Country

Popular song: “God’s Country” by Blake Shelton

Country music is appealing to many people largely because they feel connected to the stories in country songs. Many of the songs in the country genre are focused on love, family, and God; country music fans find that their lives are similar to these songs and feel like these songs express who they are. 

This is what made Blake Shelton’s song “God’s Country” such a big hit since it was released in late March of 2019. This song emphasizes that wherever you go, you are with God. Shleton has admitted that before this song was released, he felt that his music career was slipping, but since then he has rocketed to the top of the charts.

Rap

Popular song: “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

Rap music started in African American communities in New York and many felt a pull towards rap music to voice their problems. It took nearly a decade for rap music to fully emerge into its own genre. Rap focuses on a quick beat and fast lyrics. 

“Love Yourself” by Eminem is one of those songs that many connect to with over 700 million plays on Spotify alone. The song empowers people to seize opportunities and take advantage of the chances you get. Many of the lyrics in this song relate to experiences that Eminem had, making it more personal and appealing to people who listen to it. 

EDM

Popular song: “Wake Me Up” by Avicii

EDM has several subgenres that it’s songs are categorized including trap, drum and bass, breakbeat, and more. 

One of the most played EDM songs of all time is “Wake Me Up” by Avicii. This song is about Avicii’s accomplishments in the music industry and about how it feels like a dream, hence the lyric, “wake me up when it’s all over.” The song was released in 2013 and peaked at the top of the charts in several countries. Since then, the song has died down in popularity, but it still remains one of the best selling EDM songs of all time.

Pop

Popular song: “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas

Pop music is considered the most popular music genre in the world accounting for 20.1% of music in the world. Pop music, more than any other genre, has styles that vary between countries. Pop is short for “popular music,” leaving it as a broad genre.

“I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas is one of the most played pop songs of all time; this is due to the lyrics. The song repeats several times “I’ve got a feeling that tonight’s gonna be a good night,” and keeps a peppy beat. The song is described by many as a good song to scream out the lyrics and is a feel-good song. 

Rock

Popular song: “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

Rock music is known for its deep emotional connection in it’s songs. Many rock songs emphasize mental health issues and the journey to recover from them. Rock music generally also uses electric guitar and bass more so than other genres. 

“Stairway to Heaven,” is known as Led Zeppelin’s immortal masterpiece. The song is open to interpretation about what it is really about since the artist never confirmed what his inspiration behind it was. Many have speculated that it is a sad love story whereas others have thought it to be about a woman living a life full of sins.