Pop Music Vs Country Music

Pop music was contrived in the 1950s and 1960s, getting its style from many rock and roll superstars. Country music, however, was established in the 1920s, its style being influenced by the blues. In this day and age, modern pop is at its peak, being considered one of the most popular genres in America. Thirty years ago, nevertheless, country music was thought to be the favored genre among the two. Although many people admire both mainstream pop and old country, they are very distinct genres.
David Archuleta once said “I like the pop music, but I still want to have meaning in my music.” Archuleta is clearly stating that he wants his music to be lyrically-meaningful and passionate due to the opinion that most mainstream pop music has

lost its significance. It has come to the attention of many people across the United States that a handful of modern pop artists market inadequate values such as alcohol, drugs, and sex.

In 2008, Brian Primack, an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh, analyzed Billboard Magazine’s top songs of 2005. In Primack’s research, it was discovered that 103 of the 297 songs, mostly containing music of the pop genre, referenced sexual activity as well as substance use, violence, and weapon carrying. Primack’s analysis states that music accounts for more than a third of an adolescent’s learned behaviors. Since pop music’s audience mostly consists of adolescents, these references could possibly affect a teenager or young adults’ behavior (Internet). Not only do these songs contain insufficient values, but a great amount of modern-day pop uses autotune and artificial instruments to enhance the quality of one’s music. Google defines autotune as “a device or facility for tuning something automatically, especially a piece of computer software that enables the correction of an out-of-tune vocal performance.” Various artists in modern pop culture, such as the Black Eyed Peas, Daft Punk, Katy Perry, and Maroon Five, use autotune to

improve their music. Autotune’s primary use is to correct any mishaps a performer may have, but can also be used to make interesting effects on the voice; Dwayne Carter, Jr., also known as Lil Wayne, has been known to use these effects in a copious amount of his songs. Closely related to autotune, artificial instruments have become a very popular trend in pop music today. Due to today’s technological advances, computers now have the ability to create any combination of notes, instruments, and sounds possible.
Kenny Chesney once said “Social topics may hit too close to home for people, but then again, if you pull a heartstring, then that's what country music is. It's not just songs about getting drunk and leaving your girl”. Kenny Chesney, a country music singer and songwriter, explains that he believes country music is not just about getting drunk and doing things you may regret, but about touching the hearts of millions of people. The message behind most classic country is directed towards leading a simpler and less materialistic lifestyle. Johnny Cash’s 1968 hit song Daddy Sang Bass is about spending time with family and friends. Compared to modern pop, old country music uses little to no autotune or artificial instruments. In this day and age, autotune is being used frequently, however, in the 1900s autotune and artificial instruments were rarely thought of. Classical country music differs greatly from that of the pop music genre.
Even though mainstream pop and old country are both appreciated by many people, they differ in various ways. Compared to classic country music, today’s pop music markets incompetent values and uses autotune and artificial instruments quite frequently. Many people believe that classic country music would be a good substitute for teenagers in this generation instead of the bad influence pop music has.