doo-wop
Fifties vocal style
Doo-wop is a style of rhythm and blues vocal music that emerged in the 1950s, characterized by close harmonies, nonsense syllables, and minimal instrumentation.
The name comes from the backing vocals that often sounded like "doo-wop" or similar phrases: classic doo-wop groups like the Platters and the Drifters.
The style influenced later pop and rock music.
Decade after WWII
- oldiesNostalgic popular songs
- jukeboxCoin-operated music player
- drive-inVenue serving seated motorists
- dinerCasual American eatery
greasers · vinyl · cruisin · rockabilly · moonlight
Sung musical parts
- blendCombine into mixture
- chorusSingers performing together
- falsettoArtificially elevated singing register
- bassDeep pitch or fish
tenor · barbershop · crooning · harmonize · unison · ensemble · chord · counterpoint
1950s
Decade after WWII
vocals
Sung musical parts
- blendCombine into mixture
- chorusSingers performing together
- falsettoArtificially elevated singing register
bass · tenor · barbershop · crooning · harmonize · unison · ensemble · chord · counterpoint · arrangement
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- swingSuspended recreational seat
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
backbeat · tempo · pulse · cadence · shuffle · bounce · lilt · flow · sway · bop
ballad
Narrative poem or song
- serenadeOutdoor romantic performance
- dittyShort, simple song
- heartbreakCrushing emotional pain
- music genresblues, pop, jazz, rock, classical
- American musicjazz, blues, country music, rock, country
- 1950sEisenhower, poodle skirt, Elvis Presley, Rosa Parks, baby boom
- 1950s nostalgiapoodle skirts, hula hoops, drive-in theaters, sock hops, jukeboxes
- American Singingspirituals, blues, country, gospel, barbershop
- harmonyharmony, chord, chords, triad, triads
doo-wopheavy metal
Aggressive amplified rock genre
death metal · punk rock · thrash metal · hardcore punk · industrial music