Pop rock
Pop rock is a genre of music that combines elements of both
pop and
rock. Songs are identified by their simple song structure, catchy melodies, and repetition of musical passages (the pop part), and by their use of
electric guitar- and
drums-based instrumentation and a somewhat aggressive attitude (the rock part). The term was first used to describe the early hits of
The Beatles, along with acts that followed them, such as
The Grass Roots,
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, and
The Buckinghams.
Surf rock is sometimes included as a type of pop rock; this is an
anachronism, as
surf music and
rock music were considered distinct musical genres in the 1960s.
Pop rock largely gave way to
soft rock in the 1970s. Although there were few acts in the 1970s and 1980s that could strictly be called pop rock, the genre continued in the form of
power ballads from
hard rock and
heavy metal acts, along with the more up-tempo songs from soft rock acts.
The latest wave of pop rock originated in the mid-1990s with such acts as
Alanis Morissette and possibly
Melissa Etheridge. The genre has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years as hard rock acts are knocked off the charts in favour of
rap,
R&B and
hip hop artists. A feature of some modern pop rock songs is the alternation of soft verses and loud choruses, influenced by the arrangements of
alternative rock artists. Other modern pop rock artists include
Michelle Branch, the
All-American Rejects,
Kelly Clarkson,
Melanie C,
Kitchie Nadal,
Avril Lavigne,
Ashlee Simpson,
t.A.T.u., and
The Veronicas. These acts are commonly classified as
Hot AC (after the radio format) or
Adult Top 40 (after the
Billboard chart).
There is much debate over whether certain artists are defined as rock or pop rock, and this generally comes down to the opinions of fans and critics. Australian artists such as
Jet and
Rogue Traders (headed by former
Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte) are often the source of many disputes, whereas
Powderfinger are still generally regarded as
alternative rock despite their commercial success.
There are many
Chinese pop rock bands and singers, including
Beyond,
Five Hundred & Chine Blue,
F.I.R, and
Wu Yue Tian (Mayday).
Japanese pop rock artists include
L'Arc~en~Ciel,
the brilliant green, and
Nana Kitade.
*
Pop punk*
Filipino rock*
Analysis of Pop & Rock
