Classical Pop Research Articles

A comparison of the production of popular music works: the classic pop works of the 1970s century and the reproduction of the classics in the current pop industry---- Take Queen as an example

The aim of this study is to explore the production comparison of popular music works. Taking Queen as an example, by comparing A Night at the Opera released in 1975 and Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack released in 2018, I have found differences in their underlying production logic and discussed the reasons for these differences. In summary, this study reveals the differences in the production logic between classic pop music and current pop industry's reproduction of them, and provides some constructive insights.

Impact of Population III homogeneous stellar evolution on early cosmic reionisation

Context. Population III (Pop III) stars may be fast rotating. An expected consequence of fast rotation is strong internal mixing that deeply affects their evolutionary tracks in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and hence their ionising power. Aims. We investigate the impact on the ionising power of Pop III stars in an extreme case of internal mixing, the one leading to chemically homogeneous evolution (CHE). In that situation, during the main sequence phase, the star keeps the same chemical composition from its centre to its surface. Homogeneous stars have larger effective temperatures and luminosities than stars evolving non-homogeneously and thus are stronger ionising sources. Methods. The stellar evolution models are based on n = 3 polytropes with a time-varying mass fraction of hydrogen. The ionisation model employs the self-similar champagne flow solution from Shu et al. (2002, ApJ, 580, 969) and numerical simulations for the stochastic treatment of star clusters over a grid of redshifts and halo masses. Results. We find that haloes containing chemically homogeneous stars have an escape fraction of ionising photons up to twice that of haloes containing classical Pop III stars. By extrapolating the high-z ionisation history powered by Pop III stars (at z ≳ 15) to the post-reionisation epoch, we derived the Thomson scattering optical depth τ, which is compared with the value measured by Planck. We find that τ is overproduced by ∼1.5 − 5σ when all Pop III stars evolve homogeneously. This indicates that CHE is unlikely to be realised in the majority of Pop III stars, although the present study cannot exclude that a fraction of them undergo CHE. Conclusions. Fast rotation might have a significant impact on the ionising budget of Pop III stars and thus on early cosmic reionisation. The impact is stronger for less top-heavy initial mass functions of Pop III stars.

Traditional pop song: conceptualization of the concept

The purpose of the research. The study attempts to conceptualize the definition of «traditional pop song» from the standpoint of contemporary musical variety studies. The research methodology is based on the use of historical, cultural, systemic, contextual, and analytical methods, the combination of which made it possible to determine the specific features of the traditional Ukrainian pop song. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that for the first time in Ukrainian science the concept of «traditional pop song» is conceptualized. Conclusions. The traditional pop song occupies a significant place in the Ukrainian cultural space, while it has not yet been comprehended as a cultural and artistic phenomenon in Ukrainian science. Based on the selection of three parameters (socio-cultural, age and style), the specifics of the Ukrainian traditional pop song were revealed. It is revealed that its stylistic features were formed during the 1950–1970s. («classic pop song»), in the 1980s. there has been a process of stabilization, since the 1990s. the identification of the traditional pop song as a specific, conservative stylistic direction begins, which focused on the achievements of the classical Ukrainian pop song and opposed the influences of the Western trends of popular music, trying to preserve the originality of the Ukrainian musical variety art. The fundamental non-commercial nature of the traditional pop song is rooted in the art of the Soviet era and is the opposite of show business with its desire to quickly update musical styles. During the period of active development of the commercial direction of pop music in the 1990s. the traditional pop song was considered archaic and opposed to the «fashionable» directions of «youth music». Today, this opposition is not relevant: the traditional pop song as a stylistic direction based on the aesthetics of the second half of the 20th century is popular among performers and listeners of all ages. The stylistic diversity of the traditional pop song is associated with a long time of formation of the Ukrainian classical pop and its artistic achievements. Therefore, despite a certain conservatism, the Ukrainian traditional pop song is a significant layer of Ukrainian musical culture.
 Key words: variety musical art, vocal variety art, Ukrainian musical tradition, traditional Ukrainian pop song.

Эстрада: старые «новые» жанры и проблемы

The article examines the state and problems of nowadays transformation of the pop genres, the connection between the new forms with classical pop genres of the past. The problems of rap on the modern Russian stage are analyzed. Rap music itself is perceived as a borderline phenomenon between the established culture of local social groups (subcultures) and as a recipient of the carnival tradition, farcical culture, rooted in early folk forms of theatricality. Modern pop culture perceives part of the artistic tradition born at the Soviet stage. However, not all of its positive elements and achievements of the national stage, dating back to the high satire of N.V. Gogol, M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, M.A. Bulgakov, M.M. Zoshchenko are still demanded by the mass culture today. The main role in maintaining aesthetic balance play traditional cultural values, framing subcultural phenomena. These values are potentially able to direct all the subcultures into the creative channel of authentic art.

Self Portrait Revisited

Self-Portrait, released in 1970, was at that time Bob Dylan’s first album to receive widespread criticism, disdain, and disappointment. A collection of classic pop and folk tunes with few new songs, the 1960s counterculture that adored Dylan felt abandoned by their hero. Another Self-Portrait, released in 2013 as part of the acclaimed Bootleg series, helps place the 1970 release in historical perspective. It also opens the door to consideration of how the stress fractures in Dylan’s attempt to maintain a private life amid the pressures of fame had an impact on his music at the time. It also allows one to consider how Dylan, both before and after, invoked the example of Elvis Presley on issues of fame, creativity, and privacy.

Roy Lichtenstein: a retrospective

The most iconic works of Lichtenstein (1923-1997) are widely known, reproduced, copied, and even parodied. However, the true diversity and complexity of his oeuvre is little understood, and the full scope of his career is largely absent from the existing literature. Presenting over 130 paintings and sculptures, as well as over thirty seldom or never-before-seen drawings and collages, this book examines all periods in Lichtenstein's career, going well beyond his brushstrokes and the classic Pop romance and war cartoon paintings that made him famous. Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective features exciting new scholarship by an international team of distinguished curators, critics, and art historians. Essays by Yve-Alain Bois, Chrissie Iles, and Stephen Little, among others, give special consideration to Lichtenstein's historical influences, from Picasso and Cubism through Surrealism, Futurism, and British Pop. Contributions from the accompanying exhibition's curators James Rondeau and Sheena Wagstaff evaluate the artist's abstract work and late nudes. Complemented by photographs of the artist and his seminal exhibitions, the authors examine the various styles and subjects featured in paintings created throughout his lifetime. The inclusion of a complete chronology of Lichtenstein's life and work - compiled by Clare Bell of the Lichtenstein Foundation - makes this retrospective the most authoritative publication on the artist since his death.