Chapter 14 Popular Music Activity

One of the key themes of Chapter 14 is the ways in which popular music of the period was influenced by artists and styles that fell outside the margins of white American culture. The idea of the "outsider" played an important role in connecting American audiences with what was both foreign, and at the same time exciting and novel.

Listen to “Forever My Love” (J Balvin with Ed Sheern) (lyrics) on Spotify or another streaming service. (Note: Spotify may not provide full accessibility for all users.)

. Colombian-born singer J Balvin has quickly risen to the top of the pop charts with over 35 million records sold worldwide. That success is likely due in part to the music's appeal to what genre audience?

Blues

Jazz

Gospel

Country

Latin

. In what ways does a song like "Forever My Love" illustrate the power of music to transcend cultural barriers?

Both of the singers are rap artists in their own right.

The collaboration is between two non-American, foreign born artists.

Pop music styles are universal to American and varying other foreign markets

Both a and c

Both b and c

. In what way does the beginning of the song depart from traditional pop song structure and expectations?

The lyrics are sung alternately in Spanish and English.

An instrumental introduction before the entrance of the vocal is unusually long.

The voice enters without any instrumental accompaniment.

It features unconventional instrumentation.

None of the above

. The overall musical structure of the song can best be described as falling under the pop genre of a

rock anthem.

blues song.

romantic love ballad.

hip-hop/rap performance.

Latin dance-inspired instrumental.

. What significance does the predominance of the guitar accompaniment throughout the song play in supporting the overall mood and message of the song?

The acoustic guitar is commonly employed in pop love ballads.

The guitar has strong connections to both the American history of pop music and indigenous Latin sounds.

The multi-varied performance techniques of the guitar can be capable of drawing an audience into a more intimate listening experience.

None of the above

All of the above

. What feature of both Balvin's and Sheeran's voices contributes to what makes this song work as a duet?

Each voice has a differing opposite-end of the vocal range, and distinct timbre.

Both singers push the limits of their voices, and are not concerned about good vocal technique.

Each voice is heavily inundated with electronic vocal effects.

Both singers' success is built on the high male voice, and clean, ballad-pop style.

None of the above

. The chorus is sung solely in Spanish, which may signify what important fact about the song's appeal to a pop audience?

The artists only care about their Latin population audience.

The words are less important to the listening experience as compared to the emotion and vocal expression of the singer's voices and overall romantic mood of the song.

There is a strong history of Latin influence in American pop music.

Both a and b

Both b and c

. In what way can the structure of the song, which works on a steady beat and and unchanging dynamic level, be heard as building toward a climax?

The ending introduces a thicker instrument accompaniment of electric and synthetic sounds.

There is a heavy drum solo that introduces the last verse and chorus.

The two singers come together in the last chorus to sing in both unison and harmony, acting as one voice.

There is a dramatic change of key, and the dynamic level swells to the upper levels of volume.

All of the above

. What is the significance of the only occurrence of lyrics in the last chorus that are sung in English?

It is only meant to appeal to the English-speaking audience of listeners

It signifies the conjoining of both voices in terms of nationality and languages

To serves to reiterate the melodic "hook" heard in the chorus and to drive home the title of the song

Both a and b

Both b and c

. What general appeal does a song like this have to pop industry marketers?

Not much, as it will only appeal to a small, sub-genre audience of teens.

Large, for though it would primarily sell only in Spanish-speaking geographic locations, that market is huge.

Limited appeal, as the artists are not well-known enough in the global market

Wide appeal, as it can be marketed to diverse audiences, including American pop, Latin, international, and adult listening, to name a few.

None of the above

Discussion Question

Choose a contemporary crossover artist of international renown, and analyze one of their songs based on the features that define their particular musical style. Note how their songs employ elements of their native culture, and to what extent those elements are fused with the styles that define popular music. Also include in your account how their lyrics serve to support or contradict any stereotypes related to male/female romantic relationships portrayed in popular culture.

Quiz Content

Discussion Question