Chapter 18 Quiz: Pop and Alternative Styles

Questions and Answers

What happened to record and tape sales between 1978 and 1979?

They dropped by 10 percent.

Robert Pittman gathered videos from a variety of record companies and used them, along with a crew of veejays, as the basis for a new cable station called _____.

Music Television

MTV's target audience of rock-pop fans caused them to reject many _____, and critics began to question that.

African American artists' videos

Part of the reason for the great success of MTV was that it geared its music to the tastes of the large _____.

rock-pop audience Signup and view all the answers

As a child star, Michael Jackson recorded solo at Motown, but he primarily _____

worked in his all-sibling group Signup and view all the answers

During the late seventies and early eighties, a few people in the radio-video business were beginning to see that there were possibilities for music television beyond the individual shows of the past, and the best vehicle for such a project seemed to be _____.

Cable TV Signup and view all the answers

Who were some of the first people to see real benefits from the cable station MTV?

The artists and bands whose videos were shown Signup and view all the answers

Michael Jackson emerged as a solo star when his first solo album, Off the Wall (1979), _____.

spawned four top-ten hits Signup and view all the answers

Which African American artist satisfied the musical tastes of MTV's rock-pop audience?

Michael Jackson Signup and view all the answers

Michael Jackson's Thriller videos on MTV helped the album sell extremely well and also helped MTV out of the bind of having too few _____.

African American artists Signup and view all the answers

How was MTV received by the public when it first launched?

It grew from being on three hundred cable systems to being on eighteen hundred in two years. Signup and view all the answers

Michael Jackson's 'moonwalk' was inspired by _____ who often employed the same technique.

break dancers Signup and view all the answers

Michael Jackson had been a child star at Motown records in the late sixties when he _____.

sang lead in the Jackson Five Signup and view all the answers

Michael Jackson was very generous in donating to charities of various kinds, and he co-wrote a charity single _____ with Lionel Richie.

'We Are the World' (1985) Signup and view all the answers

Prince's style basically combined funk with rock, but it also showed the influences of _____.

new wave, disco, and rap Signup and view all the answers

What were the features of Michael Jackson's music that appealed to listeners?

It was funky and fun. Signup and view all the answers

Michael Jackson's Thriller, boosted by appearances on MTV, was the best-selling album of its time.

True Signup and view all the answers

Prince added a backup band he called Revolution for his project Purple Rain (1984), which included _____.

an album, film, and concert tour Signup and view all the answers

Michael Jackson's performance of 'Billie Jean' on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Motown in 1983 included a(n) _____ that was the hit of the show.

'moonwalk' Signup and view all the answers

Since Prince changed his name, he has been known as '_____.

the artist formerly known as Prince Signup and view all the answers

Michael Jackson's Bad (1987) album broke his own previous record by _____.

including five number one hit singles Signup and view all the answers

In the late sixties, Janis Joplin and Grace Slick displayed some independence, but they both showed _____ at times.

vulnerability Signup and view all the answers

Prince's 1980s Dirty Mind album had a mixture of funk and pop music with fuzztone guitar riffs that attracted a large audience, but it did not get any airplay because of its _____.

explicit eroticism Signup and view all the answers

The Runaways formed as a quintet of _____.

tough and independent young women Signup and view all the answers

Identify the artist who Prince added to sing backup vocals on the Purple Rain soundtrack and whose career received a boost when he contributed to her first solo album, The Glamorous Life (1984), and had her open his Purple Rain concerts.

Sheila E. Signup and view all the answers

How did Tracy Chapman's music and image make a new statement for women in general, and, perhaps more important, for African American women?

She expressed a great deal of independence without being tough or cold. Signup and view all the answers

Prince followed the successes of his albums by changing his name to _____, which baffled all but his most dedicated fans.

an unpronounceable symbol Signup and view all the answers

In 1964, Mary Weiss had a bit of a _____ image, but that was more a reflection of her relationship with the 'leader of the pack' than it was a reflection of her own personality.

tough Signup and view all the answers

Of all the female singers of the late seventies, _____ gained the most commercial appeal and success, with the help of MTV.

