Answer:
1)What is popular music?
Music appealing to the popular taste, including rock and pop and also soul, country, reggae, rap, and dance music.
2.)What theme does pop music typically use in the lyrics? Describe one pop song that uses this theme. Why is this theme such a popular one?
Pop music generally uses themes such as love and relationships. One example of this would be The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Loving Feeling." This theme is such a popular one because it involves common experiences which help to make the music more accessible/relatable.
3.)What is disco? What are the characteristics of this music?
Disco is a music genre that was developed in the 1970's. Some of the characteristics included mixing soaring vocals with a beat that encouraged dancing, using a relatively fast tempo and emphasizing the pulse of the rhythm.
4.)What was the British Invasion? Which famous group was a part of this movement? What impact did the group have on pop music?
British bands of the 1960's that were modeled on the successful American bands. The most famous group of the British Invasion was the Beatles. Their songs was the centerpiece of pop music for the next 70 years
5.)What is a boy band? What are some characteristics of a boy band?
A boy band features between three and six young adult males who typically sang, but did not play instruments. They were created by record companies or talent agencies. They had a commercial orientation and their image was often one of the most important elements of the group. Performances by the boy bands often featured highly choreographed dance routines.
6.)Some of the music in the 1960s was used to protest social and political issues. Is music still used as a form of protest? Why or why not?
Music is still used as a form of protest because it is so influential and popular among all groups of people.
7.)One of the changes in the music industry during the twentieth century was the increasing commercialization of music. Has music become too commercial? Why or why not? Do you think that artists are creating music for money or for other reasons today?
Music has become a little too commercial because instead of artists focusing on the thought/meaning or talent of a particular song, it has become more geared towards the sale of the artist through his/her image. Due to the vast amount of artists today, I believe that their motives range from person to person. One could be focused on the creation of music whereas another could be solely driven to make money.
8.)How has technology impacted pop music? Describe at least three technological changes that impacted and shaped pop music today or in the past.
Technology has revolutionized pop music in that the greater accessibility of personal computers and samplers allowed musicians to create a wider range of sounds much more easily and combine them with other sounds. Inventions such as the microphone, radio, and television also opened a new door for artists. Microphones allowed singers to develop a more intimate style with their audience. Radios and television allowed music to become readily accessible to a larger audience.
9.)Pop music has often been seen as youth music. Why do you think pop music appeals to younger individuals? How has the industry promoted this idea?
Pop music appeals most to younger individuals because it reflects the current trends in society, and the pop icons are typically more relatable to the youth. The industry has promoted this idea through the creation of billboards that show the most popular music at a given time.
10.)What is one popular pop artist or group (from today or from the past)? Why does this person/group’s music fit into the pop genre? Why do you think the person/group was successful with their music?
A very popular pop artist from the past is Michael Jackson. His music fits into the pop genre because his music appealed to a large population, his style/songs reflected the trends in society (the moonwalk), and his music encouraged people to dance and move. Michael Jackson was successful largely due to the invention of the television because his music was able to reach a greater volume of people.
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