Pop music is a genre known for its simple lyrics and catchy melodies that appeal to a wide range of audiences.
Boy bands and girl groups have long been a hallmark of pop music, from New Edition and Color Me Badd to Hanson and *NSYNC. Over time there have also been notable female pop stars.
The 1950s
At first, pop music was an accessible genre aimed at wider audiences. Lyrical themes included love and teenage rebellion that appealed to most listeners; recording technologies also enabled artists to produce high-quality sounds more easily than before.
In the 1950s, rock and roll music emerged, providing audiences with something entirely new to enjoy. Young artists like Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly quickly rose to become pop icons with more modern, subversive messages.
By the end of the decade, classic pop crooners such as Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra found their popularity declining as rock and roll took hold of the charts. Meanwhile, vocal groups like The Four Lads and The Four Aces demonstrated how satisfying voices together could be on our ears.
But the 1950s weren’t all about swinging hips and gelled back hair: country musicians such as Hank Williams and Johnny Cash began making waves in the late 50s as their popularity skyrocketed. It was during this decade that country music evolved into “rockabilly”, an amalgamation of rock music with traditional country and its distinctive rhythms.
Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and B. B. King became immensely popular among black teenagers as Chicago blues musicians such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and B. B. King were popular. Although sold under the more inclusive term “rhythm and blues” to distinguish sales from white records tracked by pop charts, their music was still classified as race music; but as their electric guitars and harmonicas evolved into rock n roll chord progressions they ultimately came to be known as pop.
The 1960s
The 1960s witnessed pop music evolve from teenage rock’n’roll into an art form as its sound tracked civil rights marches and hippie festivals. Boy bands such as The Monkees rose to prominence, along with hits by Question Mark & the Mysterians, Percy Faith, Tommy Roe and others; plus singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Simon & Garfunkel made names for themselves with lyrics that often explored personal experiences or were reflective.
This decade was marked by both success and tragedy, with several high-profile artists dying due to drug overdoses, suicide or accidents. Yet its pop music charts were filled with bands like The Beatles and Rolling Stones which pioneered an exciting blend of folk-rock with contemporary rock.
A shift away from single-oriented teen idols was underway; an emphasis had shifted toward album sales and radio play as artists created songs with mass appeal that still held onto mass appeal through modern recording technology. At that time, entire new genres of pop music seemed to emerge every few months – from Brazil’s Os Mutantes’ political pop to Silver Apples early electronic experiments to Albert Ayler free jazz exhalations; modern recording technology allowed performers to produce highly polished sounds not normally associated with classical or jazz, while still having mass appeal appeal.
The 1970s
Pop music can be defined as music featuring catchy melodies and lyrics written by professional songwriters and typically heard on radio stations. Recorded versions may include vinyl records, cassette tapes, compact discs or digital downloads; performers may include solo artists, groups or orchestras. Some types of pop music may borrow elements from folk or classical forms while others aim for more commercial sounds.
In the 1970s, singer-songwriters like Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, and Gloria Estefan gained prominence with their albums. Record producers still played an influential role, and advances in recording technology enabled artists to include more tracks on their albums than was possible during the 60s.
Musical genres in the 1970s also saw significant diversification, with genres such as funk, soul, R&B, soft rock, hard rock and disco becoming mainstream pop music genres. Post-punk bands such as Suicide and Throbbing Gristle emerged during this decade to break free from conventional pop music styles with their own distinct sounds.
At the close of the 1970s, music was all around us. Large music festivals became increasingly popular – some like Woodstock even became legendary. Western culture had developed into an intricate web of cultural confusion that resonated in its songs of pop. These songs captured both our moods and concerns at that point in history.
The 1980s
In the 1980s, Michael Jackson and Madonna became pop music icons with hits that continue to resonate today. Arena rock bands such as Styx, Journey and REO Speedwagon saw rapid growth during this decade as well. Meanwhile, The Beatles set a standard with their beautiful melodies and harmonies which still influence pop music today; their influence can be felt today; “Beatlesque” became synonymous with their style which defined a generation. Meanwhile in the ’70s we witnessed pop veer from T. Rex to raw punk; Elton John emerged as an unforgettable figure due to his charisma and piano playing prowess during this era;
Pop songs typically feature dance beats, catchy lyrics, and a sense of youthful exuberance in addition to big hits. Many pop performers are known for elaborate stage shows and choreographed dancing videos which accompany songs found on albums or radio; many pop performers were known for performing these pieces at elaborate live events or radio. Hip hop and rap music gained significant momentum during this era; acts such as Run D.M.C., Salt-N-Pepa and MC Hammer enjoyed great success during this era.
In the ’80s, female singers like Mariah Carey and Madonna experienced a comeback, producing albums that kept them at the top of the charts for extended periods. American Idol also generated successful Pop artists like Kelly Clarkson and Katharine McPhee; alternative Pop acts such as Simple Plan, Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights as well as Dashboard Confessional became increasingly popular; J-Pop became widespread through artists such as Utada Hikaru and Namie Amuro among others.
The 1990s
In the 1990s, pop music saw an explosion, with boy bands and girl groups dominating the charts with acts like Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Spice Girls and Destiny’s Child dominating audiences with catchy tunes and choreographed dance moves. Mariah Carey reigned supreme on Billboard as its top selling female artist of this decade while American Idol produced numerous successful Pop artists including Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Katharine McPhee who would later go on to have successful pop careers of their own.
Pop music has often been criticized for exploiting teenage audiences; however, this genre also contains songs with more serious messages about love, romance, and relationships. These songs may feature vocalists with microphones accompanied by keyboards, drums, guitars or other instruments to form elaborate stage shows; many musicians also utilize music videos featuring themselves interacting with cameras or making references to other popular videos as promotional tools for their songs.
Recording technologies have played an instrumental role in shaping pop music genre. Multi-track recording allows singers to layer their voices, creating complex harmonies. Digital editing tools have opened up possibilities for arranging and mixing songs more easily; many recordings now incorporate synthesizers and other electronic instruments that have become more prevalent as recording technologies advance. Popular music also takes into account cultural and social trends; for instance r&b and disco music emerged from African-American communities and blended gospel handclaps and boogie woogie into what eventually created Rock n Roll; while hip hop, with its rise from East Coast artists at war over their respective rap battles between East and West coast artists during this era.