Unlike easy listening, which usually has no vocals or features only wordless vocals, orchestral pop music always consists of real songs, with intelligible lyrics.Įasy listening is usually tagged as “with strings.” The origins of easy listening trace back to the 1930s when strings were used in “sweet bands,” whose music became the popular sound during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Orchestral pop is pop music with an orchestral arrangement – it’s pop music with big, lush sounds. As the name implies, it is the Western approximation of native or indigenous music, usually that of the different regions such as Africa or the Caribbean. On the other hand, exotica features more unusual arrangements. Lounge music, for example, is meant to be enjoyed rather than as a background sound. However, some of these abovementioned genres bear no more than a modest and passing resemblance to easy listening. The term “easy listening” is interchangeable with other genres, such as: Perhaps it’s the chief benefit of easy listening: the music is relegated to the background, which can help you get through in your everyday tasks, from doing the homework to doing the laundry, or hobbies such as reading or knitting. It is usually concentrated on melodies and lush, sumptuous arrangements.Īccording to Jackie Gleason, a master of easy listening music, the genre is a “musical wallpaper that should never be intrusive, but conducive.” That is true. That is the reason why music critics dismiss easy listening music as predictable and disposable.Įasy listening music encompasses instrumental recordings of hit songs, pop standards, folk and even rock songs. A significant portion of easy listening music are instrumentals, although some easy listening numbers feature wordless vocals and even lyrics.īut unlike jazz or classical music, which demands the listener’s full attention, easy listening music slips into the background. Although there is a large audience for easy listening music, most music critics dismiss this genre and do not consider it as "serious" music.Have you encountered a piece of particular music on the radio – something that’s pleasant enough to the ears but not too intrusive to demand your attention? If that’s the kind of music you’ve heard, it may be classified as “easy listening.”Įasy listening music is designed to be soothing, relaxing, and pleasing to the ears. The melody and harmonic structure of the original music is kept in tact with the overall style replaced with easy listening music characteristics. This music is most often instrumental (sometimes with a full chorus) but typically not solo vocal.Much of the easy listening music comes from rock, country & western, and jazz genres that are arranged in the easy listening style. Easy listening music can be characterized by moderate to slow tempo arrangements with full and lush instrumentation typically with large string sections or synthesized string sounds. Easy listening music tends to be more in the background and sets a warm ambiance that is easy to relax in. Other genres such as rock and jazz tend to be more aggressive in nature and demands more attention from the listener. A genre of popular music that is meant to be soothing and relaxing to the listener.
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