American Popular Music (1950s forward)

From the 1950s forward, music of the U.S. focused strongly on and the
.

While Jazz and Blues allowed individual expression through improvisation of
and , artists began to use to create new and
innovative music.

Through artists and their songwriter, many different styles have now emerged including
, , , , , and others.

Musical ideas have been borrowed from other and other . Jazz, bossa nova,
rock and rap have all been influenced.
Peter Gabriel and
Beatles and
Richie Valens and
Gypsy Kings and

ROCK MUSIC
Rock has undergone many changes since the 50s, some things remain constant.
Many variations of rock : , , , ,
, , ,
Reflects the and of the times, popular with

Rock in the 1950s
Music characterized by , a , and

Titles like
Grew out of , , and
Popular 50s Artists : Richie Valens La Bamba
Buddy Holly Everyday, , Not Fade Away
Little Richard , Good Golly Miss Molly
Elvis Jailhouse Rock,



Rock in the 1960s
Few main styles emerged in the 60s
Hard Rock
, mix,
characterized by long with a beat.
Home was Woodstock and other outdoor concert venues, not the radio.
New musical freedom went along with the movement. ( ,
, and , , .)
Artists: Jimi Hendrix


Surf Rock
Known as the sound
were the most well-known 3 brothers, cousin, best friend
5 part and
Songs about , and being a
Style matured into complex


British Invasion
Beatles ; British Pop; combos of classical and
Rolling Stones , driving , like
Bob Dylan but to a more mainstream audience.
Satisfaction - rock; influence (guitar riff); used a
on opening riff; became an all-purpose,

Folk Rock
Artists like , ,
Emphasis on the of a song; became as important as the
led this movement before Dylan songs mostly about
Dylan wrote of like
Artists Bob Dylan Blowin in the Wind

Pop Rock
Sonny & Cher : , pop music, lifestyle
I Got You Babe



Motown
Rhythm & Blues: combines of blues along with the
of rock and roll.
Features singing and complex
Often uses latest techniques in
Artists: BB King believed R&B reflected the history of African
Americans. Named his guitar Lucille
Boyz II Men early 2000; used and

Motown Sound
Began in the 60s in
Spirited, danceable music sung by
were more important than individuals (example )
Motown Records slogan was
Combines soul of , and .
Well written songs utilizing the latest .
Artists: The Supremes
Stevie Wonder

Soul and Funk
Emotional and expressive, like
Reflected in the Community
Artists: James Brown First Funk Song
,
Aretha Franklin
Tina Turner
Ray Charles
Current artists would be and









Music in the 1970s

Pop
Characterized by , very
Continued the light lyric element, frequently about and
Artists: Carpenters
Fleetwood Mac
James Taylor
Eagles
David Bowie (written with John Lennon)

Disco
Characterized by a , driving beat, perfect for
Centered in and in dance clubs
A reaction against the domination of and the lack of dance music.
Influences of music
Distinct sound
Artists: Donna Summer
Bee Gees
Village People

Funk
Soul Music of the 60s, became more developed
Emphasizes a strong, rhythmic groove of and
Based on , rather than a chord progression like R&B
Kool & the Gang
Earth, Wind & Fire

Rock
Very established and developed by the 70s
Centered around the , part of a bad with and
Usually in time with a song-style and a form
Dominance by musicians which has influenced the themes
Emphasis on , and
Progressive Rock extended the , beyond song-verse style
Pink Floyd
Glam Rock emphasis on and
David Bowie
Heavy Metal emphasis on , , and
Led Zepplin
Punk Rock music with less instrumentation; often
The Clash
The Sex Pistols
Rock Artists
Queen


