pop-rock
UK[ˈpɒp rɒk]US[ˈpɑːp rɑːk]
n
a style of popular music that combines elements and appeal of pop music with rock and roll instrumentation and attitude.
Morpheme Breakdown
pop
rock
pop
popular music
rock
rock music
Etymology
The term is a modern compound, formed in the mid-20th century from two abbreviated English words. 'Pop' is a shortening of 'popular', originating from Latin 'populus' (the people), and in music denotes a commercially successful, widely appealing style. 'Rock' is a shortening of 'rock and roll', a genre name itself derived from African-American Vernacular English slang for dancing or sexual intercourse, later applied to a driving, blues-influenced musical form. The hyphenated compound 'pop-rock' logically describes a hybrid genre that intentionally blends the melodic hooks and production polish of pop with the instrumental force and energy of rock.
Analysis
Structure: pop (popular music) + rock (rock music)
pop: English, short for 'popular', functioning as a modifier indicating the commercial, accessible style.
rock: English, short for 'rock and roll', functioning as the core musical genre being modified.
Examples
The band's latest album marks a shift from pure alternative rock to a more accessible pop-rock sound.
Many critics in the 1970s viewed pop-rock as a less authentic, commercialized version of rock music.
The festival lineup features several iconic pop-rock acts from the 1980s.