Music is one of the greatest forms of art that can touch the human’s heart, psyche, and soul. The beauty of this art form has won zillions and gazillions hearts. It helps an individual to express love, passion, anger, hatred, etc., as it is the best way to express human’s love, care, and concern. No wonder why! The world’s greatest philosopher in Classical Greece, Plato once said, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything”.
Music is the unification of vocal with instrumental sounds to create the beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion. Therefore, people often say that “No music means no life” because the effect of music in humankind is unexplainable! Everybody loves listening to music, the only difference is every soul has its own taste, so does the genres of music. The truth is that the world would be so soundless and doleful without music.
Regarding genres of music, Glenn McDonald’s index called “Every Noise at Once” classifies 1,264 micro-genres of music in the world. Amongst all, here are some of the world’s popular music genres (in no particular order).
Heavy Metal
Originated in the late 1960s-70s, Heavy Metal music is one of the popular sub-genre of rock music. The music features louder distorted guitars, vigorous vocals along with heavier instrumental work and darker lyrical themes. Heavy Metal music has its roots in blues rock and psychedelic/acid rock. The band includes a drummer, a bassist, a rhythm guitarist, a lead guitarist and a singer sometimes keyboard instruments are used as well.
Famous Heavy Metal Bands includes Metallica, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden etc.
Rock Music
Rock music is a popular music genre. It was first invented in the United States amid the 1950s and gained its popularity in the 60s. Rock music lyrics often stress romantic love and the theme focus on social or political stress. When it comes to history, this music genre has numbers of subgenres which was emerged in the late 60s with its hybrids like country rock, jazz-rock, blues-rock, folk-rock etc. along with the development of psychedelic rock, heavy metal and much more.
Most famous Rock music bands: The Beatles, Nirvana etc.
Alternative Rock or Alternative Music
Alternative Rock as a music genre was originated from the music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s. It became widely popular in the 1990s and 2000s. The guitar is considered as the main instrument with guitar overpowering all the other instruments. Music ranges from the gloomy soundscape of gothic Rock to the dirty guitars of grunge to jangling guitars of indie pop.
Famous Alternative music bands: Evanescence, Linkin Park, Green Day etc.
Indie Music or Independent Music
Indie Music came from Alternative rock. This music genre is produced independently from major commercial record labels. The sound is melodic well textured with pure guitar riff bass, simple drum beat use of keyboards or violin and soft vocals. Indie music lyrics are very powerfully emotional.
Famous Independent Music bands: Mumford and sons, Modest Mouse, The strokes etc.
Hard Rock
Hard rock is the subgenre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s along with the other genre like psychedelic and blues rock movements. Hard rock is known for the heavy, aggressive vocals along with distorted electric guitars, bass guitar, drums, and often accompanied with pianos and keyboards.
Famous Hard rock bands: Aerosmith, The Who, Led Zeppelin etc.
Pop Music
This popular genre is originated in the United States and the United Kingdom during the mid-1950s. Pop music lyrics are generally focused on love, relationships, joy, and so on. This form of music is defined as the mixed genre where they often borrow elements from other styles such as rock, Latin, urban etc.
Famous pop music singers: Justin Bieber, One Direction, Madonna etc.
Classical Music
The music that will not be forgotten easily but likely to be enjoyed by many future generations, Classical music is known as art music. Generally composed of musicians who are trained in the art of writing music, Classical music is much emphasised homophonic melodies. This genre of music is renowned for its use of sophisticated vocal or instrumental forms, such as opera.
Famous classical music composer: Mozart, Beethoven, Bach etc.
Jazz Music
Originated amongst African Americans in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th, Jazz music was invented from the African Americans music genre of Ragtime and Blues. Generally, Jazz music themes are focused on art and culture, violence, lust, innocence etc.
Famous Jazz singers: Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Cassandra Wilson etc.
