Modern British Popular Music

Click the black box to start the video!

Ello! Were One Direction, and were currently one of the biggest boy bands in the U.K. Music has played a big role in British culture and we wouldnt be the band we are today if it wasnt for the foundation set before us!

Today we want to teach you about some major British popular music!

Theres not only been many artists that have shaped British music into what it is today, but also many types of genres. Lets begin with looking at some genres.

Click the different albums to learn more about each genre. Click the arrow once you have gone over all four genres. Have fun!

Definition: music of lower class transmitted and evolves over time. Cecil Sharp worked in the early 20th century to preserve rural traditional songs (AKA folk). Helped to form the English Folk Dance & Song Society (EFDSS). Later collaborated with American artists, sending Folk to the US.

Cecil Sharp

Genre Menu

African American music began in late 19th century in Southern US as a combination of European harmony with blues notes, improvising, and various rhythms. Came from America to Europe after WWI Big Influences: John Dankworth and Ronnie Scott

Genre Menu

Written in basic forms with repeating chorus and catchy hooks. The Spice Girls were a British girl group that took the pop world by storm in the 90s Broke records in not only the UK but in the US and other European countries as well.

Genre Menu

Orginated from rock & roll in the US (1950s) Heavy influence of Rhythm and Blues (R&B) and Country. Heavy electric guitar Lyrics often over romance or social/political views Many subgenres like glam rock, alternative, and classic.

Genre Menu

Now that you know about some important genres, are you ready to take the quiz? Click the arrow when you are ready for the quiz. Click the star to review the genres once more.

Genres

Next youre going to write down your ideas in the text boxes about three of the genres. Make sure you write some good facts!

Genre

Your own description

Quiz!

Pop Jazz

Rock

Finished!

Job well-done mate! Seems like you wrote some good ideas down. Its important you know the differences for the next activity we have for you. HEY LOUIS! Tell them about some bands, yeah? Click the smiley face to talk to Lou!

Hey there, Im Louis. Not only did those genres help shape Brit music, but specific bands did as well! For the next activity, the boys and myself will introduce you to some people who had a big influence on British music!

Next

Here we have 6 different decades. Each one has a band that majorly influenced it. Click each decade to learn about the different bands! Be sure to click on the album covers to listen to their music! Click the star to return to this page.

60s

90s

70s

2000s

80s

Present Day

The 60s Low-Down

British music began developing from American forms. Blues rock helped to bring rock music back to life. This characterized the 20th century.

Meet the Band

The Details Most influential rock band of rock era Nick-named The Fab Four Created BeatleMania with music effecting so many people worldwide 20 #1 Hot 100 Hits (most ever recorded)

The 70s LowDown

Electric Folk & Glam Rock emerged as new subgenres of folk and rock. Punk formed off of the influence from punk rock. Music began to be more diverse.

Meet the Band

The Details Formed in England Members: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones , and John Bonham. Each of 9 albums (Led Zeppelin I,II, untitled, Houses of the Holy, and Physical Graffiti) were Billboard Top 10s, and 6/9 at #1 Had unique sound and image- often seen as wild to public eye

Genre: Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal

The 80s Low Down

Rock & pop built off of the postpunk era. It explored new technology, creating subgenres like electric pop, house music, and heavy metal. New TV shows and channels such as MTV helped to connect the world in sharing music.
Meet the Band

The Details
Formed in Deptford, England Members: Mark Knopfler (vocals & guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar & backing vocals), & Pick Withers (drums & percussions) Sold 120M albums worldwide, 4 Grammys, 3 Brit Awards(Best Brit Group) Spent 1,100 weeks on UK album charts Together for 15 years

Boy bands and girl groups began to dominate the singles charts. Brit-soul and Indian based music saw the biggest popularity. Alternative rock reached mainstream.
The 90s low down

Meet the Band

The Details
Formed in Manchester, England Origanlly called Rain Members: Liam Gallagher (vocals & tambourine), Paul Bonehead Arthurs (guitar), Paul Guigsy McGuigan (bass), and Tony McCarroll (drums/percussion) 8 UK #1 singles, 8 UK #1 albums, 15 NME awards, 6 Brits (outstanding contribution to music) Hold Guinness World Record for Longest Top 10 UK chart run by a group

2000s low down

Use of talent shows on TV produced many pop actsmaking the pop industry grow larger than before. Brit-soul stayed consistently popular. New forms of dance music emerged.

