Traditional pop music

Traditional pop music - in modern English-language terminology, popular music before the rock-n-roll era, that is, western, primarily American, popular music in the style that was standard until it was replaced by rock-and-roll in the mid-1950s.

It is this term that is used by the American National Academy of Art and Science of Recording, which is the organizer of the Grammy Awards (which are also awarded in this category). Grammy Award for Best Traditional Vocal Pop Album - awarded since 1992. In the first year, the category was called Best Traditional Pop Performance, in 1993–2000. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, from 2001 to the present Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.



Also this style and songs in this style are called “classic pop music” (classic pop) and “pop standards” (by analogy with jazz standards).

The musical site AllMusic writes that the term “traditional pop” means “post big bend and before rock-n-roll music”, that is, there is popular music between the decline of the big band era (sometime in the mid-1940s) and the beginning of the era of rock and roll (in the mid-1950s).

Songs in the style of traditional pop were performed by a solo vocalist, accompanied by an orchestra or a small variety ensemble. They were written by professional authors. As AllMusic writes, in this song style the main thing is the song. Although the vocalist is the focus of attention, his task is first of all to bring the song to the listener, and not to improvise. That is, vocal improvisation, as in the days of jazz, no.

As performers in the style of traditional pop, they classify not only the singers, but also the conductors of the orchestras accompanying them and arrangers. In addition, instrumental music from the same period can be called traditional pop.