(Pop)- Rock Anthems of the 1970/80s Flashcards
how had Rock ‘n’ Roll evolved by the 1960s?
By the 1960’s, Rock ‘n’ Roll evolved into a new style of music, known simply as Rock Music.
There are many subgenres of Rock Music: (separate flashacrd)
what were the sub-genres of Rock Music? (5 things)
1) Hard Rock
2) Heavy Metal
3) Glam Rock
4) Progressive Rock
5) Punk Rock
what was hard rock?
– loud and aggressive, distorted electric guitars, solo guitar sections, use of power chords
what was heavy metal?
– harder, louder and more distorted than Hard Rock with longer guitar solos
what was glam rock?
theatrical and glitzy, catchy hooks, spangly suits and make up
what was progressive rock?
– experimental and complicated structures, long instrumentals with effects and mythological
lyrics
what was punk rock?
harsh and angry, loud and fast, anarchy and rebellion as themes
what were the lyrics like?
1) Wider subject matter than the simpler
lyrics of Rock ‘n’ Roll with themes such
as:
2) politics, philosophy, religion and
literature with darker, powerful and
more serious lyrics.
3) Powerful anthemic choruses designed to be sung loudly by the audience, (Songs needed to be powerful and memorable to engage audiences and encourage people to sing along and dance.)
what was the tempo like?
Moderate to Medium Fast (Allegro
Moderato)
110-120bpm
what was the metre?
4/4 time signature, strong steady “Rock Beat”
how does the lead singer sing the melody?
Performed by the lead singer with
lyrical vocal phrases featuring
repeated patterns.
how does the lead Electric Guitar play the melody?
The lead
Electric Guitar plays Strong Guitar
Riffs based on short sections of the
main melody.
what are the dynamics?
Due to heavy amplification, Rock
Music is designed to be performed
very loudly – Fortissimo (ff).
what was the rhythm?
1) Strong and Driving Rhythms.
2) Incessant Drumming Patterns.
3) Use of a heavy Bass Drum and continuation of use of Backbeat (emphasising the 2nd and 4 th beats of the bar on the Snare Drum)
what was the texture?
Homophonic (Melody and Accompaniment) Texture although thick Polyphonic Textures are often used when singers, guitars and drums play different rhythms at the same time.
what was the articulation?
Effects added to guitars: Distortion, Echo, Reverb, Overdrive, Delay, Wah-wah and Feedback (the noise made when a mic or guitar are too close to a speaker).
what was the accompaniment?
Lead singer accompanied by band that provide the accompanying rhythm, bass line and chords, although there are opportunities for virtuosic instrumental solos.
what was the form and structure?
Verse-Chorus Form.
1) Long Intros.
2) Modulation in the Bridge
(extended instrumental solo
improvisation). (from jazz)
3) Memorable
Chorus.
how long to rock songs last for?
Rock Songs often of longer
duration – some 7-8 minutes.
what was the vocal performance and technique like?
Mainly male vocal lead-singer singing with a
growly, raspy and husky-style of singing
using very high pitch screams singing with
Vibrato but not Falsetto.
how did a develop in technology affect Rock Anthems of 70s/80s? (3 things)
1) Amplification technology developed – louder
volumes.
2) New sounds and effects:
Distortion, Wah-wah, Delay, Overdrive.
3) Multi-track recording created increasingly
complex textures.
what were the venues?
Louder amplification = increasingly larger
audiences in stadiums, sports arenas and
pop festivals.
what did performances feature visually?
Performances feature special
effects – light shows and pyrotechnics.
examples of Artists, Bands & Performers:
Led Zeppelin, The Who (Hard Rock) Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden (Heavy Metal) David Bowie, Queen, KISS (Glam Rock) Yes, Pink Floyd (Progressive Rock) Sex Pistols, Blondie (Punk Rock)
what was the basis of a rock band?
a Lead Singer, Drum Kit and Trio of Guitars: Lead Electric Guitar, Rhythm Guitar and Bass Guitar.
what does the sound of rock music centre upon instruments wise?
Electric Guitar.
Sometimes a Piano, Hammond Organ, Electric Keyboard/Synthesiser or Strings may be added or other (often strange!) timbres and effects!
what is the harmony and tonality like?
1) Early Rock uses mainly Primary Chords (I, IV
& V) but later Rock uses Auxiliary Chords,
Chromatic Chords, Added Sixth Chords, First
and Second Inversion Chords and Altered
Note Chords and repeated chord patterns
2) Power Chords (chords which
don’t contain the 3rd e.g. C5) are a key
feature of Rock Music, these are chords played on the guitar which do not
contain the middle note – the third.
3) Modulations (in
the Bridge section) became more common
what are modulations?
changing key
