What exactly is the difference between a rock and a pop song? I know that pop is short for popular, but that doesn't really help! Were the Beatles Rock, Pop, or both? Surely the Rolling Stones were just Rock? What about The Jam? How do people categorise it?
If anyone can explain I'd much appreciate it.
2007-12-02 02:19:45 · 7 answers · asked by John P 4 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Other - Music
rock music formed as a sped up version of blues, with heavy use of guitars and drums. pop music is whatever is popular at the time. so the beetles were pop and rock, stones too probably. nowadays pop music has evolved into the commercial pre-fabricated groups who dont even write their own lyrics to the songs some music exec told them to do.
2007-12-02 02:29:00 · answer #1 · answered by Rich W 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's kind of a difficult question that takes a lot of study to really know the difference other than initial listening. Rock and Pop have their roots in Jazz music, but basically the difference has to do with chord progression, instrumentation, and other things. In Jazz you will find wind instruments (sax, trumpet, etc.) but not always, guitar (mostly without any distortion), drums, maybe keyboards, and bass (usually an upright). Rock uses guitars (mostly with distortion or other effects, drums, bass, and keyboards. Pop nowadays is heavily keyboard and fake drum based, relying on artificial sounds and heavy rhythms. But, like I said this is a very limited answer since all 3 are intertwined together and share many of the same things.
2016-05-27 05:52:51 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question. I think the term 'rock' is fairly recent compared to 'pop' (apart from 'rock-n-roll', which was applied to bands like Bill Haley & the Comets in the 50s) I'm pretty sure the Stones and even Led Zep were called pop music in their earlier years, we've only really been using the term 'rock' since the 70s, to describe louder, harder music.
To me, nowadays pop music is designed purely to make money for the record companies, it is a product rather than an artform, whereas rock in all its various forms is more about composition and performance, but feel free to disagree!!
2007-12-02 02:42:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rock is good thats the difference.
(Well some pop and old pop is gd)
2007-12-02 06:26:46 · answer #4 · answered by Prestmackine 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Pop is usually just singing where rock has instruments. Also, pop is sucky, and rock is awesome
2007-12-02 02:30:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Rock is noise!!! Pop is cheesy!
2007-12-02 02:23:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
rock involves guitars and good singing.
pop is rubbish
2007-12-02 02:24:48 · answer #7 · answered by Ghost Boy 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