POPULAR

MUSIC
 POPULAR MUSIC
It literally means “music of the populace,” similar to
traditional folk music of the past. As it developed in
the 20th century, pop music (as it has come to be
called) generally consisted of music for entertainment
of large numbers of people, whether on radio or in live
performances.
 FOLK MUSIC
Traditionally, folk music refers to melodies and songs of
the common people that are handed down from one
generation to the next. Dealing with almost every kind
of human activity, folk music often expresses the
character of ethnic and social groups, and sometimes
of a nation. As the music of the people, it can express
political or religious beliefs, tells a story, recount history,
or simply provide amusement.
 COUNTRY AND
WESTERN MUSIC
Country and Western music is a blend of popular musical
forms originally found in the Southern United States. It has
roots in traditional folk music and evolved rapidly in the
1920s. The term "country music" began to be used in the
1940s when the earlier term "hillbilly music" was felt to be
degrading, and the term was subsequently embraced in
the 1970s.
 BALLADS
The ballad originated as an expressive folksong in
narrative verse with text dealing typically about love. It
is used by poets and composers since the 18th century, it
became a slow popular love song in the 19th century.
Today, the term ballad now refers to a love song in a
slightly pop or rock style, with the following
characteristics:
 BLUES BALLADS
This is a fusion of Anglo-American and Afro-American styles
from the 19th century that deals with the anti heroes resisting
authority. The form emphasizes the character of the performer
more than the narrative content, and is accompanied by the
banjo or guitar.
 POP STANDARDS AND
JAZZ BALLADS
This is a blues style built from a single verse of 16
bars ending on the dominant or half-cadence, followed
by a refrain/chorus part of 16 or 32 bars in AABA
form. The B section acts as the bridge, and the piece
normally ends with a brief coda.
THE MAN I In a Sentimental
LOVE Mood

ALWAYS
 POP AND ROCK
BALLADS
The Ballad of Billy
The Ballad of John and Yoko
By Billy Joel
By the Beatles
American Pie
By Don McLean
 STANDARDS
In music, the term “standard” is used to denote the most popular
and enduring songs from a particular genre or style, such as those
by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and Rodgers and Hart. It’s style is
mostly on a moderate tempo with a relaxed mood. It also features
highly singable melodies within the range and technical capacity of
the everyday listener.
Frank Sinatra a.k.a. “Ol
Blue Eyes,” “Chairman of
the Board” or “The Voice.”
American balladeer
Nat King Cole
Matt Monroe was an English
singer who became one of the most
popular entertainers in the
international music scene during the
1960s.
 ROCK AND ROLL
 Itwas a hugely popular song form in the United States during the late
1940s to the 1950s. It combined Afro-American forms such as blues,
jump blues, jazz and gospel music with the Western swing and country
music. The lead instruments were; piano and saxophone, but these
were eventually replaced by modern instruments.
 In its classic form, it employed one or two electric guitars (lead,
rhythm), a string bass or bass guitar, and a set of drums that provided
the rhythmic pattern.
 The Beatles’ John Lennon and Paul
The Beatles McCartney as Composers/Songwriters

John Lennon was an English musician, singer,

performer, songwriter and co-songwriter. He rose to
worldwide fame as a founder member of the rock band
The Beatles, which was considered as “the most
commercially successful band in the history of popular
music.”

Sir James Paul McCartney is an English singer,

songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, co-writer, and
composer. He was recognized as one of the most
successful composers and performers of all time.
 Disco
The 1970s saw the rise of another form of pop music known as “disco.” It
pertained to rock music that was more danceable, thus leading to the
establishment of venues for public dancing also called discos.

The disco style had a soaring and reverberating sound rhythmically

controlled by a steady beat (usually 4/4 meter) for ease of dancing, and
accompanied by strings, horns, electric guitars, and electric pianos or
synthesizers.
 Pop Music
Parallel with the disco era, other pop music superstars continued to emerge.
Pop superstars in
more recent years
include solo artists.
 Michael Jackson,
“The King of Pop”
He was an American recording
artist, entertainer, singe-songwriter,
record producer, musical arranger,
dancer, choreographer, actor,
business and philanthropist.
Today’s Pop Music Idols
As the 21st century
continues to unfold, more
and more pop groups
emerge spanning an entire
range of musical styles
and genres.
Solo Performers
 HIP HOP AND RAP
Hip hop music is a stylized, highly rhythmic type of music that
usually includes portions of rhythmically chanted words called
“rap.” Hip hop rose in the 1970s within the Afro-American and
Latino youth in the Bronx area of New York City. But by the 1980s
it had spread to many other countries.
Early hip hop artists
 Alternative Music
Alternative music was an underground independent form of music
that arose in the 1980s. It became widely popular in the 1990s as a
way to defy “mainstream” rock music. Thus, it was known for its
unconventional practices such as distorted guitar sounds, oppressive
lyrics and defiant attitudes. It was also characterized by high energy
levels that bred new styles such as new wave, punk rock, post-punk,
indie rock, gothic rock, jangle pop, and noise pop, C86, Madchester,
Industrial Rock and Shoegazing.