Madonna Signup and view all the answers

The term _____ is often used to refer to the nineteenth century in European art and music when many poets and other creative artists began to stress individuality, emotion, and exotic thoughts and images in their works.

romanticism Signup and view all the answers

What changed the perceptions of female performers as people with meek and sweet personalities, such as in the case of Patti Smith?(Check all that apply.)

The sense of individual freedom of the punk movement, The feminist revolution Signup and view all the answers

_____ is sometimes also referred to as 'Blitz music' because the movement started in British clubs, the most famous of which was Billy's and The Blitz.

New romanticism Signup and view all the answers

What image did Blondie's Deborah Harry portray?

She was cold and detached. Signup and view all the answers

When Boy George started his own new romantic band with bassist Mikey Craig, drummer Jon Moss, and guitarist Roy Hay, they called it the Culture Club because _____.

the members represented different cultural backgrounds Signup and view all the answers

What orientation did Madonna's music have?

A dance orientation Signup and view all the answers

Romanticism often refers to a time when many poets and other creative artists in Europe broke away from the previous era's _____.

reasoned view of the world Signup and view all the answers

The early bands that belonged to the genre of _____ included Ultravox, Visage, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, and the Culture Club, and makeup and androgynous clothing were often part of their look.

new romanticism Signup and view all the answers

A(n) '_____' movement in the midnineties was an offshoot of the new romantic movement, but it had a very short lifespan.

romo Signup and view all the answers

Identify an accurate statement about Boy George of the Culture Club.

He was flamboyant about both his dress and his lifestyle. Signup and view all the answers

_____ made a new appearance on heavy-metal stages with such eighties performers as Mötley Crüe from Los Angeles and Twisted Sister from New Jersey.

Androgynous hairdos and makeup Signup and view all the answers

Poison was a successful _____ in Los Angeles that even had their own hairdresser in their drummer Rikki Rockett.

glam band Signup and view all the answers

Many of Madonna's video and movie roles play up her _____ image.

sex symbol Signup and view all the answers

By the mideighties, many of the bands in the new romantic movement _____.

either disbanded or changed their styles and moved on with their careers playing other music Signup and view all the answers

The long, full hairdos and makeup and songs about drinking and partying popularized by hair bands gave heavy metal _____.

a lighter image than it had in the past Signup and view all the answers

R.E.M. was a band that used punk's pounding beat in a pulsating bass and redefined _____ for the eighties.

southern rock Signup and view all the answers

Poison was a hair band that was commercially successful partially due to their _____.

versatility Signup and view all the answers

In R.E.M.'s later music, particularly their Document album (1987), Michael Stipe separated his vocals from the texture of the band more than he had in the past, and the reason for this may have been that the album contained many songs that _____.

made political statements Stipe wanted understood Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following elements did the members of the Dublin-based band U2 combine to create their own sound?(Check all that apply.)

The careful use of electronics to fill out their basic guitar, bass, and drums instrumentation, The rhythm and blues soulfulness of Van Morrison, The personal commitment of Bruce Springsteen Signup and view all the answers

After the decline of the popularity of new romantic music, the style's music and dress were sometimes featured on individual nights in clubs that _____.

brought back 'retro' styles Signup and view all the answers

The overall sound of the band R.E.M. was almost _____.

a single layer of texture Signup and view all the answers

For their Out of Time album, what did R.E.M. expand their instrumentation to include?(Check all that apply.)

