Music is a form of artistic expression that has entertained many generations for centuries now.

From the classical orchestra of Ludwig van Beethoven in the mid-nineteenth century to the catchy tunes of Michael Jackson in the 1980s, music has branched into many different genres and sub-genres. With the historical evolution of music came music enthusiasts and listeners of all type.

Throughout the course of past generations, music stereotypes have emerged. These generalizations exist because people have specific tastes and desires for music.

Since numerous sub-genres of music have derived from the main components of music, the genres discussed and evaluated have more in common than one would assume. rock, country, hip-hop, pop and electronic dance music (E.D.M.) are in the limelight.

It’s important to examine the similarities of these genres and sub-genres. At first glance one can stereotype rock music as being loud and obnoxious, country as boring, hip-hop as violent, pop as too individualistic and E.D.M. as repetitive. These assumptions don’t come close to really describing what the genres are really all about.

Within rock music there exists different styles in which certain topics are expressed. Punk rock music involves a fast paced aggressive style that embodies an anti-establishment and rebellious attitude. Metal music envelopes its listeners in power chords, heavy riffs, melodic solo playing and lyrics with an appetite for many emotions surrounding aggression and anger. Indie and alternative rock music is a genre held close to the heart by fans who appreciate music that is crafted by music enthusiasts, for music enthusiasts.

Country music artists share similar influences, usually focusing on a common theme of love, the past, and a specific country lifestyle.

Hip-hop reflects artists who deliver narratives or stories in poetic ways in order to express their emotions.

Pop music sometimes focuses solely on the wants and desires of the person singing. Furthermore, in many of cases, it is a genre that showcases the superior range of the vocalist.

E.D.M. may seem dependent on its beats and hypnotic style of synthesized sounds and tones however, its most important aspect is that it captures a young generation’s energy in the form of dance and trance.

These styles aren’t confined to their stereotypes. Music is an art that speaks many languages.

Those who appreciate blues, indie or alternative might enjoy bands like The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys and Jack White. These bands share a thematic element that explores relationships, desires and past friendships with an influence from artists like Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and The Doors.

Pop music lovers and E.D.M. followers might have more in common because E.D.M. contains many pop elements. House music is a style of dance music that has a lot of pop elements because of the use of backing vocals in the track which sometime feature a contributing artist. Daft Punk is a popular house group that features these elements.  Other house artists like deadmau5 and Avicii are popular among house music lovers while other sub genres such as dubstep, techno, trance and drum & bass are appreciated too.

For fans of punk bands like Bad Religion and NOFX who thrive with hard hitting lyrics that question the government, underground artist Immortal Technique could be appreciated because of his brilliant lyrical style and ability to paint a bigger picture about certain topics and world issues in his songs. Classic rock bands like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Grateful Dead and Creedence Clearwater Revival touched upon topics about war and the desire to bring peace- topics that were heavily discussed during their time.

Narratives and storytelling enhance the listening experience for hip-hop music lovers. 90s hip-hop artists such as 2Pac, Biggie Smalls, Nas and Rakim utilized examples of narrating events from their past life and upbringing as well as dealing with overcoming adversity and criticism. Other artists who fall under this category include Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, Slick Rick, Beastie Boys, Pink Floyd and The Who.

Music stereotypes often determine what people listen to based on what they are told. However, it is a misconception that quality music always coincides with what is popular. If that were true, underground and independently signed artists would never be able to express their talents. Popular music is like fast food. It tastes good, but it can get stale quickly. Independent music is like Mom’s home-cooking: It takes a while to prepare but the results are delicious. To enhance and broaden one’s taste for music, online streaming and public music libraries are great places to feast.