Emma+T+popular+music

= Katy Perry Research Assignment =

Katy Perry (Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson) is a famous American singer, songwriter and actress. She was born in Santa Barbara in California, Northern America. She was brought up from a Christian family, with a brother and a sister. When she was younger, her family travelled around a lot throughout America, as her parents set up churches from place to place. Listening music while growing up was Christian music.

Katy Perry began training as a vocalist at the age of 9 straight away, as her parents suggested this idea to her after singing in front of her parents lots of times. So she began singing at churches fro m the ages of 9 to 17. During her 13th birthday, she got her first guitar and began to perform publicly to the songs that she wrote.

She has released many albums, known as Unplugged, E.T. - (The Remixes) - EP, Australian Tour EP, (A) Katy Perry, MTV Unplugged, The Hello Katy Perry Australian Tour EP, Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection 2012), PRISM (Acoustic Sessions), Katy Hudson, One of the Boys, Teenage Dream and Prism. Two songs that she has composed (Roar and Firework) help promote self-esteem and self-empowerment to listeners.

Katy Perry's Style of Music
==== The style of music that Katy Perry plays is pop music. This is abbreviated for "popular music". She also incorporates rock and disco music. A characteristic of pop music is the way the composer has made it catchy, short and simple. Pop music usually has a length from two and a half minutes to five and a half minutes. This style combines rhythms that themed on "dance orientating" and has a target to bring attention for a large audience to listen.The type of instruments that are mainly played in pop music are vocals, guitars (acoustic, bass and electric), drums, winds and brass, strings, piano and percussion. There are many bands/singers who have the genre of pop music with songs including: Taylor Swift (Shake it Off), Carly Rae Jepson (Call Me Maybe) and Michael Jackson (Billie Jean). ==== ==== Rock music's instruments that are usually played in the songs are: vocalists, electric and bass guitars, drum kits, vocalists and keyboard players. Rock music was traditionally centered on the sound of electric guitars and developed from rock and roll. This genre generally uses the verse-chorus structure that is originated from blues and folk music. This style has characteristics of distorted guitars, loud drums, catchy bass lines, repetitive riffs and powerful vocals. The first and main beginners of rock music with songs including: the Beatles (Hey Jude), the Rolling Stones (Paint It Black) and Led Zeppelin (Black Dog). ==== ==== Disco music has begun around the 1970's as people became tired of fighting that was in the previous decade and many people went to dance clubs and other places to have good times and relax. Usual characteristics of the disco genre include: soaring and echoing vocals, a steady 4/4 beat line, an open high-hat on the off-beat and a syncopated electric-bass line. Artists with songs that feature in the disco genre include: Bee Gees (Staying Alive), ABBA (Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! ), Pink Floyd (Another Brick In The Wall) and Gloria Gaynor (I Will Survive). ====

Katy Perry's Contemporaries + Influences
==== Katy Perry has many contemporaries that include Lady Gaga and Rihanna. One of the bands that have influenced Perry is Queen. She says, "I'm very inspired by Freddie Mercury and how flamboyant and theatrical he was." Other contemporaries of Perry's include: Pat Benatar, Blondie, Tracy Bonham, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Alanis Morissette, 98 Degrees, No Doubt, Liz Phair and Butch Walker. When she was younger, she enjoyed listening to the Beatles and the Beach Boys. Aerosmith, Nora Jones, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie were other contemporary artists on Katy Perry. Perry has been influential to many artists, she has even composed songs for Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale and Kelly Clarkson. ====

Lyrics to "Firework":
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again? Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep? six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing Do you know that there's still a chance for you 'Cause there's a spark in you?

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause, baby, you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework Come on, let your colours burst Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

You don't have to feel like a wasted space You're original, cannot be replaced If you only knew what the future holds After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow And when it's time you'll know

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause, baby, you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework Come on, let your colours burst Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon It's always been inside of you, you, you And now it's time to let it through-ough-ough

'Cause, baby, you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework Come on, let your colours burst Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe

Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

** Analysis of “Firework” **
 * The structure of “Firework” is patterned in this way: Verse 1, Verse 2, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Chorus, Verse 3, Verse 4, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Chorus, Bridge 1, Chorus, Chorus, Bridge 2.
 * The instruments played in this song are: female vocal, back-up vocals, drums, keyboard and a bass guitar.
 * The tempo throughout the piece is fairly moderate throughout the whole song.
 * The dynamics of song in the verses are soft, but gradually increase into the choruses and the bridges.
 * All the instruments do not always play at the same time. At the beginning and end of the song, the keyboard plays solo. Most of the time, the song has all the instruments playing.
 * The drums and keyboard have effects on the song, as they play throughout most and all of the song. The main instrument that has the most effect is the vocalist, as she ranges the pitch and the lyrics in the song are powerful words sung towards the listener.
 * The singer has a distinctive sound voice, as it is clear, booming, has a range of dynamics and has impact on the song. Most of the time, she sings solo too (without back-up vocals).
 * There are backup vocals in the song and they are heard in the final two choruses and the second bridge.
 * In the beginning of the song, the keyboard plays an instrumental solo.
 * The amount of beats in a bar is 4/4.
 * The song is major and produces loud, booming sounds from the instruments.
 * There aren’t many layers in the piece - about five of them. But when it comes to the choruses and bridges, it builds up and has a thicker texture.
 * The keyboard repeats specific patterns a lot throughout the song. In the chorus, the drums play a specific pattern too.
 * The chord patterns in the verses and the choruses are very similar, as they are placed in the same areas and beat.
 * This song’s highest point is reached in the second bridge near the end of the song, as it’s pitch is reached higher than most of the other sections in the song.

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Lyrics to "Roar"
I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath Scared to rock the boat and make a mess So I sat quietly, agree politely I guess that I forgot I had a choice I let you push me past the breaking point I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything

You held me down, but I got up (HEY!) Already brushing off the dust You hear my voice, you hear that sound Like thunder gonna shake the ground You held me down, but I got up (HEY!) Get ready 'cause I've had enough I see it all, I see it now

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire 'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar Louder, louder than a lion 'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh  Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh  You're gonna hear me roar

Now I'm floating like a butterfly Stinging like a bee I earned my stripes I went from zero, to my own hero

You held me down, but I got up (HEY!) Already brushing off the dust You hear my voice, you hear that sound Like thunder gonna shake the ground You held me down, but I got up (HEY!) Get ready 'cause I've had enough I see it all, I see it now

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire 'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar Louder, louder than a lion 'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh  Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh  (You're gonna hear me roar) Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh  (You'll hear me roar) Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh You're gonna hear me roar...

Ro-oar, ro-oar, ro-oar, ro-oar, ro-oar

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire 'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar Louder, louder than a lion 'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh  Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh  (You're gonna hear me roar) Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh  (You'll hear me roar) Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh You're gonna hear me roar...

Analysis of "Roar"

 * The structure of “Roar” is specified in this order: Verse 1, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Verse 2, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus.
 * The instruments that are played in the piece are: female vocal, back-up vocals, keyboard, electric guitar and drums.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">The tempo of the song is a bit fast and stays that way throughout most of the song.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">The dynamics of “Roar” change throughout the song. In the verses, they are softer than the chorus, as the pre-chorus helps build the dynamics to become louder into the chorus. The choruses are the loudest parts of the piece. The dynamics mainly change gradually.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">The keyboard plays solo at the beginning of the song, then the other instruments come in. The guitar mainly plays in the pre-choruses and choruses along with the other instruments.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">The female vocal expresses her voice effectively in the song, as it is about self-empowerment. The drums also play just before the choruses begin, as a part of pop music structure. The guitars play solo at the beginning of the bridge and being accompanied with the vocalist.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">The singer has a distinctive sound voice, as she is one of the loudest instruments in the song and has a <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">clear, booming voice, has a range of dynamics and has impact on the song. Most of the time, she sings solo too (without back-up vocals).
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">The back-up vocals are in the final chorus of the song, after the bridge and echo the lead singer.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">The instrumental solo is played by the keyboard at the very beginning of “Roar”.
 * 4/4 is the amount of beats per bar.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">The song is major, as the music is booming, up-beat and produces loud music from all of the instruments.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">There aren’t many textures in this piece, as there are 5 as the maximum amount in the piece and they all play together in the final chorus (the thickest part of the song). Most of the time, the texture is fairly thin.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">The keyboard continuously repeats the same pattern throughout most of the song. When the drums play into the chorus, they repeat the same pattern.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">This song’s chord patterns are very similar when comparing the verse to the pre-chorus, as they both have the same chords, except at different times. The chorus is fairly similar, as it has the same chords, except that it doesn’t have Am.
 * The song reaches its highest point in the beginning of the final chorus. This section reaches its high point, as the pitch is the highest there.