Pop music  

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-'''Pop music''', often called simply '''pop''', is a common type of [[popular music]] (distinguished from [[classical music|classical]] or [[art music]] and from [[folk music]]. The term does not refer specifically to a single [[genre (music)|genre]] or sound, and its meaning is different depending on the time and place. Within popular music, "pop music" is often distinguished from other subgenres by stylistic traits such as a [[dance]]able [[rhythm]] or [[beat (music)|beat]], simple [[melody|melodies]] and a repeating [[song structure (popular music)|structure]]. Pop [[song]] [[lyrics]] are often emotional, [[relating to love song|love]].+ 
 +'''Pop music''' (a term that originally derives from an abbreviation of "popular") is a [[music genre|genre]] of [[popular music]] which originated in its modern form in the [[United States in the 1950s|United States]] in the [[1950s]], deriving from [[rock and roll]]. The terms "popular music" and "pop music" are often used interchangeably, even though the former is a description of music which is popular (and can include any style).
 + 
 +As a genre, pop music is very eclectic, often borrowing elements from other styles including [[urban contemporary|urban]], [[dance music|dance]], [[rock music|rock]], [[Latin music|Latin]] and [[country music|country]]; nonetheless, there are core elements which define pop. Such include generally short-to-medium length songs, written in a basic format (often the [[verse–chorus form|verse-chorus structure]]), as well as the common employment of repeated choruses, melodic tunes, and [[Catchiness|catchy]] [[hook (music)|hook]]s.
 + 
 +So-called "pure pop" music, such as [[power pop]], features all these elements, using [[electric guitar]]s, [[drum kit|drums]] and [[bass guitar|bass]] for instrumentation; in the case of such music, the main goal is usually that of being pleasurable to listen to, rather than having much artistic depth. Pop music is generally thought of as a genre which is commercially recorded and desires to have a mass audience appeal.
 +==Definitions==
 +David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop music as "a body of music which is distinguishable from popular, jazz, and folk musics". According to [[Pete Seeger]], pop music is "professional music which draws upon both folk music and fine arts music". Although pop music is often seen as oriented towards the [[record chart|singles charts]] it is not the sum of all chart music, which has always contained songs from a variety of sources, including [[classical music|classical]], [[jazz]], [[rock music|rock]], and [[novelty song]]s, while pop music as a genre is usually seen as existing and developing separately. Thus "pop music" may be used to describe a distinct genre, aimed at a youth market, often characterized as a softer alternative to [[rock and roll]].
 + 
 +==Style==
 +The standard format of pop music is the [[song]], customarily less than five minutes in duration, with [[Instrumentation (music)|instrumentation]] that can range from an orchestra to a lone singer. Pop songs are generally marked by a consistent and noticeable [[Rhythm|rhythmic element]], a [[Mainstream (terminology)|mainstream]] style and traditional [[Song structure (popular music)|structure]]. Rare variants are the [[verse-chorus form]] and the [[thirty-two-bar form]], with a focus on [[Melody|melodies]] and catchy [[Hook (music)|hooks]], and a [[Refrain|chorus]] that contrasts melodically, rhythmically and [[Harmony|harmonically]] with the [[Verse (popular music)#Verse|verse]].
 + 
 +==See also==
 +*[[List of best-selling singles ]]
 +*[[Catchiness]]
 +*[[List of popular music genres]]
 +* [[Origins of rock and roll]]
 +*[[Traditional pop music]]
 +*[[Hit record]]
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Pop music (a term that originally derives from an abbreviation of "popular") is a genre of popular music which originated in its modern form in the United States in the 1950s, deriving from rock and roll. The terms "popular music" and "pop music" are often used interchangeably, even though the former is a description of music which is popular (and can include any style).

As a genre, pop music is very eclectic, often borrowing elements from other styles including urban, dance, rock, Latin and country; nonetheless, there are core elements which define pop. Such include generally short-to-medium length songs, written in a basic format (often the verse-chorus structure), as well as the common employment of repeated choruses, melodic tunes, and catchy hooks.

So-called "pure pop" music, such as power pop, features all these elements, using electric guitars, drums and bass for instrumentation; in the case of such music, the main goal is usually that of being pleasurable to listen to, rather than having much artistic depth. Pop music is generally thought of as a genre which is commercially recorded and desires to have a mass audience appeal.

Definitions

David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop music as "a body of music which is distinguishable from popular, jazz, and folk musics". According to Pete Seeger, pop music is "professional music which draws upon both folk music and fine arts music". Although pop music is often seen as oriented towards the singles charts it is not the sum of all chart music, which has always contained songs from a variety of sources, including classical, jazz, rock, and novelty songs, while pop music as a genre is usually seen as existing and developing separately. Thus "pop music" may be used to describe a distinct genre, aimed at a youth market, often characterized as a softer alternative to rock and roll.

Style

The standard format of pop music is the song, customarily less than five minutes in duration, with instrumentation that can range from an orchestra to a lone singer. Pop songs are generally marked by a consistent and noticeable rhythmic element, a mainstream style and traditional structure. Rare variants are the verse-chorus form and the thirty-two-bar form, with a focus on melodies and catchy hooks, and a chorus that contrasts melodically, rhythmically and harmonically with the verse.

See also




Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Pop music" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

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