Genres of Music

Genres of Music-

A genre is “a kind of literary or artistic work”. A genre can also be described as “a class of artistic endeavour having a characteristic form or technique”. Source

Pop-

Rihanna

Pop music (a term that originally derives from an abbreviation of "popular") is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented towards a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes. The basic form for pop music is the song and usually a song consisting of verse and repeated chorus. Most often, the songs are between 2 1/2 minutes and 5 1/2 minutes in length. There have been notable exceptions. The Beatles' "Hey Jude" was an epic 7 minutes in length. However, in many cases, if the song is abnormally long, an edited version is released for radio airplay such as in the case of Don McLean's "American Pie." It was edited down from its original 8 1/2 minutes length to just over 4 minutes for radio airplay. Source

Rhythm and Blues (R & B)-


Rhythm and Blues music, or R&B music, was originally termed "race music". It was intended for black audiences. A combination of jazz, gospel, and blues, the term "R&B" was originally coined in the late 1940s in the United States to be used as a less offensive marketing term.  In the late 1940s and into the fifties, R&B groups consisted of brass instruments and woodwinds, as well as drums, piano and vocals. These elements were common in jazz bands, but R&B musicians produced a heavier sound with a steady beat. As the fifties progressed, the genre became notable for its sexually suggestive lyrics and provocative dancing associated with it. Source

Left: Mary J Blige, Center: Janet Jackson, Right: Whitney Houston

Independent (Indie)-


In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie", is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing.  In the 2000s, because of changes in the music industry and the growing importance of the Internet, a number of indie rock acts began to enjoy commercial success, leading to questions about its meaningfulness as a term. Source

Left: The Stroke, Right: Coldplay

Jazz-


Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a confluence of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th century American popular music. In jazz, the skilled performer will interpret a tune in very individual ways, never playing the same composition exactly the same way twice. Depending upon the performer's mood and personal experience, interactions with fellow musicians or even members of the audience, a jazz musician/performer may alter melodies and/or harmonies. Source

Left: Louis Armstrong, Center: Frank Sinatra, Right: Lena Horne 

Hip-Hop


Hip-Hop is a popular urban youth culture, closely associated with rap music and with the style and fashions of African-American inner-city residents. Source Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing. Other elements include beat boxing. Source

Left: T-Pain, Centre: Flo-Rida, Right: Cee-Lo-Green

Rock- 

Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music. Rock music also drew strongly on a number of other genres such as blues and folk, and incorporated influences from jazz, classical and other musical sources.

Left: Elvis Presley, Centre: The Rolling Stones, Right: Led- Zeppelin