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Synthpop facts for kids

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Synthpop
Stylistic origins New Wave, glam rock, punk pop, soft rock, disco, pop, funk, electronic
Cultural origins Late 1970s/Early 1980s Germany, United Kingdom and Japan
Typical instruments Synthesizer - Drum machine - Tape loops - Drums - Guitar (in latter incarnations were added Sequencer - Keyboard - Sampler)
Derivative forms Electroclash, Bubblegum pop, Ambient pop
Subgenres
Electroclash
Fusion genres
Futurepop - Synthpunk
Other topics
Electropop

Synthpop is a subgenre of pop music in which the synthesizer is the main musical instrument. An electronic music genre, synthpop is additionally influenced by rock genres such as New Wave music and punk rock, as well as disco music. It is most closely associated with the era between the late 1970s and early to middle 1980s, although it has continued to exist and develop ever since.

Images for kids

  • A colour photograph of a synthesizer with a keyboard

    The Prophet-5, one of the first polyphonic synthesizers. It was widely used in 1980s synth-pop, along with the Roland Jupiter and Yamaha DX7.

  • A black and white photograph of four members of Kraftwerk onstage, each with a synthesizer

    Kraftwerk, one of the major influences on synth-pop, in 1976.

  • A colour photograph of three members of Yellow Magic Orchestra at the front of a stage

    Yellow Magic Orchestra in 2008.

  • A colour photograph of Gary Numan performing onstage with a guitar and microphone

    Gary Numan performing in 1980

  • A colour photograph of members of Midge Ure of the band Ultravox performing on a stage with a microphone and a guitar

    Midge Ure performing with Ultravox in Oslo in 1981.

  • Eurythmics Rock am Ring 1987

    Eurythmics at Nürburgring, Germany, 1987

  • A colour photograph of the two members of the Pet Shop Boys on a stage with a synthesizer and a microphone respectively

    The Pet Shop Boys performing in 2006.

  • A colour photograph of Elly Jackson with microphone

    Elly Jackson of La Roux performing in 2010.

  • Depeche-mode-martin-gore2

    Martin Gore of Depeche Mode photographed in Los Angeles in 1986, wearing some of the fashions that were criticised for gender bending.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Synth pop para niños

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Synthpop Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.