Research into Genres

Music Styles

• Pop
• Alternative
• Rock
• Jazz
• Country
• Classical
• Punk
• Indie 

Pop

• Sometimes known as 'Popular Music', the two terms are not interchangeable. Pop music usually refers to a specific musical genre where as popular music is a generic term for music of all ages that appeals to popular tastes. Originating from the early 1950's.
• Pop Music is often using elements of other styles such as rock,country and urban, it is often highly produced, using simple structures to the song such as verses, Chorus', Catchy hooks and bridges and often stick to simple repeated chord patterns
• Pop Music has influenced most other genres of popular music, there was a large use of guitars in the early years of pop music artists, whereas in modern times, Pop songs are expected to relate to Dance music in a way, so that they can be played in clubs and pubs stretching out to a bigger audience.
• MTV had a massive impact on the rise of pop music especially in the 1980s which promoted artists such as Madonna and Michael Jackson.
• Pop Music is mainly dominated in america, with the likes of artists such as Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Beyonce and Many more.

The track 'Toxic' by Britney Spears is seen as a pop/Dance track, the cover that has been done by Yael Naim is much different to the original and is seen as more alternative pop/indie music.

Rock

• Rock Music Originated in the 1950s, particularly in America and the UK, rock music influenced a number of other genres such as Jazz, blues, folk and many other musical sources.
• Some of the American rock icons of the 1950s include singers such as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins & Jerry Lee Lewis.
• As the years went by one major British band influenced rock&roll and the 'British invasion', The Beatles, who became one of the most influential English Rock Bands of all time.
• Since then the rock genre has changed majorly introducing sub-genres of rock, such as Punk Rock, Glam Rock, Heavy Metal, Classic rock, Folk Rock, Grunge and many others. Some of the artists that created such influence include Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Nirvana, The Ramones, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Iron Maiden.
• In Most rock songs the classic instruments used are electric guitar, a Bass Guitar coming from the Jazz era and a drum kit. These are the basis for a rock band/group which normally consists between 2-5 members.

Indie

• Independent music, is often shortened to indie music or 'indie' it is the type of music that is described as being independent from major commercial record label.
• In the UK the major record companies took over the main label power, although several British producers & artists launched independent labels, most of them soon failed comparing to the major labels. However in America independent labels & Distributors joined together to promote trade and parity with the industry.
• Indie Music has since branched out for other indie genres such as indie Folk, indie Rock, Indie pop.
• Some famous Indie artists include, Ben Howard, Mumford and sons, Jeff Buckley and Arcade Fire and many more.

The artist that is performing my song is in the genre of Indie Folk, so this genre relates the most to the song 'Toxic' as she has given her individual twist to it.