Genre Research

Genres

In this presentation below there is a definition of a genre and also some examples of different genres have been shown:

Here are some genres that I have explained in more detail; 

Pop

The word pop originates from the word 'Popular', this shows that pop music is a popular genre and that it is commonly known. Pop music has used many elements from different genres including; Latin, Dance, Rock, Country and some others. Although pop music has similar elements to other genres you can easily tell the difference between them. You can see the difference because pop songs are generally short to medium length and are usually written in a basic format, this usually includes a verse chorus structure or the chorus is usually repeated quite a bit. Different people have different views on pop music, some people think that pop music is professional music which involves both folk music and fine arts music, whereas some people think that pop music is just a style of music that is trying to copy other genres like folk music and jazz music. It is said that most pop music is aimed at the youth but people disagree with this because many adults listened to Michael Jackson in the 70's and 80's which shows that the older generation still listen to pop music that they listened to as a kid but they moat likely won't listen to pop music that the younger generation now listen to. The first time the word 'Pop Song' was used was in 1926, this was used because the person who made up this phrase was trying to say that the music had a popular appeal.

Rock

Rock music isn't as old as pop music but it is still popular, in the 1950's in the United States rock music was known as 'Rock and Roll'. Since the 1960's Rock music has begun to develop different styles. This genre is similar to pop because it also has used elements from different genres, and some of them are; Blues, Rhythm and Country Music. Rock music usually involves electrical guitars, bass guitars and drums. Pop music usually relates to romance whereas Rock music relates to romance but also other themes like depression. Most people in Rock bands are usually male which is different to pop because in pop there is a wide variety of male and female artists. The 1960's were referred to as the 'Golden Ages' or the 'Classic Rock' period. There are many different types of rock, some of them are; Alternative Rock, Folk Rock, Country Rock and many others. Rock music is more energetic and more exciting than Pop music as it is usually faster and has more power. A lot of Rock music also influences people. For example, people began to call themselves 'Goth's' and 'Emo's' if they listened to Rock music. Now days Rock music isn't as popular as Pop music so it isn't listened to as much but there is a genre of music that is called 'Rock/Pop' which is when there is music that is fast and has electrical guitars and everything that you would see in a Rock band but there would also be some Pop elements in it, whether it be the lyrics or the music has just be auto-tuned to make it sound more like Pop music. 

Country

Country music isn't liked as much around the world as Pop and Rock music is. This genre of music is mainly known in the United States, it originated in the Southern United States in the 1920's. This genre has mainly been created by using elements from genres like American folk and Western music. Country music often consists of ballads and dance tunes which are accompanied by harmonies and stringed instruments. Country music can also be known as 'Hillbilly' music which again shows that this genre of music is from America. Now days Country music is more like Country music with some Pop also put into it, whereas Country used to be traditional ballads and cowboy songs that just consisted of certain instruments and no technology was involved. Again, just like Rock there are different types of country songs, some of them are; Outlaw Country, Country Pop. Country Rock and some others. 

Heavy Metal 

This is a sub genre of rock as it again always involves people with electric guitars, bass guitars and drums. Heavy metal began to develop in the 1960's and 70's. This genre used elements from different genres like Blues Rock and Psychedelic Rock. People that are in Heavy Metal bands usually create a loud sound, which consist of extended guitar solos, fast beats and a they create a very powerful sound. The lyrics in Heavy Metal songs usually are associated with masculinity and aggression. In the 1970's many people were against Heavy Metal as they didn't like how fast it was or how it sounded, but by the end of the 70's Heavy Metal fans were known as 'Metal Heads' or 'Head Bangers'. This was because at concerts they would bang their heads up and down while listening to the live music. The younger generation now days are not the type of people to listen to Heavy Metal as most songs these days are either House or Pop, but there are still a few people that do listen to this genre.

House

This is a genre of electronic dance music, it usually doesn't contain a lot of lyrics and it's mainly just a beat, but if it does contain any lyrics than they are usually continuous and the same lyrics are repeated over and over again. This genre of music originated in Chicago in the 1980's. There are different types of House music because when this genre was first seen it was generally danced based music which consisted of different beats and rhythms. House music these days is basically Pop music and Dance music put together. House music isn't the type of music you would usually listen to, it is more like music that you would listen to at a party or at a club so that you would be able to dance to it. It is very different to the others genres because the lyrics in other genres have meaning and in house music it usually doesn't have meaning and words are just put together with a beat so that people would be able to dance to it. During the early 2000's House music became very popular and different artists like Madonna tried to make their music more like a House genre rather than Pop.

Rap

Rapping is when people speak or chant lyrics that rhyme, it can also be seen as 'people that say words really quickly in time to a beat'. When creating a song that will have rapping in you will have to look at content, flow, and delivery. When rapping you have to make sure that the audience will understand what you are saying because if they don't then they won't be able to relate to the lyrics because they won't know what they are. This genre is often related to Hip Hop because they both have similar elements in them. Rapping can be sung with or without a beat, which is very different to other genres. For example, Rock would have to have a beat and instruments because if it didn't then people wouldn't understand the music as much as they would if it did have a beat with it.

Jazz

This genre of music originated in African American communities in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th Century. Jazz also has similar elements to different genres like Folk, Blues, Classical and some others. Jazz music always includes instruments, some of the instruments they use are brass instruments but stringed instruments are also used, but they are not used like Rock bands use them, in Jazz they are played softly and not as many different chords are used so there isn't always a variety of different sounds. In the 1940's Jazz moved from dance-able music to a more challenging 'musicians music' which consisted of faster tempos and there was a larger variety of different chords used. There are again many different types of Jazz; Cool Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, Reggae and many others. 

