From Vinyl to Viral: Pop Music History
source: Pinterest.com
Famous Artists: Sabrina Carpenter, Avril Lavigne, Coldplay, & Alex Warren
Pop music began in the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom, growing out of rock and roll. It’s known for its catchy melodies, steady rhythms, and lyrics that are simple and relatable. The sound of pop is upbeat and energetic, often using instruments like electric guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, and synthesizers. As technology advanced, electronic sounds and digital effects became a big part of the genre. Pop songs are designed to be memorable and fun, often making people want to dance or sing along.
Over time, different artists helped shape the sound of pop. In the 1960s, The Beatles and The Supremes made it melodic and cheerful. The 1970s brought smooth disco and piano-driven hits from ABBA and Elton John. The 1980s added bright synth sounds and dance energy through stars like Michael Jackson and Madonna. In the 1990s and 2000s, artists like Britney Spears and Beyoncé mixed pop with R&B and emotional lyrics. Today, pop continues to evolve with artists such as Taylor Swift, Adele, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd, and Billie Eilish, blending styles from around the world. The genre stays vibrant and expressive, always aiming to connect with people through sound and feeling.
In the song “Juno” by Sabrina Carpenter, she includes a lot of bass drum with a closed hi-hat, acoustic guitar, and backup vocals to imitate an echo of her lyrics. Similar to how Avril Lavigne represents in her song “Complicated ” and “Girlfriend” but instead Lavigne uses electric guitar and reverb instead of echos. In the uprising star Alex Warren’s song “Eternity” he uses piano, chamber orchestra (strings, woodwinds, and brass), bass drums especially the timpani, bass guitar, synthesizers to create effects at the beginning of the song and throughout the song. He also uses back up voices to create a reverb affect, basically repeating his lyrics back to himself.
Listen to songs:
Alex Warren Eternity: https://youtu.be/jXqf3uqLkkU?si=GqqwKII17r7UZYXX
Sabrina Carpenter Juno: https://youtu.be/Xvz0E5OEFV0?si=bLmGdepVMoOheQq-
Avril Lavigne Girlfriend: https://youtu.be/Bg59q4puhmg?si=_P1T1_EcX6C0GJiC