Through The Booming Beats Of Pop

From grooving to the beats of "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley to jamming to the infectious melodies of Beyonce, pop music has observed numerous changes over the years. Through this essay we would like to summarize the evolution of pop music by broadly dividing it's journey in 5 decades.

Before we get into the history of pop music let us first understand what exactly is pop music. Pop music, an abbreviation for "popular music," is a genre of music characterized by its popularity and appeal to a broad audience. Pop music can be effectively described by the 3 Rs, Repetitive lyrics, relatable content and rhythm.

1950s-

Pop music in its early days was largely shaped by the influence of the American and British music industries, establishing a global uniformity in the genre. The 1950s is a significant decade for the pop history. It was the beginning of the true pop music. Rock n roll was replacing classical music. Producers like Mitch Miller worked with the most successful labels. Artists like Jonnie Ray, Frankie Laine and Guy Mitchell worked with Mitch Miller. Most musicians of that time combined country, blues, and folk music with mainstream rock music. Elvis Presley's Hound Dog was one of the most idolized songs of the era. The 1950s set the stage for today's pop music scene by amalgamating rhythm and blues, country, and various other genres to craft infectious and dance-friendly melodies that captured global audiences

1960s-

In 1960s pop had been characterized by its large teen fan base. During this time portable radio was introduced which allowed teenagers to take their tunes everywhere they go. Bands like Beach Boys were compiling traditional pop with surf rock. The pop sound of the 1960s was significantly influenced by the British Invasion spearheaded by bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Additionally, the artists of Motown Records left an indelible mark on the era, contributing to its memorable sounds. Pop was splitting into sub genres like bubble gum pop and baroque pop.

1970s

In the 70s era a mix of pop and punk rock music was defined by bands like romantics and the cheap trick. This decade was beginning of the era of Jackson 5, Elton John and Queen. The 70s were marked by an increase in music festivals where the youngsters used to enjoy live music of their favorite bands. The evolution of music technology and the advent of digital recording ushered in a new era of revolution in pop music. Instruments such as synthesizers, samplers, and digital drums became accessible, leading to the emergence of genres like disco, electro, techno, and house.

1980s-

In the 80’s digital recordings became huge. Electronic beats could be put into pop music. Michael Jackson’s album was a classic hit followed by Prince who had his own pop stardom to claim. Female powerhouses were also drawn upon like Whitney Houston and Madonna. The 80s era was an iconic decade for the pop history.  This period witnessed the emergence of new genres such as hip hop and electronic music, alongside the continued expansion of established genres like rock and pop. Moreover, the '80s marked a time of heightened accessibility to music for audiences worldwide. Even now the influence of the music style of this decade is observed in songs of modern day artists like Dua Lipa and The Weekend.

1990s and 2000s-

In the 1990s pop was continuing much as it had in the past but what it introduced new was British girl groups. The Spice Girls became the most commercially successful group since the Beatles. The next ten years would see teen pop groups like the Backstreet Boys and also Britney Spears single ‘Baby one more time’. By 2000s , pop was a genre with endless paths for artist to travel down. Each artist was known for having own twist to their music. Teen pop was existing in Britney spears and Lady gaga. Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ topped the charts and also went to the Grammys. Rap artist like Eminem were also rising.

Pop music has evolved beyond mere catchy tunes; it has become an integral aspect of people's lives. Pop music adapts to the changing society and never fails to appeal to the younger generations, shaping cultural trends and modifying lifestyles. The evolution of pop music is dynamic and ongoing but even with the changes that this genre is going through it will never fail to inspire, fascinate and unify the people across the globe.