Types of music genres
The famous saying goes, “There are only two kinds of music: good and bad.” That said, it’s often easier to start listening when music is categorized by genre.
Use this as a reference to help you discover new ‘good music.’
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Types of music genres (121–130)
ska
It’s a music genre that originated in Jamaica, characterized by rhythms that emphasize the off-beat! There are various theories about its origins, but it’s said to have developed in the 1950s under the influence of American music such as jazz and R&B, and it remains one of the most popular genres worldwide today.
Deep Soul
Among soul music, slow ballads with a strong gospel influence are called deep soul.
Strictly speaking, it’s a bit different, but nowadays it’s also regarded as akin to Southern soul.
It’s soul music that focuses on singing rather than being dance music.
trip hop
It’s an abstract sound that emerged in the 1990s in Bristol, UK, developed under the influence of hip-hop.
Over hip-hop-style beats, it often features sentimental melodies and airy, floating textures, resulting in a darker overall sound.
New jack swing
It’s a style of dance music that was popular from the 1980s to the 1990s, with a strong street-oriented R&B vibe.
It’s a genre that combines funk infused with hip-hop production techniques and gospel-like melodies.
Types of music genres (131–140)
Vallenato
Vallenato is a word that means “born in the valley,” and it is one of Colombia’s popular music genres alongside cumbia.
Centered on the accordion and vocals with added percussion, it was originally sung as small-scale folk music for the people, but it has also evolved to include performances by orchestras.
Fusion
It refers to a music genre that, from the late 1960s onward, fused jazz with rock, Latin music, R&B, and electronic music.
Members of fusion groups typically possess very high levels of instrumental technique, and albums that showcase these skills—as well as light, catchy, pop-leaning tracks—are often used as background music for TV programs and weather forecasts.
Blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul is a form in which white musicians, who admired Black music, performed soul music and R&B.
Although it produced numerous hit songs, when it first emerged, it was often regarded as not the real thing and tended to be taken lightly as a genre.