Bruce Springsteen
Lynyrd Skynard


1. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
2. Hotel California - The Eagles
3. Imagine - John Lennon
4. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
5. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
6. Superstition - Stevie Wonder
7. Layla - Derek and the Dominos
8. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
9. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
10. Let's Stay Together - Al Green
11. Let It Be - The Beatles
12. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
13. American Pie - Don McLean
14. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
15. Stayin' Alive - The Bee Gees
16. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
17. Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
18. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
19. Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac
20. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
21. Your Song - Elton John
22. Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight and the Pips
23. More Than a Feeling - Boston
24. Just My Imagination - The Temptations
25. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
26. Roxanne - The Police
27. Dream On - Aerosmith
28. Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 - Pink Floyd
29. No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley and the Wailers
30. London Calling - The Clash
31. Family Affair - Sly and the Family Stone
32. Anarchy in the UK - The Sex Pistols
33. Dancing Queen - ABBA
34. We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions - Queen
35. Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine - James Brown
36. Living for the City - Stevie Wonder
37. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
38. Lola - The Kinks
39. Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple
40. Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
41. Walk This Way - Aerosmith
42. Lean on Me - Bill Withers
43. Who'll Stop the Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival
44. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
45. Rapper's Delight - The Sugarhill Gang
46. Heart of Glass - Blondie
47. Theme from "Shaft" - Isaac Hayes
48. Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
49. Fire and Rain - James Taylor
50. Baba O'Riley - The Who
51. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
52. Heart of Gold - Neil Young
53. Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed
54. It's Too Late - Carole King
55. You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
56. All Right Now - Free
57. Good Times - Chic
58. (Don't Fear) The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
59. If You Don't Know Me by Now - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
60. Riders On the Storm - The Doors
61. My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
62. Bang a Gong (Get It On) - T. Rex
63. Black Magic Woman - Santana
64. Tangled Up in Blue - Bob Dylan
65. One Nation Under a Groove - Funkedelic
66. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
67. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
68. We Are Family - Sister Sledge
69. Rock and Roll - Led Zeppelin
70. I Wanna Be Sedated - The Ramones
71. Money - Pink Floyd
72. Miss You - The Rolling Stones
73. Piano Man - Billy Joel
74. Tired of Being Alone - Al Green
75. Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack
76. Changes - David Bowie
77. Le Freak - Chic
78. Band of Gold - Freda Payne
79. Maybe I'm Amazed (studio version) - Paul McCartney
80. Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen
81. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
82. Heroes - David Bowie
83. Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
84. War - Edwin Starr
85. Night Moves - Bob Seger
86. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
87. Brass in Pocket - The Pretenders
88. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
89. You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
90. I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
91. Tumbling Dice - The Rolling Stones
92. Love Train - The O'Jays
93. You're So Vain - Carly Simon
94. Best of My Love - The Emotions
95. God Save the Queen - The Sex Pistols
96. Old Time Rock 'n' Roll - Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
97. Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
98. Message in a Bottle - The Police
99. Mercy Mercy Me - Marvin Gaye
100. One of These Nights - The Eagles




Music in the 1980s
Emergence of and some of the most prominent musicians of all time.
Continued and of other forms of music.
Emergence of had a huge effect on music and sales of music
Pop
Appealed to a audience
Emphasis on (skill) , not (artistic achievement)
Emphasis on over live performance
Reflects , is not progressive
Utilizes rhythms; meant to encourage
Simple, form, utilize , catchy , easy
Artists:
o Michael Jackson
King of
Most successful of all time over 40 years
Contributions to , and
in the 60s, in 1971
changed music video
1982 Album is the best-selling album of all time.
generated controversy

charity song, written with Lionel Ritchie
Why not just tell people I'm an alien from Mars. Tell them I eat live chickens and do a voodoo
dance at midnight. They'll believe anything you say, because you're a reporter. But if I, Michael
Jackson, were to say, "I'm an alien from Mars and I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance
at midnight," people would say, "Oh, man, that Michael Jackson is nuts. He's cracked up. You
can't believe a single word that comes out of his mouth."
[69]

October 2009 Announced comeback tour of
Died of a (induced) on June 25, 2009

o Madonna
Born in in 1958
Moved to NYC in 1977 to pursue a career in
Released debut album in
Pushed the boundaries of in mainstream popular music
and
Pushed the boundaries of in her music videos, which became a
fixture on
Very successful music
Founded in conjunction with Warner Brothers.
She is a , , , ,
, book author, and
.
Top selling female artist of behind Barbara Streisand.



1. Michael Jackson
2. Prince
3. Madonna
4. U2
5. Bruce Springsteen
6. Run-D.M.C.
7. Van Halen
8. Public Enemy
9. Billy Joel
10. The Police
11. Phil Collins
12. Guns N' Roses
13. Def Leppard
14. Janet Jackson
15. George Michael/Wham
16. Whitney Houston
17. Metallica
18. N.W.A
19. Dire Straits
20. AC/DC
21. Rush
22. Iron Maiden
23. Judas Priest
24. Lionel Richie
25. Bon Jovi
26. Talking Heads
27. Genesis
28. R.E.M.
29. Duran Duran
30. Motley Crue
31. The Cure
32. Journey
33. John Mellencamp
34. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
35. REO Speedwagon
36. Kool and the Gang
37. L.L. Cool J
38. Tina Turner
39. Queen
40. Beastie Boys
41. Ozzy Osbourne
42. The Smiths
43. Huey Lewis and the News
44. Bryan Adams
45. Hall & Oates
46. Pat Benatar
47. Eric B. & Rakim
48. Billy Idol
49. Peter Gabriel
50. INXS
51. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
52. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
53. Eurythmics
54. The Cars
55. Aerosmith
56. ZZ Top
57. The Rolling Stones
58. Heart
59. David Bowie
60. Elton John
61. Rod Stewart
62. Foreigner
63. Stevie Wonder
64. Toto
65. Bob Seger
66. The Pointer Sisters
67. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
68. Salt-N-Pepa
69. Fleetwood Mac
70. The Go-Go's
71. Paul McCartney
72. Pet Shop Boys
73. Don Henley
74. Paul Simon
75. Tracy Chapman
76. Cyndi Lauper
77. Depeche Mode
78. Sonic Youth
79. Pete Townshend
80. Culture Club
81. Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
82. De La Soul
83. Luther Vandross
84. Chicago
85. The Bangles
86. Thompson Twins
87. Yes
88. Men at Work
89. Pixies
90. Pink Floyd
91. Robert Palmer
92. Kenny Loggins
93. Whitesnake
94. Sade
95. Steve Winwood
96. Billy Ocean
97. Tears for Fears
98. Bobby Brown
99. Scorpions
100. Simply Red