Meet the Band

The Details Formed in London, England Members: Chris Martin (vocals), Jonny Buckland (guitar), Guy Berryman (bass), and Will Champion (drummer) First named Pectoralz, then Starfish before Coldplay 8 Brits (3/8 Best BritGroup) 5 MTVAs, 7 Grammys, 70M worldwide records

Genre: Alternative rock, postBritpop

10s low down

Music has continued to grow from the 2000s with many of the bands from that decade still appearing on the present day charts. Charts today seem to be filled with a variety of genresalternative, pop, R&B/hip0hop, and Indie.

Meet the Band

The Details
Formed in London, England Members: Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, & Louis Tomlinson Placed 3rd on UKs XFactor then signed with Simon Cowells label Social media sky-rocketed their career 4 Brits, 4 MTVAs, 2012 Top New Artist, made a $50M business in a year First band to have first 3 albums reach #1

Wow! We sure learned a lot about some influential bands in different decades, eh? It feels good to be recognized as one of them too! Its important to know some of the different bands of the decades to see how British music has evolved over the years.

Now that weve learned about all the different bands, lets see how much you remember about them! Click the smiley face to begin the Band Challenge.

On the next page, you will determine which band is behind the theater curtains by the hints they give you about themselves. Choose the button with the correct band name that goes with the description. Think carefully! If you need a little review, click the star button to go back to the decades page.

Band Challenge!

Beatles

Oasis

Dire Straits

Coldplay

Before our band name now, we had funny names such as Pectoralz and Starfish. We had a #1 hit called Yellow.

Led Zeppelin

One Direction

Youre correct mate, nicely done!

Hint Oh no! Thats not us there mate, try once more!

Beatles

Oasis

Dire Straits

Coldplay

We started in Manchester and hold Guinness World Record for Longest Top 10 UK chart run by a group.

Led Zeppelin

Dire Straits

Righty you are! Excellent job, keep up the good work!

Ah, I bet you were close! Try once more.

Beatles

Oasis

Dire Straits Led Zeppelin

Coldplay

We had 3 albums with the same name, and even one that didnt have a name (untitled). Our genre is hardrock/heavy-metal and often pegged of having wild pastimes.

One Direction

Rock on! Youre right.

Well then, that doesnt seem quite right. Give it a go once more.

Beatles

Oasis

Dire Straits Led Zeppelin

Coldplay

One Direction

Were the youngest of the said bands with a $50M empire after just one year of our first album release. We got our fans by being on XFactor UK

Yes! You answered correctly, its us!

You arent quite there yet. Try one more time!

Beatles

Oasis

Dire Straits

Coldplay

Led Zeppelin

One Direction

We created global mania in the 60s with our music. We were dubbed the Fab-Four. We also had 20 #1 hits on the Hot 100s charts, the most of all time.

Right on, you answered correctly again!

That wasnt quite right. We bet youll get it this time!

Beatles

Oasis

Dire Straits

Coldplay

We werent very popular in the US, but we spent 1,100 weeks on the UKs album charts. We were together for 15 years in the 80s

Led Zeppelin

One Direction

Youre right! Nicely done.

That wasnt quite it there pal. Try once more.

You did absolutely fantastic! I hope you enjoyed meeting all our pals. I hope they helped you to get a better understanding for the different music throughout the years!

Music has been a major part of British culture for as long as anyone can remember. We hope we helped you to get a better understanding for it!

CONGRATULATIONS

You have not only met some awesome British bands, but you have successfully finished the Modern British Popular Music Lesson. Well done!