Mellotron, Pedal-steel guitar, Mandolin, Horns, Harpsichord, Bowed strings Signup and view all the answers

The Joshua Tree (1987) by U2 was a compassionate album that included songs of a personal nature, tributes to specific people and events, and songs that made general statements in support of _____.

the work done by Amnesty International Signup and view all the answers

The Dublin-based band U2 emerged as a symbol of optimism and peace for the eighties, and like the band R.E.M., they _____.

worked together to craft a thick instrumental timbre to which vocals were added Signup and view all the answers

The Smiths' musical direction was primarily controlled by guitarist/songwriter Johnny Marr, whose _____ provided full but catchy support for singer/lyricist Morrissey's vocals.

layered guitar tracks Signup and view all the answers

As can be heard in his solo song 'Everyday Is Like Sunday,' Morrissey had grown fond of the fullness provided by _____.

a synthesized orchestral background sound Signup and view all the answers

U2's Bono shared the 2005 'Person of the Year' award given by Time magazine with Bill and Melinda Gates in recognition of the work he has done to _____.

aid impoverished people the world over Signup and view all the answers

The Smiths were a British group that enjoyed pop chart success in Britain but were considered _____ in the United States.

alternative Signup and view all the answers

During his solo career, Morrissey's song themes expanded to include _____.

subjects of worldwide concern Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Record Sales and MTV

Record and tape sales declined by 10% from 1978 to 1979.
Robert Pittman launched Music Television (MTV) by gathering videos from various record companies.
MTV's emphasis on rock-pop alienated many African American artists, sparking criticism.

Popularity of MTV

The success of MTV was driven by its appeal to a large rock-pop audience.
The launch of MTV saw rapid growth, expanding from 300 to 1,800 cable systems within two years.

Michael Jackson's Impact

Michael Jackson began as a child star with the Jackson Five but achieved solo success with "Off the Wall" (1979), producing four top-ten hits.
His "Thriller" became the best-selling album, significantly boosted by his groundbreaking music videos on MTV.
Jackson's innovation included the iconic "moonwalk" dance move, inspired by break dancers.
He co-wrote the charity single "We Are the World" (1985) with Lionel Richie and was known for his philanthropy.

Prince's Style and Contributions

Prince blended funk and rock, incorporating elements of new wave, disco, and rap into his music.
He formed the backing band Revolution for his "Purple Rain" project, which included an album, film, and concert tour.
Prince's "Dirty Mind" album faced censorship due to its explicit content, despite its popularity.

Female Artists and Their Evolution

Female performers, like Janis Joplin and Grace Slick, exhibited independence but also moments of vulnerability.
Madonna emerged as a significant female artist of the late seventies, gaining commercial success partly through MTV.
Tracy Chapman challenged traditional female stereotypes by expressing independence without adopting a tough persona.

New Romanticism Movement

New romanticism, also known as "Blitz music," flourished in British clubs and emphasized individuality.
Bands like Ultravox, Visage, and Duran Duran were part of the new romantic scene, which featured flamboyant fashion and makeup.

Boy George and Culture Club

Boy George's Culture Club represented diverse cultural backgrounds and was notable for its flamboyant style.
Blondie's Deborah Harry was characterized as cold and detached.

Hair Bands and Glam Rock

Hair bands, exemplified by Poison, gained popularity for their playful persona and catchy music, challenging metal's heavier image.
R.E.M. redefined southern rock in the eighties with a distinctive blend of punk, bass-driven sound, and inventiveness.

U2 and Themes of Compassion

U2 combined elements like electronics and rhythm and blues, producing a thick instrumental sound.
Their album "The Joshua Tree" (1987) supported Amnesty International, reinforcing the band’s commitment to social issues.

The Smiths and Morrissey's Influence

The Smiths, led by Johnny Marr and Morrissey, found success in Britain with layered guitar tracks complementing Morrissey's lyrics.
Morrissey's solo work expanded to address global themes, showcasing his evolution as an artist.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the key concepts from Chapter 18 on Pop and Alternative styles in music. This quiz covers important historical facts and terms related to the rise of MTV and its impact on the music industry. Test your knowledge and understand the shifts in music preferences during the late 1970s.

Chapter 18: Pop and Alternative Styles