Music is a creative art form that can transcend all ages and resonate with all different types of audiences around the world. Music can bring a person joy, fill them with energy, calm a person down, spark emotions and even transport a person to a particular memory and moment in time. While many may have a favorite genre or two, it is worth noting that there are so many out there that offer talented artists and fabulous tunes.
If you are ready to branch out in your musical repertoire and check out some different styles, here are seven music genres well worth listening to. Even if they don’t become your favorites, it’s interesting to see how each one differs from the next and learn a bit about its roots.
Rock
If you were to pick one genre that is the most popular and most well-known, rock would probably be at the top of the list. It was in the 1950s that rock music really took off, getting its start in the United States and then spreading into Europe in the early 1960s. What’s interesting is to take a look at how rock music has evolved over the years both in its sound and the movements it has been part of. While it may not seem as edgy today as it once was, it still is a genre well worth looking into.
Pop
On the opposite side of the musical spectrum is pop music, which tends to be light, bubbly, fun and energy-inspiring. While it may not carry the messaging and edginess of rock, it has still got a strong and loyal following. Today, pop music encompasses a wide array of artists and sounds, which means it’s a rather large umbrella to be under.
Even though it’s been around a long time, it was in the 1980s that this genre started to create a niche for itself and sound different from others. This is when it started using digital sounds, which are common in pop songs even today. If you look at the most notable pop music artists, you’ll see they could fit in a couple of genres at once, which is typical of pop. Examples include The Beatles, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Barry Manilow, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Queen and Madonna.
K-Pop
Then we have K-pop, which has such a huge following it’s now been designated its genre. K-pop is pop music that stems from Korea and has made its way into Europe and North America in a big way. It has the same upbeat sounds as pop, but the lyrics are sung in Korean. While there are several K-pop groups it’s BTS that has the biggest fan base. This seven-member boy band is the first musicians to ever have eight songs that charted at number one in 100 countries on iTunes. They also hold the record for the most views for a debut on YouTube. To say they’re massive feels like an understatement.
R&B
R&B stands for rhythm and blues is and is one of the most well-known and popular genres out there. It has gone through quite a transformation since its creation, becoming more mainstream along the way. If you were to point out some of the most notable artists in this category, it would include such people as Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, Lionel Richie, Ike and Tina Turner. The term was created back in 1947 to describe the particular genre and was a mixture of genres.
Alternative R&B
While you may be familiar with R&B what you may not be as familiar with is the alternative R&B genre which has just started to make a name for itself in the past decade. Pirate, which offers professional studio recording rental space, does a great job of explaining what alternative R&B is and where it got its roots from. Pirate is well known for its high-tech studio space locations in Germany, the UK and the US and its blogs are some of the most informative out there.
Described as sounds that don’t fit into the typical commercial R&B category and tends to be edgier, with some sort of messaging behind it. The lyrics tend to dig a little deeper and some even push the boundaries. Pioneers of the genre include Miguel, Solange and Ojerime.
Hip-Hop and Rap
Hip hop and rap are usually used to describe one genre but the two are very different from one another. You may love one and not the other, or perhaps you appreciate both. Both got their start back in the 1980s and used spoken words in songs combined with electronic beats and sounds. It was fresh, new, different and edgy and many artists used the genre as a way to describe the harshness of life and their own experiences. It started in New York City, the Bronx to be more exact, as a cultural statement and movement in the 1970s but then became mainstream in the 80s. If you were to create a list of the most notable or popular rappers over the years, it would likely include such names as Salt ‘n’ Pepa, LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Beastie Boys, the Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams. Country Finally, there is the country music genre, which is among the most popular genre in the United States. Today’s country feels a bit fresher and more upbeat but is still staying true to its roots. Country music is known for its lyrics, banjos, guitars and often a twang in the voices of the artists. Today’s country music stars have also managed to cross over into the world of rock, soft rock and pop and produced some really interesting collaborations with artists outside their genre.
If you’re ready to experience some different types of music, perhaps discover new favorite artists and bands, why not give each of these music genres a listen? Each one has its own interesting story and is filled with notable songs and artists.
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