "a genre" described as soundingher album Let Go. Australia had Boys from Oz. 1999
musically similar to rap, but with singing. This is due tosaw the rise of the Latin explosion with Ricky Martin at
radio stations labeling themselves as "pop stations"the forefront with his worldwide smash hit "Livin' La
taking heavy preference over certain sounds, tossingVida Loca". Other latin artists to follow were Jennifer
other popular bands who don't fit into the sound orLopez, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, and Marc Anthony. In
other categories like rock into the "alternative"2002, Justin Timberlake had critical and commercial
label.Often used to describe the current popular genresacclaim with his "Justified" album, emerging as the new
of music of any given time, the term "pop" cannot be"Prince of Pop", Jesse McCartney has emerged from
used describe any one particular style.History of popDream Street as a high-rating singer with songs like
music1930s and 1940sShe's No You, Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff has
Styles influencing the later development of pop includebecome popular in the 2000s. Artists like Mariah Carey,
the Blues (Chicago), and Country (Tennessee)1950sWhitney Houston, Kylie Minogue, Celine Dion, Garth
Early Pop music artists include Bing Crosby, FrankBrooks, Shania Twain and Madonna have also been
Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, and Peggy Lee, buthighly successful. Reality television shows, such as
other artists like Bill Haley and his Comets, Fats DominoAmerican Idol, begin producing multi-platinum artists like
and Elvis Presley become popular with the youngerKelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken. British pop rock groups
generation.1960ssuch as McFly emerge.Sound and themes
The decade starts out with such Teen Idols such as,Pop music, in whatever musical influence form it
Johnny Tillotson, Bobby Vee, Brian Hyland, Tommyderives from, may be produced by a more basic
Roe, Gene Pitney, and Frankie Avalon. It explodessongwriting approach and arrangement. The emphasis
midway with Carole King, Neil Diamond, Burtis often on a simpler melody, which makes the songs
Bacharach, Aretha Franklin, Isley Brothers, Ray Charles,more memorable, and may use stripped-down
Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Bobrhythms. The combination of the melody and the
Dylan, and Simon and Garfunkel. It can be said thatrhythm allows for harmony to be a driving force of the
The Beatles led the British Invasion in this decade.1970ssong. Themes range from personal songs to vivacious
A proliferation of new sounds from the disco of theparty jams. However, the most common theme deals
BeeGees, the piano sounds of Billy Joel and Elton John,with the wide range of emotions which stem from
the country of the Eagles, the rock-influenced pop ofphysical or emotional love.Music videos and live
artists like Rod Stewart, Steely Dan, and Fleetwoodperformances are often used for exposure in the
Mac. ABBA was a swedish band who grew to famemedia, and artists may have extravagant stage
after winning Eurovision Song Contest and starting ashows and use choreographed dancing. Many pop
whole new revolution of pop music.tunes are used in both Dance clubs and Sport
1980sclubs.Visit me at my consumers product websites a
Notable highlights for pop music in the 1980s arewebsite that provides links to consumer products and
Michael Jackson's second Epic label release, Thriller,article reviews. Here is a link in reference to this article.