Pop Music - What Defines Pop Music

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Pop music, in contrast to several other genres, has no clear definition or parameters. The characterization of pop music varies not just among artists but additionally among critics as well as those that listen towards the music. In reality, the definition even varies among dictionaries.

A commonality that does seem to emerge may be the use of particular terms which are applied to this style of music. Regardless of where you look, you see the terms well-known, contemporary and commercial. Several in the articles and definitions also contain the words, youth, romantic and wide appeal. From all of these phrases, an individual can assume that pop music is, in really general terms, a style of music that has commercial, wide or well-known appeal and is typically geared towards a youth marketplace.

As soon as you realize that, you need to attempt to establish a time line for pop music. This really is virtually as difficult as attempting to locate an exact definition. Based on where you look, the term pop music was initial employed within the mid 1920's.

Other people ascertain that pop music did not actually appear until the 1950's. If this really is the case, then you need to examine the music that was becoming played and listened to within the fifties. The well-known music icons in the time included names like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Patti Page. Nowadays, none in the songs that these artists sang and recorded could be discovered within the pop section of any collection or store. Several in the "pop" stars of this generation could be discovered within the categories of soul, early rock or even jazz.


Whenever you move into the sixties you've a totally new group of artists to whom the term pop music was applied. In the sixties, you not just have legendary singers like, Elvis Presley and Neil Diamond , appear on the music scene, you also have the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. The British Invasion made a huge impact on the world of music throughout this time.

You also see the birth of several bands which are now regarded as the founders of rock, bands like CCR, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd and also the list goes on. All of these artists and groups had the term pop music applied to them when they emerged on the music scene. Even though the youth in the era may be calling it rock and roll, the older generation at the time regarded as it pop music. As soon as again, the same rollover occurred. These bands and artists definitely would not be within the pop section of any store. They could be discovered under the genres classic rock or rock or a selection of other names, but not pop.

This exact same pattern has been repeating through the years with each new generation contemplating the new music to be pop. What was pop within the sixties is now classic rock or rhythm and blues, etc. An additional strange item of note may be the many crossovers that occur with the word pop. You get new terms all the time. Words like hip pop, pop rock, techno-pop and country pop.


What is pop music? Pop music is regarded as to be the music in the time that sells probably the most number of recordings. It's the songs that get probably the most playtime on the radio and have the greatest commercial appeal. In reality, the term pop music is frequently interchanged with the phrase "top forties". If pop music continues to follow this trend, it's virtually impossible to guess what style of music will probably be tomorrow's pop music.