Screamo

This genre is also known as 'skramz', this is a sub-genre of hardcore punk that evolved in the 1990's. This genre is a lot more aggressive than the other genres as most of the words aren't sung they are screamed hence the word screamo. Lyrics in scremo songs aren't about love or relationships they are usually about emotional pain, struggles and human rights. Many people say that this genre shouldn't count as a style of music because half of the time you are unable to understand what the singer is saying which mean you won't know what the song is about. In this genre of music there will always be instruments, it is similar to Heavy Metal where they have long guitar solos and they use many different chord patterns and don't use the some ones all the time. This genre of music is more for the younger generation as they will understand the lyrics more and also this style of music isn't that old so the older generation won't really know about it. 

Classical

Classical music is one of the oldest genres of music, it was created in the early 11th century. This genre of music is art music and it was produced in the traditions of Western music. This genre of music usually doesn't have any lyrics in it which makes it very different from all the other genres. Classical music is always calm and soothing which helps people concentrate. In the past decades people wouldn't have listened to this genre of music as they would have liked to listen to music that involved singing, some people do listen to it these days so that they can calm themselves down and concentrate on what they have to do. In the early days of classical music the main instrument that was used was a piano, this was used because there wasn't a wide variety of different instruments to choose from and also the piano was a soothing instrument. But, in the 19th century there were many different orchestras and concert bands which would play different brass instruments and would also play stringed instruments and maybe drums but they would only play them softly.

Soul

This genre of music originated in the United States in the 1950's and 60's. Soul contains elements of different genres like; Gospel Music, Jazz, Rhythm, Blues and many others. In the United States Soul music become popular for dancing and listening to. In the late 1960's Soul music stopped being soulful and became more like Funk music instead. By the early 1970's, Soul had began to become influenced by Psychedelic Rock and other similar genres. Soul also contains many different instruments including stringed instruments but again when these are used they are not used like Rock bands use them, they are only used softy so that the music that they create isn't too loud. 

I then decided to explain how you would be able to notice a certain genre and what kind of people would listen to that certain genre. I have done this for 4 different genres and here they are;

Rock

Above, I have explained Rock music in a bit more detail, but I wanted to talk about what kind of people would be involved in this genre and also how people would be able to tell that a genre of music is Rock. So underneath I have made a presentation to help people understand more about Rock music.

There are many different Rock artists that have been playing for years and here are some Rock artists that you may know of;

• The Beatles
• The Rolling Stones
• Aerosmith
• All American Rejects
• Nirvana 
• Green Day
• Muse
• My Chemical Romance
• 30 Seconds To Mars
• Fall Out Boy 

Here is a music video by My Chemical Romance called 'Welcome To The Black Parade' to help you get a sense of what Rock music is like;

Pop

When I had explained Pop music in more detail I then wanted to let the audience understand what type of people listen to Pop music and how you would be able to tell if something is in or from the Pop genre. So here I have created a presentation to explain all of these factors;

Now you understand Pop music a bit more here are some Pop artists that you may or may not have heard of;

• Rihanna 
• Michael Jackson
• Katy Perry
• One Direction
• Cher
• Coldplay
• Paul McCartney
• Elton John
• Elvis Presley
• David Bowie

Here is a music video by Michael Jackson called 'Beat It'. Hopefully this will help you understand what Pop music is like;

Country

After explaining Country music in more detail I then wanted to be able to let the audience know how to tell something is from this genre and also what kind of people are involved with this genre of music. Here is a presentation explaining all of these areas;

Here are a few Country artists that you may know;

• Carrie Underwood
• Taylor Swift
• Luke Bryan
• Johnny Cash
• Dolly Parton
• Keith Urban
• Hank Williams
• Randy Travis
• Kenny Rogers
• Kip Moore

Here is a music video by Dolly Parton called 'Eagle When She Flies'. This should help you get a better understanding about Country music;

Jazz

When I had talked about Jazz in more detail I then wanted to let the audience understand what Jazz music is and what type of people would be associated with it. Here is a presentation to help explain all of this;

Here are a few Jazz artists for people that don't know any;

• Miles Davis
• Louis Armstrong
• Charlie Parker
• Charles Mingus
• Billie Holiday
• Bill Evans
• Ella Fitzgerald
• Lester Young 
• George Benson
• Max Roach

Here is a music video by Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong called 'Jazz Video'. Hopefully this video will help you get an idea of what Jazz music is like;

I have looked at a range of different genres which means I understand the differences between all of them. After looking at different genres am I now confident enough to choose what genre I am going to do for my music magazine and the genre I have chosen is Punk Rock. I have chosen this genre because this is the style of music I listen to, so I will know what the target audience would want to see because if I was put in their position I would know what I would want to see on a Punk Rock magazine. Another reason I have chosen this genre is because I think not enough people listen to this type of music because I personally think it is better than what most people listen to so I want to try and advertise this genre of music so that people would look at the magazine and find it interesting so would buy it and then could begin to listen to that style of music. I feel that if I chose a genre that I didn't know very well then I wouldn't be able to make my magazine look very good as I won't know what colours and themes that certain genre would have, I could do more research on the genre but again I could misunderstand some information and then do the wrong thing when creating my magazine, so I am going to stick with what I know well.