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POP MUSIC

Pop music is a term that derives from ‘Popular music’.

As a genre it is extremely eclectic and borrows elements from other music styles such as dance, rock and country.

There are however some elements that are specific to the Pop genre, such as melodic tunes, hooks, a repeated chorus, and often a verse-chorus structure.

HISTORY

Pop music originated in the western world during the 1950s and 1960s, however the term ‘pop song’ is first recorded as being used in the 1920s.

Through its development, pop music was influenced by many other genres of music. Early pop music used sentimental ballad for its form, and through the genre’s developed borrowed elements from gospel music, soul, jazz, country, rock, hip-hop, and more recently rap music.

The term ‘Pop music’ however, was coined in Britain in the mid 1950’s, describing rock and roll with new youth styles. This form of pop music as we know it today was performed by artists such as The Beatles and ABBA.

MUSIC CHARACTERISTICS

Pop music as a genre has many defining characteristics:

• A catchy melody, or hook

• Reflects existing trends rather than progressive developments

• A focus on production and recording, rather than live performance

• Songs between 2.30 and 3.30 minutes in length

• A chorus that contrasts with the verse (rhythmically and melodically)

• Lyrics tend to focus on simple and recurring themes, eg love

AUDIENCE

Pop music has a conventionally wide audience, and appeals to a general audience, rather than to a specific sub-culture, yet tends to target a young teenage audience more than an older audience.

There are, however, sub-genres deriving from the pop genre. For example bubble-gum pop, electropop, K-pop, and Europop.

SUB GENRES

Bubble-gum Pop K-

pop

Electropop

MUSIC V

IDEO

CONVENTIONS

BRIGHT COLOURS AND LIGHTING

Music videos for the pop genre often have bright colours and lighting to reflect the often upbeat melodies of pop music, and to help appeal to a youthful audience. Using bright colours also helps the video to stand out, and reflects positive messages often featured in the lyrics of pop songs.

A LINK BETWEEN LYRICS AND VISUALS

There is often a link between the visuals of the of the music video and the lyrics of the song, to make both the video and song more memorable for the audience, whilst reiterating the song’s key themes and messages through the music video.

‘Man on a Wire’

‘Telephone’

CHOREOGRAPHY

Pop music videos usually feature choreographed dancing due to the upbeat melodic tunes of the song, as well to make the video more visually dynamic and positive.

CLOSE UPS OF THE ARTISTS’ FACE

Pop music videos also often feature close-up shots of the artists’ face, as in the genre there is emphasis on the creation and the artist of the music.