Influence of music styles

Influences of the pop genre

The pop genre has been dominated by the American and British music industries.

The pop genre has also made use of technological innovation. For example, in the 1940s improved microphone designed allowed a more intimate singing style.

There are many different types of pop for example, indie pop, pop rock and dance-pop.

Indie pop

§  It originated in the UK in the mid-1980s with its roots in Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label and the dominant independent band I the UK at the time: The Smiths.

§  Typical instruments in the genre include: guitar, bass, drums and vocals.

§  Power pop, punk and post-punk was a significant influence of indie pop.

§  Notable artists in the indie pop genre include: Marina & the Diamonds, Lana Del Rey, Bastille, Camera Obscura, Lykke Li etc.

§  NME released a compilation cassette called C81 and 5 years late released another one called C86. These cassettes featured a wide range of groups which reflected the different approaches of the immediate post-punk era. It is seen as the birth of “indie” in the UK.

Pop rock

§  Typical instruments include: electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, drums and vocals.

§  Pop rock music is used to describe the commercially more successful music that uses features of rock music. It has defined as an upbeat variety of rock.

§  The music genres pop and rock is argued to have a clearer distinction in the US than the UK as pop is rooted in white crooners whereas rock is rooted in African-American-influenced forms such as rock and roll.

Dance-pop

§  This genre of music originated in the early 1980s. It developed from post-disco and synthpop and is generally quite up-tempo music which ideally is for clubs as it intends to be danceable but also suitable for the contemporary hit radio.

§  Characteristics:

·          Strong beats

·          Up-tempo

·          Easy, uncomplicated song structures

·          Emphasising on the melody as well as catchy tunes like pop music

·          Prominent hooks

·          Simple lyrics

·          Polished productions

§  Typical instruments include: drum machine, synthesizers, keyboards and vocals.

§  Some notable dance-pop artists include: Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

§  Post-disco is a more modern variant of disco music which intends to be more experimental, electronic and producer/DJ-driven which often uses sequencers and synthesizers.

§  Dance-pop music was usually created, composed and produced by record producers who would then hire singers to perform the songs.

§  It became a major genre in pop music by the 1990s.

§  It was influenced by other genres such as contemporary R&B, house, synthpop and techno.

§  In the mid to late 2000s, new dance-pop artists were introduced such as Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Katy Perry. Some of their notable dance-pop songs include “Don’t Stop the Music” by Rihanna, “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga and “Hot N Cold” by Katy Perry.