Questions tagged [pop]

For questions about the genre known as "pop music", which is characterised by being appealing to a general audience rather than a particular sub-culture or ideology.

Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid-1950s. The terms "popular music" and "pop music" are often used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular and includes many diverse styles. "Pop" and "rock" were roughly synonymous terms until the late 1960s, when they became increasingly differentiated from each other.

Although much of the music that appears on record charts is seen as pop music, the genre is distinguished from chart music. Pop music is eclectic, and often borrows elements from other styles such as urban, dance, rock, Latin, and country; nonetheless, there are core elements that define pop music. Identifying factors include generally short to medium-length songs written in a basic format (often the verse-chorus structure), as well as common use of repeated choruses, melodic tunes, and hooks.

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Name of note sequence present in many pop songs?

I remember hearing about a 3 or 5 note sequence that is in many popular songs like Frozen's Let it Go or Katy Perry's Fireworks. Supposedly your brain eats it up like sugar. Is there a name for what I am describing?
Kosmos
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10cc "I'm not in Love" - Unique inclusion of bystander's vocals?

Not only was "I'm Not in Love", a classic pop record, but 10cc did something unique: There's a section where a woman says "be quiet, big boys don't cry, big boys don't cry, big boys don't cry..." She was not a member of the band! She was a…
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Melody pattern in three pop songs - Gaynor, Erasure, Williams

There is a certain melody pattern appearing in - at least - three very different pop songs. I think that everyone knows about the pattern I am talking about when it comes to these three songs: Gloria Gaynor: I will survive, 1978 Erasure: Love to…
rexkogitans
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What defines the aesthetic of current American Top 40 Pop

I've been listening again to Top 40 recently (I was a huge Top 40 fan in my teens, circa early 1990's and haven't listened to it much since then). It definitely seems like there's a new aesthetic in pop, and while it doesn't match my own tastes, as…
Chris Sunami
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Does Ed Sheeran sing out of key on a few studio songs?

A few songs in which I believe this to be the case are One and New York from the album X (Wembley Edition). Is it just me, or does he sing out of key on these songs?
Nick Saemenes
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when did the 1980's sound of pop music and power ballads end?

When were the latest pop and power ballad songs done in the style of the 1980's, such as in Journey's "who cries for you", Brenda Russell's "Piano in the Dark" or Chicago's "we can last forever"? I'm wondernig when that style of pop or power ballad…
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Why are backing vocalists almost always older than the leads?

Why is it that 9 times out of 10 the backing vocalists in songs are older than the lead vocalists? E.g. Niki Harris (born 1962) as backing vocalist for LeAnn Rimes (born 1982) in Can't Fight the Moonlight? It just seems somewhat weird that backing…
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What genre is CHVRCHES?

I can't tell if CHVRCHES is pop or electro. It seems like some songs would be for the radio, but some songs by them are more for dancing and I can't decide on what exact genre they are.
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Pop Songs with Reversed Tonality

Teddy Pendergrass' 1980 "quiet storm" R&B hit ballad "Love T.K.O." is one of the most unusual songs in the entire pop music canon. Why? The verses are in a major tonality, while the chorus is in a minor tonality. In pop music, the verse and…
Chris Sunami
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Why is “Despacito” so successful?

You might be aware of the enourmeous success of the song "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. (It has been number one in many countries, as different as Mexico, Lebanon, Austria; It is the most viewed, liked and commented YouTube video ever;…
luchonacho
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What are the song names in Francesco Napoli's Balla Balla songs?

Franceso Napoli sang Balla Balla volume 1, 2 and 3. The songs are mixes/combinations of what I think are original Italian songs. What are the names/artists of the original songs in them?
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Where can I find the version of the song "Never Knew Love Like This Before" that is played in the movie "I Give It a Year"?

"Never Knew Like This Before" is a song that was originally sung by Stephanie Mills. Jessie Ware sang this song in the opening scene of the movie "I Give It a Year". However, I cannot find the specific version of this song that is used in this…
user4220
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USA for Africa song

What could be the probable reasons for Rod Stewart, Brian Adams , Elton John, Sting not in this beautiful song? The reason being there nationality is not American? Thanks & Regards, Prashant S Akerkar
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English song similar to this track

I have been trying to remember a song name for long but I could not. Luckily today I found a track which is little bit closer to the song I am searching for. I used to hear English motivational songs in 2015 and had a playlist. I remember that this…