Learn Through English

AREA: MÚSICA

TOPIC: POP AND ROCK

This is a treasure hunt about two of the most important styles of popular music in the XXth century all over the world. Find the information you need to answer the following questions. Read them carefully and follow the instructions. If you do, you will have learnt a lot about the POP and ROCK when you finish. Click here for help if you can't answer the questions. There are lots of other website where you can find more information.

Warm-up activity:

First of all, think about the words POP and ROCK, what do they suggest you? What do you know about them? Have you ever heard pop or rock music? Where?

A. THE ORIGINS.

All music styles have a background, that is to say, they are born from other music styles and are set a historical context. Where do pop and rock come from? What were their music sources and social and cultural background?

B. THE INSTRUMENTS.

What is the basic pop or rock band formation as regards instruments?

Which of these instruments are not usually to be found when we talk about Pop and Rock?

C. THE SONGS

Let’s have a look at the lyrics now. Which of these topics are usual in Pop and Rock?

DISCOS, SEX, DRUGS, LOVE, SOCIAL INJUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS, SCHOOL, HAPPINESS, POLITICS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS, LONELINESS, COUNTRY LIFE, CITY LIFE, RACISM, GIRLS, BOYS.

If possible, give an example of a song and a writer that you know for each topic.

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D. THE PLAYERS

Find the ten names of some of the most popular rock and pop bands of all times in this crossword.

Now match the names of the bands with their leading members and one of their most popular songs or albums. Try these games if you need help: Leaders and Songs. Say where they are from and which decade they belong to. Decide whether they are Pop or Rock bands. Discuss your results with the rest of the classroom.

But there were also people who played solo or whose names are more popular than the bands they played with. Can you match the names, the surnames and one of their most popular songs? Try these game if you need help: names/surnames and songs.

Here’s another game for you. A lot of pop and rock artists have got a nickname either because they liked it or because someone –their fans, critics, etc.- preferred them to their real or artistic names. Let’s see whether you can find the person behind the words.

And another game about names, but this time it is exactly the opposite. Other artists think their names don't sound glamorous enough and need to have a new one in order to be real artists. I’m sure you have heard these names before and, probably, you can even identify them if we show you a picture. The problem is that these are not the real names in their passports. Can you find them?

If you still want to have fun and learn more about pop and rock, click here.

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