Lesson 3: Pop Music

Lesson 3: Pop Music

So what makes pop music, pop music? What are the qualities or characteristics that we might look for in determining whether a piece of music falls into the category of pop music or another category? Those who play and study music have identified some general characteristics of pop music. They include:

• The music appeals to a broad audience, rather than to a niche group or to a particular ideology. For example, if we were to examine who listens to a particular piece of pop music, we should find that the audience is diverse in backgrounds, beliefs, and practices. While the music may still appeal to a younger audience, we may find that both old and young listen to it or that people of different backgrounds and circumstances consume the music.
• The music tends to reflect trends in society rather than producing the trends. In other words, pop music is not usually seen as being cutting-edge music that showcases new innovations. While there are certainly changes in the music, the music reflects what people want to hear rather than trying to produce a new sound.
• Pop music is often intended to encourage dancing or movement. In other words, it tends to be catchy music that uses dance beats and rhythm.
• In the past, more emphasis was placed on recording and producing the music than on live performances. To some degree, this is changing as popular artists and groups now tour and perform live. This change has been driven, in large part, by the increasing revenues found in concerts and merchandise. 

The emphasis in pop music is on the song. A pop song tends to be relatively short and is usually under three-and-a-half minutes long. The song also typically has a notable rhythm to it (which relates back to the encouragement to dance). Many pop songs follow a verse-chorus structure. A verse-chorus structure alternates verses with a repeating chorus. The chorus may use the same or contrasting music as the verse. A few famous examples of this structure include Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be the Day” and Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba.” Some pop songs follow a thirty-two bar or AABA form. In this case, a series of verses is interrupted by a bridge. Some famous examples of this structure include The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” the Beach Boys’ “Surfer Girl,” and Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire.” The thirty-two bar form may also become more complicated when it is extended or added on to. The Beatles’ song “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” for example, extends the typically AABA form with a second bridge.

The themes of pop music also help to characterize this genre of music. Typically, pop music centers on themes such as love and relationships. The themes of pop music also help to make the music accessible, as the songs are often about common experiences that most people will have at some point in their lives: having a romantic interest in someone, falling in love, breaking up, and other experiences associated with love.