Modern Popular Music

Modern Popular MusicReading “What is pop music”?Instructions:1. Find one partner2. Decide who will be Reader 1 & who

will be Reader 23. Find a piece of blank paper, a

writing utensil, & your article4. Reader 1 reads 1st paragraph out

loud to Reader 2, Reader 2 listens carefully & takes notes

5. Reader 2 reads next paragraph & Reader 1 takes notes

6. Reader 1 & 2 keep switching roles until entire article is read.

Questions1. What is the difference

between “pop” and “popular” music?

2. According to the article, define “pop” music.

3. What does “Pop Music Melting Pot” refer to (mean)?

4. What does “art is not a concern” mean?

5. What characterizes (makes) a “pure pop” song?

Popular Music Presentation

InstructionsYou be assigned one popular song from the following eras:• Pre-1920’s• 1930’s• 1940’s• 1950’s• 1960’s• 1970’s• 1980’s• 1990’s• 2000’s – today

You will make a presentation including

the following:• Title of your song• Name of artist• Name of lyricist• Name of music composer• Year song was released• Genre• 3 “Did you know…” facts• 2 minutes of the song• Analysis of the lyrics: What does it

mean?• What was the purpose of this song?

Was it made to make a statement? Express an idea?

Popular Music Presentation

Instructions (continued)Each student will choose one song from the following eras:• Pre-1920’s• 1930’s• 1940’s• 1950’s• 1960’s• 1970’s• 1980’s• 1990’s• 2000’s – today

The song that you choose must:

• Be approved by your teacher• Be from a different era than

your first song• NOT be by the same artist as

someone else’s song • Must be presented including all

the same info as your first song

(see previous slide) PLUS…• What does this song mean

to you? How does it affect or represent you?

Modern Popular Music

Pre -1920’s

John Phillip Sousa• “The March King”

• Emphasized brass instruments

• Stars and Stripes Forever

WC Handy• “Father of the Blues”

• Introduced a new style of music to the world

• Did not invent the blues but brought them to a worldwide audience

• 1st blues song– Memphis Blues

• Beale Street

Scott Joplin• “The King of Ragtime”

• Wrote 2 operas

• Fig Leaf Rag

Jelly Roll Morton• Jazz pianist – conductor -

composer

• He claimed that he “invented” jazz

• Jelly Roll Blues

Modern Popular Music

1920’s

Fats Waller• New Orleans Jazz

• One of the “Songs of the Century” – Recording Industry Association of America

• Ain’t Misbehavin’

Jimmie Rogers• “Father of Country

Music”

• Guitar, voice

• Yodel

• In the Jailhouse Now

Louis Armstrong• “Satchmo”

• Trumpet player and singer

• Reinvented himself as both Big Band performer, pop singer, and jazz trumpeter

• West End Blues

Modern Popular Music

1930’s

Robert Johnson• “King of the Delta

Blues”• Used voice and

guitar only• Dubbed father of

rock and roll • Crossroad Blues

Billie Holliday• “Lady Day”

• Along with Fitzgerald, considered one of greatest jazz voices of all time

• Strange Fruit

Fred Astaire• A dancer – singer –

film actor - entertainer

• Known for dancing with Ginger Rogers

• Cheek to Cheek

Modern Popular Music

1940’s

Bill Monroe• The Father of Bluegrass

Music

• High lonesome sound

• Mandolin with bass, guitar, and fiddle

• Blue Moon of Kentucky

Woody Guthrie• Noted for his

identification with o the common man o the poor o the downtrodden

• Hated fascism and exploitation

• This Land Is Your Land

Thelonius Monk

• Pianist who used “stride” piano techniques along with more “avant garde” approach

• Used the entire keyboard, not just those notes “in tune”

• ‘Round Midnight

Ella Fitzgerald• “The First Lady of

Song”

• Three octave range

• How High The Moon

Modern Popular Music

1950’s

Buddy Holly• Rock and roll

chords (C, G, E)

• 15 #1 hits on the Billboard Top 40 in one year

• Peggy Sue

Elvis Presley• King of Rock

and Roll• Huge teen idol

and heart throb

• Performed older African-American blues songs

• Jailhouse Rock

Ray Charles

• Rhythm and blues

• Added gospel sound to rock and roll

• Piano and boogie-woogie sound

• Mess Around

Johnny Cash• “The Man in

Black”

• Boom-chick-a-boom sound

• Folsom Prison Blues

Miles Davis

• Bebop– Throttled notes• Cool jazz—Improvisation• Modal jazz– No keys,

just notes.• Jazz fusion—Soul, R&B,

and jazz added with electric instrumentation

• Tempus Fugit

Modern Popular Music

1960’s

Frank Sinatra• Big Band Sound

• One lead singer with full orchestral arrangement

• Strangers in the Night• My Way• Other?

Bob Dylan• Influenced heavily by

Woody Guthrie

• Became most popular folk musician since Guthrie, but lost folk audience for going electric

• Blowin’ in the Wind

The Beatles• The British

Invasion

• Experimentation with musical instruments

• I Want to Hold Your Hand

• Hey, Jude

Beach Boys

• The California Surf Sound

• Experimentation with musical time signatures, music

• Good Vibrations

Marvin Gaye

• Berry Gordy produced

• Motown favorite

• I Heard it Through the Grapevine

Nat King Cole

• Vocalist & jazz pianist

• Died of lung cancer

• L-O-V-E

Modern Popular Music

1970’s

James Brown• “The Godfather

of Soul”

• Soul music

• Funk music

• Get Up Offa That Thing

Led Zepplin• Hard rock/ heavy

metal

• Volume to 11

• Kashmir

Bee Gees• Disco genre

• Known for 3 part vocal harmonies

• Stayin’ Alive

Stevie Wonder• Soul / Funk

• Blind since shortly after birth

• Superstition

Sugar Hill Gang

• MC– Master of Ceremonies

• A mix of spoken word, sampled melodies, and “scratching” records

• Rapper’s Delight

Ramones• Often cited as 1st

Punk Rock band

• Blitzkrieg Bop

Van Halen• Album “Van Halen”

one of the “most revolutionary albums”

• Formed in Pasadena, CA

• Runnin’ With The Devil

Modern Popular Music

1980’s

Bob Marley• Reggae genre

• Kettle drums with basic electric guitar

• Redemption Song

Michael Jackson• Changed pop

music into upbeat numbers with synthesized beats

• “The King of Pop”

• Thriller

David Bowie• Singer – Songwriter

– Arranger – Producer – Actor

• Star of “Labyrinth”

• Under Pressure

Beastie Boys• New School Rap

• Inducted into Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2012

• Fight For Your Right / Sabotage

Modern Popular Music

1990’s

Nirvana• Grunge

• Associated with Generation X

• Come As You Are

Red Hot Chili Peppers• Alternative Rock

• Notable bass guitarist

• Under The Bridge

Radiohead• Electronic Rock -

alternative

• Inspired by classical music - Penderecki

• Fake Plastic Trees

Modern Popular Music

2000’s - now