1. AmEriCAn PoPular MuSic
1960 - 2000
1960’s -2000 Rock Listening Guide Summary (Option # 5)
Artists you listened to:
Bon Jovi Michael Jackson
Prince The Police
Madana
Summary of musical characteristics:
(site specific songs as examples)
Lyrics: Mostly upbeat but not happy. Really
varies between artists albums and songs.
Songs like “Billie Jean” sound upbeat
but are really blues like
Tempo: Moderate to fast. Some slow songs but
majority moderate
Call and Response: In some songs but not often. The police
use in some of there work.
Repetitive Pattern
(form):
Verse refrain pattern. True
transformation into modern style
Texture: Synthesized. Less instrumental more
vocal
List the musical character, overall, that were different from 1950’s Rock.
Less about the music more about the singing
How were the musical characteristics different or unique from 1950’s Rock?
Less guitar more synthesizers. More vocals throughout the song less
instrumental verses.

2. AmEriCAn PoPular MuSic
1960 - 2000
NOTE TEMPLATES (Option # 5)
Decade/Subgenre: 1980’s Rock and Pop
“Sounds and Sources” notes:
Main Idea Details
Fun and Fashion Synthesizer becomes more popular than the six
string guitar
Talking heads attempted to mix new with old funk
A New Attitude United States wasn’t feeling the punk from the 60’s
lost the attitude and created “new wave”
Stations like MTV and VH1 became huge in
promoting new music
Poptastic Michael Jackson reaches stardom with hit after hit
becoming the biggest pop sensation of all time
Madonna the female pop sensation of the decade
got big for her style, voice, and sexuality
Successful bands led by lead men found more
success with adult themed music like Sting and Phil
Collins.
Political
Awareness
Bruce Springsteen’s “born in the USA” becomes a
huge hit
Bands like U2 come in and start making politically
aware hits and popular music
In with the new CD’s take over for vinyl
Disco age out and musicians had to change
Beginning of rap and a resurgence of metal

3. AmEriCAn PoPular MuSic
1960 - 2000
Note Template: (Option # 5)
Ideas for main ideas: Band members, when they formed, changes in the group, hit songs/records, what
they are best known for, other fun facts
Main Artist Name # 1 :Michael Jackson
Main Idea Details
Early life Born August 29 1958 the eights of ten children
Michael was beaten and emotionally abused by his father during
rehearsals
This abuse would lead to problems in his later life
Jackson five In 1964 Michael joined the Jackson brothers as a backup musician
By 1966 Michael was doing back up and some lead vocals at this
point the band changed its name to the Jackson five
Performing in adult clubs the Jackson five gained recognition
Solo Career Michaels first mega hit album off the wall was released in 1979
with hits like “don’t stop till you get enough” and “rock with you”
Michael’s next album in 1982 was Thriller, which is the largest
album of all time. All songs were hits off the album and I could
write a whole paper on this album.
The third of Michaels “trifecta” was the album bad released in 1987
it produced seven hits and was largely successful.
Personal
struggles
After the huge success Michael received things began going
downhill for him.
Michael was accused of two sexual abuse suits of minors
He also experienced marital problems and huge money problems
after bankrupting himself with his house Neverland
These problems and his own bizarreness (surgeries, questionable
music, just strange acting in general) caused the last 20 years of his
career to be filled with mostly news drama.

4. AmEriCAn PoPular MuSic
1960 - 2000
Death On June 25 2009 Michael Jackson died in his bed of a heart attack
The death caused worldwide grief
Artist # 1 Conclusion Questions:
1.) Based on the “Sounds and Sources” article, why is this
artist considered a “main artist” of this
decade/subgenre?
a. Michael Jackson is considered a main artist because
he revolutionized pop music. Before Michael there
had never been a star that sang, danced and
performed like Michael did. He was truly one of a
kind.
2.) Summarize your notes from above. Choose the most
important facts, combining facts if necessary, and write
them below.
Fact #1 Father abused Michael into being perfect.
Fact #2 Tons of hits, dominated the decade
Fact #3 Best stage show of all time

5. AmEriCAn PoPular MuSic
1960 - 2000
Note Template: (Option # 5)
Ideas for main ideas: Band members, when they formed, changes in the group, hit songs/records, what
they are best known for, other fun facts
Main Artist Name # 2 :Sting/the police
Main Idea Details
Intro The police were formed in 1977 in London during
the punk age
The band originally consisted of drummer Stewart
Copeland, singer/bassest Sting, original guitarist
Henry Padovani who shortly left the band, and
Guitarist Andy Summers
Popular
newcomers
Had a minimalist sound
Mostly Stings vocals and drums, Had a reggae sort
of feel to it
Were not successful starting out but a year later it
took off in the US with Roxanne becoming a US top
30 hit
There second album was another success putting
the police as Britain’s most popular group

6. AmEriCAn PoPular MuSic
1960 - 2000
Political
messages
The album mondatta in 1980 gave the band US
stardom
The song driven to tears was stings first politically
motivated song and the theme was continued onto
there next album with invisible sun
In 1982 the band took a year off for solo projects.
Synchronicity In 1983 the band came back to make there best
album Synchronicity
The album spent 17 weeks on top of the charts
Tension in the band how ever would tear them
apart
Going solo The band split in 1984 but not officially
They still perform on occasion
Sting went on to be a super successful solo artist
recording 8 solo albums
Artist # 2Conclusion Questions:
1.) Based on the “Sounds and Sources” article, why is this
artist considered a “main artist” of this
decade/subgenre?
a. The police through out its life time managed to mix unique sounds
and styles into very popular songs. They are a band that was never
what they appeared and that blend led them to be a main artist.

7. AmEriCAn PoPular MuSic
1960 - 2000
2.) Summarize your notes from above. Choose the most
important facts, combining facts if necessary, and write
them below.
Fact #1 Started slowly
Fact #2 In the 80’s they experienced unwarranted
success
Fact #3 Tension broke them up/ sting went on to be
successful after the band