Week 8 Questions

One band that I have listened to recently has been Maroon 5. Most of this band's music usually fits into the category of pop, which is characterized by simple melodies which are repeated over and over again. The use of repetition is very common in pop and it is not different with some songs from Maroon 5, such as their recent single "Makes Me Wonder." In this piece, repetition can be heard in the lyrics that the lead singer is saying. The two main lyrical stanzas , which consist about out 4 lines each, are repeated over and over again with small changes throughout. Along with the lyrics, the bass line is also repeated throughout the song which strongly resembles an ostinado. The band also consists of drums and guitar which are both using repetition as well. The drums repeat the same rhythmic pattern throughout most of the song and the guitar repeats the same harmonic progression over and over again.
Along with repetition, there is a certain hierarchy of instruments that is also typical in most pop music. For example, the drums and the bass usually set the foundational rhythm and harmonic structure to the piece with the guitar playing some melodic lines in harmony with the main singer. This hierarchy is structured so that all of the instruments are all supporting the lead singer in bringing out his main melodic line. The lead singer's melodic line is the most important component of this style of music and it is important that the other instrument not simply drown out the lead vocalist. Also, in pop music, there is a clear distinction between the musicians and the audience with the musicians usually playing the music on a set stage. However, despite this distinction, dance is still closely tied to pop music as often the audience is expected to dance to the music that they hear on stage.