Pop Through The Decades

Study Notes

Characteristics of Pop Music

Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Pop music is often used interchangeably with the term "popular music," although the latter describes all music that is popular and includes many disparate styles.
Pop music is distinguished from chart music, with identifying factors usually including repeated choruses and hooks, short to medium-length songs written in a basic format, and rhythms or tempos that can be easily danced to.
Pop music borrows elements from other styles such as rock, urban, dance, Latin, and country.
Pop music is designed to appeal to everyone, often characterized as "instant singles-based music aimed at teenagers" in contrast to rock music as "album-based music for adults".
The main purpose of pop music is to create revenue, and it is not a medium of free articulation of the people.
The main medium of pop music is the song, often between two and a half and three and a half minutes in length, generally marked by a consistent and noticeable rhythmic element, a mainstream style, and a simple traditional structure.
The lyrics of modern pop songs typically focus on simple themes such as love and romantic relationships, although there are notable exceptions.
Harmony and chord progressions in pop music are often "that of classical European tonality, only more simple-minded."
Pop music has absorbed influences from other genres of popular music, including classical, folk, rock, country, and electronic music.
Pop music has been dominated by the American and British music industries, but most regions and countries have their own form of pop music, sometimes producing local versions of wider trends, and lending them local characteristics.
Pop music has become "sadder" since the 1980s, with elements of happiness and brightness replaced with electronic beats.The Rise of Dance Pop: How EDM Influenced Mainstream Music
EDM and dance music have influenced pop music to create a new genre called dance pop.
Britney Spears' 2007 album Blackout was highly influential in mixing EDM, avant-funk, R&B, dance music, and hip hop.
By 2010, dance pop had become dominant on the charts instead of radio setting the trends.
The most popular artists of this era were Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, and One Direction.
The rise of dance pop was influenced by the impulse to forget economic troubles after the 2008 crash.
Dance pop was popular because it talked about escapism through partying.
The most popular dance pop songs were played in clubs around the world.
Will.i.am. said, "The new bubble is all the collective clubs around the world. Radio is just doing its best to keep up."
Dance pop blurred the lines between different genres and made them less distinct.
The rise of dance pop changed the way pop music was created and consumed.
Pop music became more influenced by dance music and less by rock.
Dance pop has continued to influence mainstream music, and its impact can still be seen today.

Description

Think you know everything about pop music? Test your knowledge with our quiz on the characteristics and evolution of this popular genre! From its origins in the mid-1950s to the rise of dance pop, this quiz will challenge your understanding of what makes pop music so catchy and memorable. Get ready to tap your feet and sing along as we explore the history and defining features of this beloved musical style.