The earliest form popular ballad was a folk song with a simple story, which were passed down orally during the middle ages. The definition hasn’t changed- today they are defined as slow songs that usually have sentimental or romantic lyrics.
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Why are Pop Ballads popular?
Although they are performed onstage to many people they still manage to maintain the intimacy between the performer and the audience.
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Give some features of Pop Ballads:
• Expressive vocal performance, including ornamentation, melismas, rubato, a large range and long held notes • Sentimental or romantic lyrics • Slow tempo usually 4/4 metre • Slow harmonic pace
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More features of Pop Ballads:
• Verse- chorus form • Lush sounding instrumental accompaniment- soft timbres and sustained chords • Instruments such as piano strings acoustic guitar and saxophone • Drum pattern that accents beats 2 and 4 on the snare drum
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Further features of Pop Ballads:
• Reverb FX frequently added to create a warmer sound • Builds in intensity- culminates in climatic fully-scored chorus • Sometimes call and response and riff
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Name some famous composers/ performers of Pop Ballads:
Elton John, Beatles, Whitney Housten, Adele, Take That, Christina Aguilera, Evanescence
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Why are Pop Ballads popular?
Back
Although they are performed onstage to many people they still manage to maintain the intimacy between the performer and the audience.
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