Pop Music

Pop music is a genre of music that is popular music. Pop music originated in form of the western world in the 1950's and 60's, extracted fro Rock and Roll. The term 'Pop music' is very diverse and interchangeable as it relates to music that is popular, no matter the genre of style of music. Pop music often borrows other styles and elements of music including the likes of Urban, Dance, Rock, Latin and even Country music. However, there are still firm elements that defines Pop music. These factors include short to medium length songs written in a basic format of a verse-chorus structure, along with the common use of a repeated chorus, melodic tunes and even hooks.

Conventions-
The clothing in Pop music is portrayed to be very bright and bold, to really make a big statement in the video. However, some artists like Lady Gaga go above and beyond the ideal, wearing items that are original and strange compared to the clothing trends of Pop, such as her meat dress idea. The clothing is essential as it creates the whole image of the artist and the way that they want to appeal to the audience. The lighting in Pop videos artificial and bright with white backgrounds, heightening the contrast and making the artists easily visible, as well as, remaining the focus on the artist. The high levels of lighting is often balanced out with small levels of low-key lighting or shadow to create a even contrast and balance between light and dark.The lighting can also sometimes be dim, depending on the lyrics of the song. In Pop, its very common for the video to always remain sole focus on the artist. The style of the videos are usually very upbeat and fun, often lacking relation to the lyrics.  The use of make up is mainly in females, who wear extravagant make up, however male artists wear no make-up in Pop. The camera shots in pop music doesn't have any specifics but the video often uses lots of different shots, that last a few seconds at one time. The props that can be used depends, but mainly drugs or alcohol, sometimes cars often cruising in the video. Even instruments can be included. The overall image is usually fun and full of colour, really relating to Pop.

One Direction-

One Direction is an English-Irish pop band who formed in London. the band began with 5 members, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louie Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. However, Zayn Left the band on the 25th of March 2015. The group can to fame on the talent contest show, The X Factor, who put the group together when the all auditioned solo, but instead Simon Cowell thought they would be better as a band. The band finished third in the show. They are in fact signed to Simon Cowell's label, Syco Records. They rose to international fame on social media, the band has produced 4 albums, ' Up All Night' 2011, 'Take Me Home' 2012,' Midnight Memories' 2013 and 'Four' 2014. There 5th studio album. 'Made In The A.M' was released in November 2015. Their achievements include six Brit Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, seven American Music Awards. They have also gained 19 Teen Choice Awards. In 2014, Forbes listed 1D as the second highest earning celebrities under the age of 30. They are the fourth highest earning celebrities in the world. The bands Where We Are tour, was in support of Midnight Memories and Four, it was the highest grossing concert tour in 2014, generating $282 million dollars. The band at this moment in time is currently on a pause as of January this year, they are expected to have a 18 month rest in order to gain some rest and relaxation.

                                         

One Direction are a pop band who are very popular with a female audience, they are very big around the world. As a band, they very much follow the conventions of pop music, in all aspects through there use of clothing, style and image. The image that they portray is very casual, having them wearing jeans and t-shirts, something that a audience can replicate. The fact that the band as a whole are a male band also adheres to the stereotypes, as many of the pop bands are male dominant, including the likes of That take and West life. They are all male dominant and are have all been hugely successful in the Pop industry. One Direction since they have rose to fame have become the artists that have taken the world by storm. With their tracks being something that the audience can sing with, the tracks being mainly about girls means that there girl fan base can relate to the songs that they are producing, feeling a personal connection between them and the band. In conclusion, as a band they very much adhere to the stereotypes of modern music and the stereotypes of being a band. The fact that they don't flash there fame creates a sense of reality between for the audience and for the artists themselves.    

Culture Club-

Culture Club are an English band that formed in 1981. The band consists of four members Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig, and Jon Moss. There second album, Colour By Numbers, sold more than 10 million copies world wide. It appeared on Rolling Stone's magazines list of the 100 Best Albums in the 1980's. The band has several big hits including, 'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me', 'The War Song', 'I Just Wanna Be Loved' and 'Karma Chameleon'. Boy George's style and fashion often caught the attention of the fans and the media, with his very quirky style, with big make-up and clothes to match. The band themselves is considered one of the most representative and influential groups of the 1980's. As a band, they have sold more than 50 million records. Ten of their singles reached the US top 40. Cultures Club music combines British new wave and American soul with Jamaican reggae, they were very unique and broke the ideal of modern music. In the UK, they gained 12 Top 40 hit singles between 1982-1999. 'Karma Chameleon' was the biggest selling single in 1983, and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1984.Overall, they are one of a kind band, who pushed the boundaries of music, they still remain to well-known to this day.

                                       
The culture club were very unique for there time and still remain to be unique, they pushed the boundaries of music.The fact that the front man, Boy George wore make up, gave him a very feminine quality and a persona beyond who he is. Creating an image that is something only a female artist would pursue, by him wearing make-up he is seen as an idol for those who feel they don't have a place in society, they feel like they can relate to him. The use of costume also matched his extravagant make-up, the use of colour really brings him to life. The use of costume and make up working in harmony as one, creates this feminine persona that would not have really be seen before boy George, in a world for the LGBT community. The band were very much known for having the location and setting name in which they filmed there music videos at, during the opening sequence of the video, giving an element of reality through filming at locations that people are aware of. The video itself is set in the 1870's, a time of Victorians, with big dresses and hats. The fact that he is wearing modern clothes in this era, making him stand out and become the centre of attention.The fact that he is wearing clothes in the future and they are dressed in the past, shows the heritage of fashions throughout the eras. Before the time of colour, he is showing them the future and what to expect in the future. The use of the man in the video stealing from the rich, implies an feeling of criminal activity and the fact that things may seem perfect on the surface, but underneath there is always a element of sinful crimes. The idea of gambling and betting, also assists the fact of wealth, with the name of the song also adds to this factor, of a chameleon, an lizard that can change his image, his skin to fit into the crowds. However, the idea of  Karma, showing that if you perform a crime karma will catch up with you, paying you back for your sin.Showing, the perfect image from afar but with deeper inspection, theft can be seen.  

