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popular music
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
The night America caught Beatlemania Elvis: The Comeback Special
How music causes chills: Understanding dopamine and sound
Lady Gaga Kendrick Lamar
Quizzes
British musical group Culture Club on the set of the "Karma Chameleon" video, 1983; (left to right) Roy Hay, Jon Moss, Boy George and Mikey Craig.
80s Music Quiz
Scattered vinyl records 45s. (music)
One-Hit Wonders Quiz
(Left) Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee (Ramon Luis Ayala Rodriguez) perform during the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards and Show at the Bank United Center, University of Miami, Miami, Florida on April 27, 2017. (music)
2010s Music Quiz
Young girl wearing a demin jacket playing the trumpet (child, musical instruments, Asian ethnicity)
Sound Check: Musical Vocabulary Quiz
USA 2006 - 78th Annual Academy Awards. Closeup of giant Oscar statue at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, film movie hollywood
Pop Culture Quiz
Read Next
Giant portrait of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong hung over the Forbidden City. Imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing (Peking), China. Palace Museum, north of Tiananmen Square. UNESCO World Heritage site.
Behind the Scenes: 7 Historical Figures in Beatles Lyrics
iPod. The iPod nano released to the public Sept. 2010 completely redesigned with Multi-Touch. Half the size and even easier to play. Choose from seven electric colors. iPod portable media player developed by Apple Inc., first released in 2001.
10 Musical Acts That Scored 10 #1 Hits
Studio on air sign. Radio transmitting broadcast Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, media news television
7 One-Hit Wonders That Kept Us Wondering
US Marines firing at Fallujah, Iraq, during the Second Battle of Fallujah in November 2004. Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War.
Timeline of the 2000s
Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)
All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained
Discover
Periodical Cicada, Adult, Magicicada spp. Requires 17 years to complete development. Nymph splits its skin, and transforms into an adult. Feeds on sap of tree roots. Northern Illinois Brood. This brood is the largest emergence of cicadas anywhere
Why Do Some Cicadas Appear Only Every 17 Years?
Amendments 1-10 to the Constitution of the United States constitute what is known as the Bill of Rights on an American flag.
What Is the Emoluments Clause?
Cathedrale St.Jean in Lyon, France has a 14th-century astronomical clock that shows religious feast days till the year 2019; Perpetual Calendar
Ten Days That Vanished: The Switch to the Gregorian Calendar
Internet http://www blue screen. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, media news television, crowd opinion protest, In the News 2009, breaking news
Who Invented the Internet?
Happy, smiling, flying pig
7 Everyday English Idioms and Where They Come From
Poker game. Card game. Royal Flush in poker. Hearts suit gambling
Poker Hands Ranked
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
Home Entertainment & Pop Culture Music, Contemporary Genres Pop Music

popular music: Facts & Related Content

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Facts

Also Known As pop music

Photos and Videos

The night America caught Beatlemania
Elvis: The Comeback Special
Lady Gaga
Kendrick Lamar
How music causes chills: Understanding dopamine and sound
See All Videos and Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics
jazzrocknueva cancióndiscorhythm and bluesK-popgospel musicchimurengabluesAfrican popular musicoperachoral musictheatre musicchamber musicelectronic musicfolk musicvocal musicklezmer musicmusicalglobal music
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic
  • United States: Popular music
  • circus: Circus music
  • Latin American music: Folk and popular music
  • popular art: Popular music

Key People

George Gershwin
George Gershwin
American composer
The Shakespeare of his generation
Bob Dylan
American musician
Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
American singer and actor
The King of Pop
Michael Jackson
American singer, songwriter, and dancer
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
American singer-songwriter
The King of Rock and Roll
Elvis Presley
American singer and actor
Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey
American singer-songwriter
George Michael
George Michael
British singer and composer
Queen Bey
Beyoncé
American singer
Paul Williams
Paul Williams
American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga
American singer-songwriter and actress
J.Lo
Jennifer Lopez
American actress and musician
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
American singer
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Canadian musician
Zendaya
Zendaya
American actor, singer, and dancer
Fairouz
Lebanese singer and actress
Pop culture icon Madonna
Madonna
American singer and actress
Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox
Scottish singer and songwriter
Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka
American singer and songwriter
A masterful vocal stylist
Tony Bennett
American singer

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
Young girl wearing a demin jacket playing the trumpet (child, musical instruments, Asian ethnicity)
Sound Check: Musical Vocabulary Quiz
(Left) Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee (Ramon Luis Ayala Rodriguez) perform during the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards and Show at the Bank United Center, University of Miami, Miami, Florida on April 27, 2017. (music)
2010s Music Quiz
Joan Baez performs at the Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C., Aug. 28, 1963. A sign hanging on the podium reads "We Shall Overcome." Photo by Rowland Scherman. Baez American folksinger and political activist. folk music
A Study of Musicians
USA 2006 - 78th Annual Academy Awards. Closeup of giant Oscar statue at the entrance of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, film movie hollywood
Pop Culture Quiz
Dummer playing with his drum set or drum kit.
Pop Music: From Backstreet to Main Street
British musical group Culture Club on the set of the "Karma Chameleon" video, 1983; (left to right) Roy Hay, Jon Moss, Boy George and Mikey Craig.
80s Music Quiz
South Korean music group BTS performs onstage during the 2017 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (K-pop, K pop, music, boy bands)
K-Pop Songs Quiz
South Korean music group BTS performs onstage during the 2017 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (K-pop, K pop, music, boy bands)
BTS Quiz
Scattered vinyl records 45s. (music)
One-Hit Wonders Quiz
Retro Microphone with sample text on white background.  Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, history and society, media news television
Play List
American quartet Boyz II Men (left to right) Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris and Michael McClary, 1992. (music, rhythm-and-blues). Photographed at the American Music Awards where they won Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist, Los Angeles, California, January 27, 1992.
90s Music Quiz
Green Day, American punk rock band
2000s Music Quiz
List
Giant portrait of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong hung over the Forbidden City. Imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing (Peking), China. Palace Museum, north of Tiananmen Square. UNESCO World Heritage site.
Behind the Scenes: 7 Historical Figures in Beatles Lyrics
Studio on air sign. Radio transmitting broadcast Hompepage blog 2009, arts and entertainment, media news television
7 One-Hit Wonders That Kept Us Wondering
iPod. The iPod nano released to the public Sept. 2010 completely redesigned with Multi-Touch. Half the size and even easier to play. Choose from seven electric colors. iPod portable media player developed by Apple Inc., first released in 2001.
10 Musical Acts That Scored 10 #1 Hits

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