Pop Music

Anthropology > Cultural
Dance
Music Studies > Contemporary

Pop Music

Looks at two of the currently most popular types of pop music, hip hop and salsa, which come from diverse musical and cultural origins.

2,665 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in pop music, audience enjoyment and commercial success are more important than artistic concepts, such as complex musical form and aesthetics. All pop music, which is any contemporary music not categorized as jazz or classical, the author contends, evolves from another kind of music, such as hip hop that stems from folk, rhythm & blues, jazz, country and gospel music. The paper examines hip hop music, a term used interchangeably with rap music, and salsa, which actually is American music from New York with an Afro-Cuban origination. An annotated bibliography is included.

From the Paper:

"Woody Guthrie popularized the style and he is known to be the innovator of it. More recently, Bob Dylan, who was strongly influenced by Guthrie, also utilized this style and brought life back to it in the 1960's. It came to be a trademark of country music (think of Willie Nelson), and can be considered an early predecessor of rap. As can be seen in comparison, hip hop grew out of this same tradition. Hip hop is known for stripping down the melody, emphasizing the rhythm, and incorporating verbalization along with vocal spontaneity and improvisation."

Sample of Sources Used:

Keyes, Cheryl L. Rap Music and Street Consciousness (Music in America Life). University of Illinois Press. March 5, 2004.
Vinet, Mark. Evolution of Modern Popular Music: A History of Blues, Jazz, Country, R&B, Rock and Rap. Wadem Publishing. 2004.
Boggs, Vernon. Salsiology: Afro-Cuban Music and the Evolution of Salsa in New York City (Contributions to the Study of Music and Dance). Greenwood Press. March 30, 1992.
Manuel, Peter. Caribbean Currents: Caribbean Music from Rumba to Reggae. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. (1995)
Colon, Willie. Puerto Rican salsa music icon. Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award Winner from Latin Academy of Awards and Sciences, 15 gold records, 11 Grammy nominations, Retrieved May 14, 2008: .http://www.theharmonyproject.com/history.html