Adele-

Adele is an English singer and songwriter. Graduating from the Brits School of performing arts and technology in 2006, Adele gained a record deal with XL Recordings, this was once a friend had posted a video of Adele singing her demo on MySpace the same year. A year later, she received a Brit award 'Critics choice' award, she also won BBC Sound of 2008. Her debut album, 19 was released in 2008 with a great amount of success. The album gained seven platinum titles in the UK and a double platinum in the US.  In 2009, Adele received awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. In 2011, Adele released her second studio album 21. This single earned the singer numerous awards in 2012, including 6 Grammy Awards. The album itself sold 31 million copies and in the US held top position longer than any other album since 1985. 21 is the longest running number one album by a female artist in the history of the UK and US top charts. In 2012, Skyfall was released for the James Bond film, the song won an academy award, A Grammy Award, and a Golden Globe award for Best Original Song. After taking a three year break after having her son, Adele released her third studio album, 25 in 2015. The album became the years best selling album, breaking first week sale records in both the UK and America. The lead single 'Hello' became the first song in the US to sell over one million digital copies within a week of release. Adele is one of the best-selling recording artists in the world, with sales of more than 100 million records.

Adele is very well know for singing, and her vocal performance means no videos are really needed, but the video in which she produces are very emotional, in terms of being mainly performance videos. The use of light in the video is predominantly a spotlight on the artist, contrasting against the background which is black. This is also a convention of  a Pop video, using light to focus on the artist, as well as, the black being the backdrop for the artist. The use of costume in the video is also very subtle, with Adele wearing a single floral print dress. Assisted, with minimal make-up and elegant hair, creating a whole image of class. The idea of having a reflection, mirroring her on the glass.The use of digital effects in the video creates almost ghost images of Adele, freeing a spirit linking to the lyrics of leaving the past behind her. Therefore, freeing apart of her in order to move on with her life. The use of camera angles in the video has been used through a close-up of her face, focusing on the emotion in her face. The fact that she is fed up of men treating her as if she is something that they can throw away. The use of zooming in and out of the artist, creates an illusion of movement in the video even though she isn't moving herself. When looking closer, its clear to see that the background of the black screen, flickers in motions of boxes, enhancing the movement. The overlaps in the video, show a slight tint of green, adding more colour to the whole image. Overall, the video very much subverts  the stereotypes of  Pop, with minimal use of bold colour, however, the fact that she is singing in a performance video is common for the Pop genre. The fact that she is wearing subtle make-up and clothing also assists the idea of subversion.  


Meghan Trainor-

Meghan is a American singer, songwriter and record producer. Trainor wrote, recorded, produced three independently released albums between the ages of 15 to 17. In 2011, she signed a publishing deal with Big Yellow Dog Music, pursuing a career in song writing. After making the switch in 2014 to Epic Records, Meghan rose to fame with the release of her major debut studio album, Title 2015. The Album reached number one on the US Billboard 200. The album went on to sell over one million copies. The album produced three 10 top singles: 'All About That Bass', 'Lips Are Moving' and 'Like I'm Gonna Lose You'. Her second major release, Thank You 2016, with 'No' being a top three hit on Billboard Hot 100. Meghan as an artist influenced by the 1950's and 60's era in music, Meghan has a very unique retro style to her. Common themes in her lyrics include subjects on womanhood, empowerment and body image of women. Meghan has gained several awards and nominations which include, A Grammy Award, Music Business Association breakthrough artist of the year, as well as two Billboard Music Awards. 

Meghan is very much a artist that is very much Pop related, she shows the stereotypes of Pop, through the use of colour. The fact that she is very colour related, the use of blues create a cool vibe. The use of make-up in the video is also very much big and bold, with the artist also having a variety of different costumes shows her wealth, being able to afford various items of clothing. The blue theme remains throughout even in the clothing with the artist having a blue outfit in the sequence. The length of the outfit is also very revealing, in terms of the dress being very short on the artist. The song itself shows the use of showing off her fame and wealth, displaying the fact that she is taking about the gold she has, and the fact that she is able to afford big items. This gives the impression to the audience that the artist is very fame obsessed. Therefore, not feeling attached to her audience and the audience feeling as if she is above them. Overall, she can be seen as someone who uses her wealth to make herself more popular. The use of pop adheres to the idea of pop with the blues, being eye-catching and standing out from the rest of the image. To conclude, she can be seen as using her fame to believe that people must respect her due to her fame.

10 year prediction- 

I believe that in 10 years, Pop music will continue to expand, exploring all elements and natures of society, tackling issues that are present in today's society. I feel that Pop will continue to above and beyond what is expected, But i feel that a sexual nature will only expand, into explicit natures.In conclusion, Pop will i hope keep its colour and vibrant nature to really remain its true essence of Pop music.