Jump to content

Electropop

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sequencer07 (talk | contribs) at 19:10, 26 March 2009 (1979-1983 instead of 1978-1981 (see discussion)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"Technopop" redirects here. For the game developer, see Technopop (developer).
Electropop
Stylistic originsElectronica
Pop music
Krautrock
Synthpop
Post-punk
New Wave
Cultural originsLate 1970s Germany and Britain
Typical instrumentsSynthesizer - Drum machine - Tape loops - Drums - Guitar - Sequencer - Keyboard - Sampler- Vocoder
Derivative formsElectro
Techno
Dance-punk
Post-disco

Electropop (also called technopop) is a form of electronic music that is made with synthesizers, and which first flourished from 1979 to 1983. Electropop laid the groundwork for a mass market in chart-oriented synthpop. Numerous bands have since carried on the electropop tradition into the 1990s and 2000s.

Electropop differs from synthpop because it is characterised by a cold, robotic, emphasized electronic sound, which was largely due to the early limitations of the analog synthesizers used to make the music. It often features alienated deadpan lyrics with a futuristic sci-fi edge.

Most electropop songs are pop songs at heart, often with simple, catchy hooks and dance beats, but differing from those of electronic dance music genres which electropop helped to inspire — techno, house, electroclash, etc. — in that songwriting is emphasized over simple danceability.

History

Many early electropop artists were British and were inspired by David Bowie's "Berlin period" albums Heroes and Low.[1] Other main influences on electropop were the German band Kraftwerk[2] and the Japanese group Yellow Magic Orchestra.[3] Some groups also took inspiration from the NYC synthpunk group Suicide,[4] and the Krautrock groups Neu!, Cluster, and Can.

There had been a long history of experimental avant-garde electronic music, notably in northern Europe, but this had little influence on electropop. The avant-garde electronic music tradition did, however, provide access to a bank of technical expertise built up over decades, via organisations such as the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, and the London Electronic Music Studios. These institutions were patronised by early rock synth pioneers such as Brian Eno, Roxy Music, Tangerine Dream, and Pink Floyd.

Electropop was strongly disparaged in the British music press of the late 1970s and early 1980s as the "Adolf Hitler Memorial Space Patrol" (Mick Farren)[5].

Electropop later fed into, and its synthesiser sound became intertwined with, the British New Romantic movement of the early 80s. The early electropop sound also changed with the introduction of samplets and later rave elements,notable from New Order's 1983 "Blue Monday" single. Within ten years of electropop's 'death', the cultural meaning of its 'blips and beeps' had been shorn of the taint of modernism, and firmly attached to rave culture's neo-romantic 'nostalgia for the archaic'.[citation needed]

Electropop flourished in the United States in black culture, particularly in Detroit. Musicians such as A Number of Names and Cybotron pursued a version of the style inflected by R&B and funk which eventually established the Detroit techno scene. Afrika Bambaata, from New York, also invented the electro style of hip-hop by sampling Kraftwerk.

Electro-pop acts took root in the rejuvenation of bubblegum-pop in the late 1990s, with Pop Princesses such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, and boy bands such as N*SYNC and The Backstreet Boys.[citation needed] During this time synthesizers, and what has been described as canned, over-processed vocals using elaborate production methods and sound layering became increasingly popular.[citation needed]

Electropop underwent a revival in early 2000s notably wth the electroclash movement. A number of electropop musicians came out of the electroclash scenes, going on to make popular albums from 2002 to present, from London, New York, Berlin, and Ann Arbor. These have included Fischerspooner,[6] Ladytron, Melnyk, Temposhark, Peaches, Gonzales, The Whip, Dragonette, Matthew Dear,[7] T. Raumschmiere,[8] Ellen Allien,[9] Miss Kittin,[10] The Knife,[11]

Current Wave of Female Electropop Acts

As 2009 began female electro pop artists were becoming popular in the United Kingdom. In the ‘’Sound of 2009’’ poll of 130 music experts conducted for the BBC 10 of the top 15 artists named were of the electro pop genre. A video by Little Boots, aka Victoria Hesketh who topped the BBC poll showed her using a Tenori-on , a Japanese computerized sequencer that layers sounds on top of each other.[12][13][14][15].Lady Gaga, Ladyhawke and La Roux are other new female electropop artists of note. [16]

Record companies are pushing the rise of female electropop artists in their early twenties with the intent of replacing male guitar bands and male electropop acts with a "geeky" image.[16] The labels are hoping that a return of 1980's style credible, idiosyncratic pop music will prove to be a form of escapism in tough economic times.[16]

Bibliography

  • Depeche Mode & The Story of Electro-Pop, Q/Mojo magazine collaboration, 2005.
  • Electronic Music: The Instruments, the Music & The Musicians by Andy Mackay, of Roxy Music (Harrow House, 1981)

See Also

References

  1. ^ Greg Villepique, Salon, January 25, 2000. [1] Access date: August 11, 2008.
  2. ^ Rachel Devitt, "Geeks of electro-pop meld man, machine in mind-blowing show", The Seattle Times, April 28, 2004. [2] Access date: August 11, 2008.
  3. ^ "Yellow Magic Orchestra reunite for Massive Attack's Meltdown." Side-Line. [3] Access date: August 11, 2008.
  4. ^ Scott Thill, "All-Star Admirers Resuscitate Suicide", Wired Listening Post, June 24, 2008. [4] Access date: August 13, 2008.
  5. ^ The Seth Man, Julian Cope Presents Head Heritage, June 1, 2004. [5] Access date: August 14, 2004
  6. ^ Daniel Mumford, Fischerspooner review, May 6, 2002. [6] Access date: August 14, 2004.
  7. ^ Blender Blog, "Live: The Electro-Pop George Clooney", [7] Access date: August 14, 2008.
  8. ^ John Sobolewski, "WZBC Recommends Electropop Radio Blackout", The Heights, September 29, 2003. [8] Access date: August 14, 2008.
  9. ^ Don Crispy, Metropolis. [9] Access date: August 14, 2008.
  10. ^ Christen Reutens, "Sonar 2008: Miss Kittin Interview", Beatportal, June 19, 2008. [10] Access date: August 14, 2008.
  11. ^ Drowned in Sound: The Knife [11] Access date: August 20, 2008.
  12. ^ UK gaga for electro-pop, guitar bands fight back The Kuwait Times January 28, 2009
  13. ^ Lily Allen Brings The Fear New York Press
  14. ^ Lily Allen scores second UK Number One single NME 1 February, 2009
  15. ^ UK goes gaga for electro-pop in 2009 Reuters January, 27, 2009
  16. ^ a b c Gaga for girl power Sydney Morning Herald 28 February, 2009
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Electropop&oldid=279852111"