AoS5 Pop Ballads

Question 1

Pop Ballad

Answer 1

A sentimental, popular song often telling a story.

Question 2

Verse

Answer 2

The music repeats but the words are different telling the story.

Usually quieter than the chorus with less instruments and a lower pitch melody.

This is a verse from Sad Cafe’s ‘Every Day Hurts’

Question 3

Chorus

Answer 3

The memorable tune in which the music and lyrics repeat.

Usually louder than the chorus with more instruments and a higher pitch melody.

This is the Chorus from Sad Cafe’s Every Day Hurts

Question 4

Accompaniment

Answer 4

The instrumental that supports the singer. This could be melodically, harmonically or rhythmically.

Piano and strings are common instruments in Pop Ballads. Listen to how both these instruments are used to support the vocals in ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston.

Question 5

Middle eight

Answer 5

A contrasting eight bar section often involving an instrumental solo.

Listen to the Sax solo in Arthur’s Theme by Christopher Cross.

Question 6

Modulation

Answer 6

A part in the music towards the end when the key changes to make it higher.

Listen to the modulation in ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston.

Question 7

Outro

Answer 7

The ending of the song. Often the song will slow down and fade out.

Listen to the vocals on REO Speedwagon’s ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’

Question 8

A cappella

Answer 8

singing with no instrumental backing.

Here is the opening A Capella vocals in ‘I Will Always Love You’ sung by Whitney Houston.

Question 9

Vibrato

Answer 9

Singers will expressively quiver up and down slightly in pitch. Particularly on sustained notes.

Here is some very dramatic vibrato in ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston.

Question 10

Falsetto

Answer 10

A very high male voice.

Listen to the vocals on REO Speedwagon’s ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’

Question 11

Riffing

Answer 11

When singers or instruments decorate and add bits to the tune.

Listen to Christina Aguilera’s vocal riffing at the start of Beautiful.

Question 12

1/ This extract has been taken from a Pop Ballad. Form what you know of this genre, list six musical features you can here that are typical of this style of music.

2/ The clip contains two different sections of the song. What are they? (2)

3/ Name the solo instrument you can hear in the second half.

Answer 12

1/ The typical features include:

i/ Slow tempo. ii/ Piano accompaniment. iii/ Expressive vocals. iv/ Sustained (synth) Strings. v/ Instrumental Solo. vi/ Accented backbeat.

2/ Chorus and Middle 8.

3/ Soprano Saxophone.