9781422274392

with many people. One of the reasons Michael Jackson was so popular was because of the innovative way he used music, catchy sounds, and dance to draw people to his music. His lyrics were also creative. They were not written with the same clichés of earlier songs that would make people bored to hear them after just a few times. Many other performers had a major influence on the evolution of pop music over the past fifty years. The Beatles were wildly popular during the 1960s, and they caused many changes in the pop music world. They wrote most of their own music, and they were among the first groups to make promotional movies to accompany their songs—the forerunners of music videos. They also tried to make sure every song on their albums was high quality, where earlier groups had focused on making hit songs. While pop music is often meant to be fun, some pop stars have succeeded in expressing socially conscious messages through their music. One of the first was singer Marvin Gaye. His 1968 album What’s Going On focused on social justice, the environment, and other issues that American society was dealing with at the time. What’s Going On showed that pop music didn’t have to always be about love and heartache. That same year, James Brown told black Americans to “Say it loud / I’m black and I’m proud.” Strong and confident women also took charge of their music and careers and heavily influenced pop music as a result. Aretha Franklin perfected her craft and brought amazing vocals and performances to life. Performers from Pat Benatar to Beyoncé left their mark on pop music with empowering messages that challenged the music industry. Cindy Lauper reminded everyone that “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” while Madonna told fans that it was okay to “Express Yourself.” These are only a few of the many talented performers who helped pop music evolve with their creativity and influence.

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Chapter 1: The Roots of Pop Music