Country and Western
Bluegrass : uses all , instruments. Singing was usually high
pitched and .
Sources of country music in old , songs, music,
music and music.
Most common instruments were acoustic , string , , pedal-steel
and .
, TN became the center for writing and recording of country music.
began there. Broadcast nationally in 1939.
Artists: Patsy Cline Loretta Lynn

40s 50s : became more , less hillbilly.
Artists: Hank Williams Minnie Pearl

60s 70s: Large scale orchestrations became popular with and
sections.
Artists: Johnny Cash Glen Campbell
John Denver Roads
Tammy Wynette
70s 80s: New developed.
Smooth orchestrations, background , electric guitar instead of
Artists: Kenny Rogers The Gambler
Dolly Parton 9-5 Creep into You
Willie Nelson
90s:
Record sales reported more accurately
Sold as much as pop = promotion
More crossover pop/country
Artists: Garth Brooks
Faith Hill
Shania Twain
Carrie Underwood

The Dance: Rarely has a song touched the lives of as many people as Garth's timeless tune, 'The
Dance.' The song harbors some of the most poetically beautiful lyrics, and the music video, which
contains archived footage of Martin Luther King, John Kennedy and other social activists, acted as a
political platform to unite people, despite gender, color and religion. Life is a journey; dance no matter
what.

Garth 2nd most top selling solo artist in US history according to the RIAA.
Rap
Began in the
Created music that utilizes
and rhyme schemes
Influences from to , drawing from all music genres.
Often called a musical due to content
Often about important issues; now it often is
Usually reported on the harsh realities of
Aggressive, often with lyrics; highly
Rapping is
Spoken to records that feature strong
Similar to Jamaican uses previously music from another
source; adds a other and parts resulting in a new blend.
Artists: Puff Daddy Cant Nobody Hold Me Down
Tupac Dear Mama
Will Smith Getting Jiggy With it
Busta Rhymes Give Me Some More
Queen Latifah U.N.I.T.Y
LL Cool J I Cant live Without My Radio I Need Love
Eminem Lose Yourself The Way I Am
Young MC Bust a Move
Lil Wayne Drop the World

Hip Hop
Hip hop is a form of musical and artistic
Cultural phenomenon that today includes , , ,
social , and
When it began in the late 70s, it included , , and
.
Originated in the Bronx, NY in the 70s with DJ and Jamaican born DJ
Clive " " Campbell credited as the founders.
Consists of rhythmic beats that are created by looping (small portions of songs
emphasizing a percussive pattern) on two turntables. (Sampling)
Late accompanied by rap and
o is a vocal technique used to imitate percussive elements of the
music and various technical effects
o Concerned with the art of creating beats, rhythms, and melodies using the

o
can be hip hop, but hip hop cannot be .
Often comments on , much like Bob Dylan did in the 60s.
Mainstream hip-hop is different from rap and the other sub-genres.
o Gangsta rap is about urban street and . ( )
Has spread to include other countries and even to schools. (Studies of hip hop
are offered at the Universities of Toronto and Miami

Hip hop texts are rich in imagery and metaphor and can be used to teach irony, tone, diction,
and point of view. Hip hop texts can be analyzed for theme, motif, plot, and character
development. Both Grand Master Flash and T.S. Eliot gazed out into their rapidly deteriorating
societies and saw a "wasteland." Both poets were essentially apocalyptic in nature as they
witnessed death, disease, and decay. (Morrell and Duncan, Promoting Academic Literacy with
Urban Youth Through Engaging Hip Hop Culture)


Rap has a bad reputation in white circles, where many people believe it consists of obscene
and violent anti-white and anti-female guttural. Some of it does. Most does not. Most white
listeners don't care; they hear black voices in a litany of discontent, and tune out. Yet rap plays
the same role today as Bob Dylan did in 1960, giving voice to the hopes and angers of a
generation, and a lot of rap is powerful writing. (Roger Ebert, 1995)

Artists: Run DMC Its Tricky
Public Enemy Gotta Give the Peeps What They Need
Tupac Dear Mama
Ice Cube It was a Good Day
Busta Rhymes Give Me Some More
Snoop Dog Doggystyle
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five The Message