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Remember when you could turn on the radio and actually find some decent music? That is what I miss the most about the 90s. Whether you liked rock, pop, or rap, the 90s provided your fix for your particular tastes. Although my tastes tend to lean towards the post-grunge music I grew up on, there was no denying some of the great songs that came out of the decade.
Pop music, often called simply pop, is contemporary music and a common type of popular music (distinguished from classical or art music and from folk music[1] The term does not refer specifically to a single 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 danceable rhythm or beat, simple melodies and a repeating structure which are reminiscent of the songs of vocalists such as Karen Carpenter and Roberta Flack. Pop song lyrics are often emotional, relating to love or dancing.
Pop music may include elements of rock, hip hop, reggae, dance, R&B, jazz, electronic, and sometimes folk music and various other styles. For example, in the 1920s–1950s pop music drew influence mainly from jazz, beginning in the 1950s from rock and rhythm and blues (R&B), and since the 1980s, from hip hop. The broad appeal of pop music is seen to distinguish it from more specific types of popular music, and pop music performers and recordings are among the best-selling and most widely known in many regions of the world.
Today distributed by major record companies as part of a global music market, pop music often involves mass marketing through radio, television and other media, making it a part of many people's daily life. As such, it has also faced criticism.
A pop song may be written by a professional songwriter or composer whose work is then given to a professional singer, or it may be written by the singer who performs it. Since the success of The Beatles in the 1960s, it has become increasingly common for pop music performers to write their own songs. However, many pop songs are not written by the performers. Pop standards (songs that have achieved fame in their own right and are performed by many different singers) and cover versions (recordings that are "covered" by a later performer) are also common.
When the singer and the writer of a song are different people, it is the singer who is considered the "pop star," with the writer working behind the scenes. Pop stars have sometimes been criticized for not writing—or in some cases, even singing—their own material by fans of genres where such a practice is usual (such as rock bands, rap MCs, or singer songwriters). On the other hand, pop singers have sometimes been criticized for a lack of artistic training and technique by listeners of classical music—where performers usually interpret music written by others.
The development of recording methods is seen as a major influence on the sound of pop, distinguishing it from classical music and jazz, as well as from some types of popular music which may seek a more "natural" sound. Pop music performers typically make use of state-of-the-art technology and recording studios to achieve the sound they want, and record producers may have a heavy influence.
In the recorded music era, the single (a single song) and the album (a collection of songs) are the usual methods of distributing pop music. It has been distributed in many formats included vinyl records, cassette tapes, compact discs, and Internet downloads.
Pop music generally uses a simple, memorable melody and emphasizes the rhythm, often with syncopation, and stripped down to a basic riff or loop which repeats throughout much of the song. Pop songs usually have a verse and a chorus, each with different musical material, well as a bridge connecting them in many cases.
The vocal style found in much pop music has been heavily influenced by African American musical traditions such as rhythm and blues (R&B), soul music, and gospel. The rhythms and the sound of pop music have been heavily influenced by swing jazz, rock and roll, reggae, funk, disco, and is currently influenced by hip hop in many cases.
The songs are often about love, or about dancing. Many pop songs are also self-referential, talking about the performer and referencing their own performance of the song.
Music videos and live performances are often used for exposure in the media, and artists may have extravagant stage shows and use choreographed dancing. Music videos are often released after the original single, to encourage that both the video and the song be bought. "Image" is usually considered an important aspect of pop music, and the public presentation of its performers through videos and interviews has been responsible for both praise and criticism of pop music.
As records, CDs and DVDs became cheaper, the age of the average consumer of pop music dropped dramatically. In the early years of recordings, artists like Frank Sinatra sang about love affairs, champagne and night clubs; lyrics that appealed to investors, business, and "classy" market. As records became cheaper, teenagers were able to influence the market, especially during the promotion of the worldwide Beatles tours. In recent years, children have become one of the largest music markets, reducing the age of the average consumer of pop music drastically.
Young people have always been interested in fashion, and spend their money on new artists. Whereas the previous generation tends to keep to their favorite artists, young people conform more to peer-pressure. This conforming creates waves of commercial support for particular artists, and establishes pop music as an important mediator of youth culture. Because of this, pop music has historically been the source of numerous moral panics; parents viewing explicit and suggestive lyrics as gateways to immorality and blaming pop music for perceived increases in objectionable behavior within youth culture.
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Special Guest Featured: Enrique Iglesias
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