Pop Rock Research

Where does it originate from?
 It started in the 1970’s in UK and US with artists such as Paul
McCartney, Elton John and Three Dog Night.
 Simon Frith analysed the history of popular music and added the “rock”
suffix to new genres. That way pop-infused styles were called pop rock.
George Starostin defines it as a subgenre of pop music that uses catchy pop
songs that are mostly guitar-based.

How has it evolved?
 Throughout 1970’s this genre was successful in being catchy and quickly found a
loyal audience. In 1980’s new artists such as Stevie Wonder, who are all known
to this day as great artists, dominated the charts with the fall of disco. Later on
artists such as Bryan Adams, Tina Turner, Cher and Madonna sang pop rock
music, providing more successful female singers in contrast to earlier years.
 In the 1990’s a new subgenre emerged combining elements of pop with punk
rock, an example is Green Day. Later in the year artists such as Shakira, No Doubt
and The Cranberries became popular for their pop rock music. In the 2000’s
famous artists such as Maroon 5, Avril Lavigne and P!nk arrived and in the
2010’s in addition to the existing one’s Kelly Clarkson, Train and The Script joined
the very successful group of pop rock artists. From the very start this genre had
similar conventions and were mostly bands who are passionate about music
apart from Shakira and P!nk.

How are artists represented?
 They are mostly represented as talented artists who are passionate about
their music and mostly play an instrument. They are represented as normal
people, wearing casual clothes and people who can have fun.
Nevertheless, they are not portrayed in a sexual way and rather as people
who feel comfortable in their environment, being themselves just like us.

Ideology
 This genre shows that if normal people love something and are determined
enough, they can achieve their dreams. It emphasizes their love for music
and that you can have fun with whatever you do that you love. As it also
represents relationships and everyday situations, it can have both a sad and
happy note, perhaps giving us an idea that things can be both bad and good.
This is evidenced by Bryan Adams’ “Summer of 69” which has both a happy
meaning and a sad meaning.

Artists
 Examples of contemporary artists that fit really well with the conventions
are; Train and Avril Lavigne.
 Both Train and Avril Lavigne represent how they are passionate about music
and sing their songs about relationships or life issues. In addition, both
artists sing catchy music that everybody likes but doesn’t go for the actual
sexual appearance seen in pop songs and both act as if they are confident
and comfortable in their environment, wearing casual clothes.

Conventional Music Video
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NPBIwQyPWE

My music video
 Considering these conventions I am going to include a performance with
close-ups on instruments and a narrative that is based around everyday
issues focusing on the artist. Moreover, the actors will wear casual clothes
and act confidently and happily to emphasize how they are comfortable and
having fun with music.