Name: Lady Emerald Omaoid

Class: Philippine Popular Culture BSBA HRM

“Musika at Musik: The Philippine and The German”

Philippine pop music, better known as P-pop (Pinoy Pop) is a genre of music that
evolved from OPM – Original Pilipino Music, which reigned supreme locally through
the 60s and 70s. Modern P-pop has become an umbrella term for a melting pot of
genres – everything from pop and rock to jazz. The P-pop we know today is the
hybridization of Korean pop music and OPM, K-pop acts like Super Junior, Girls
Generation, Wonder Girls, and TVXQ found their way into mainstream Filipino pop
culture, presenting a polished, sophisticated take on popular music and proving there
was a real audience for idol culture. Similar groups have started emerging in the
Philippines as well the moment K-pop presented singing, dancing, and audio-visual
music with a focus on choreography and visuals. It became evident that P-pop is a
localized attempt to create something like K-pop. German pop music emerged from
a mixture of diverse influences, including jazz, blues, and traditional German folk
songs. The Germans, on the other hand, were inspired to create pop music when the
British Invasion introduced a new wave of rock and roll artists, like The Beatles, The
Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys. This caused a ripple effect on Germany’s
music industry as new genres were introduced that were rooted in pop music.
Decade after decade bands were formed and have introduced genres like German
disco music, Synthpop, and Techno music all have revolutionized electronic dance
music with their innovative production techniques and rhythms.

The structure of most modern popular songs involves verse and chorus, with the
chorus serving as the part of the song that is specifically designed to stick in the ear
and head through musical and lyrical repetition. It’s the part of the song that’s usually
written to be the most “singable,” and therefore the more memorable. P-pop’s
structure can be characterized by its combination of Western popular music styles
and traditional Filipino musical elements. This fusion typically includes a chorus, a
verse, a pre-chorus, and a bridge. Whereas, German popular music, also known as
Deutschpop, is characterized by its blend of synth-pop, electropop, and electronic
music styles with German cultural influences. The structure of a typical Deutschpop
song typically includes a chorus, a verse, a pre-chorus, and a bridge similar to that of
the Philippines
Rhythm is the pattern of sound, silence, and emphasis in a song. In music theory,
rhythm refers to the recurrence of notes and rests (silences) in time. When a series
of notes and rests repeats, it forms a rhythmic pattern. In addition to
indicating when notes are played, musical rhythm also stipulates how long they are
played and with what intensity. This creates different note durations and different
types of accents. The rhythm in both Philippine and German pop music often
revolves around a strong beat, which can be upbeat or downbeat. The only
difference is the inspiration and influences. For the Philippines, the type of rhythm
has become a result of the blend of Western and Filipino musical styles. While the
rhythm in German popular music is a result of the incorporation of electronic music
elements.
Lyrics are the words in the song and they are there to give meaning to what is being
sung, and this is also the more evident difference between Philippine and German
music is the language they use in their music although they are not so different on
what they sing about. Lyrics in German popular music are obviously in German
language and they often delve into themes of love, relationships, personal
experiences, and self-reflection. The lyrics can sometimes be sung in either German
or English, depending on the artist and song. Lyrics in Philippine pop music are
usually romantic, personal, or relatable, addressing themes of love, relationships,
and personal experiences. This is in line with the predominance of ballad-like songs
in the development of Philippine pop music and usually, they are sung in Tagalog.
The vocals can create an unmistakable aural portrait and landscape, colored by not
only the sound but also how the singer uses the sound to tell a story. The vocal
performance in Philippine pop music is typically strong and expressive, showcasing
the talent of the singer. Vocal harmonies are often utilized to add depth and
complexity to the overall sound. The vocal performance in German popular music is
typically expressive and showcases the talent of the singer. Vocal harmonies are
often utilized to add depth and complexity to the overall sound
Instruments are a vital part of music. They are the tools that musicians use to create
their art. Without instruments, there would be no music. Instruments provide the
means for musicians to create the sounds that they imagine. They allow musicians to
control the volume, pitch, and timbre of the music they create. Instruments also give
music its structure. Without instruments, music would be a series of random noises.
Instruments are also important because they provide a physical connection to the
music. The instrumentation in Philippine pop music typically includes guitars,
keyboards, drums, and other percussion instruments. The incorporation of traditional
Filipino instruments, such as the kalimba, and ethnic instruments like the erhu, can
also be found in the music. The instrumentation in German popular music typically
includes synthesizers, keyboards, drum machines, and other electronic instruments.
Occasionally, traditional German instruments, such as the accordion, can be found in
the music.

In conclusion, the musical styles of Philippine pop music and German popular music
share some similarities in terms of structure, rhythm, and instrumentation. However,
there are significant differences in terms of language, cultural influences, and
thematic content. Despite these differences, both musical traditions have a rich
history and continue to evolve, creating new and exciting sounds that capture the
hearts and minds of their listeners