Easy Listening Genre / Music

The term ‘easy listening’ has been used asformat during its peak in popularity.
a tag for the style of popular music that is easy onThe term ‘easy listening’ is a relatively broad
the ear; soft, beautiful, light music for years. It firstone in that it’s also used to describe genres such
emerged in the middle of the 20th century andas new age music, smooth jazz and soft rock, and
evolved into big band and swing music. The simplicitymany more, although it isn’t correct to include
of ‘easy listening’ music is that it catchesthese in the label at all. After all, even Metallica have
the romance of laid-back rhythmic melodies, popularsongs on the softer side that could be labeled as
with couples throughout the globe. The genre caneasy listening, but not many of us would put them in
include anything from pop singers and bands, exoticathis genre of music.
artists, through to instrumental forms often playedNew age music is the perfect accompaniment to
on violins, organs etc. The genre is very similar toyoga, massage, meditation, stress management and
what is called ‘lounge music’. However,reading. The melodies are repetitive and soothing and
lounge music is more jazz orientated and moreoften include a drum beat to give a hypnotic effect.
dependent on musical improvisation. Easy listening isAnd although there are rarely vocals in new age
usually arranged and orchestrated rather thanmusic, they can include tribal chants and angelic
improvised, which is probably why it’s ‘easyharmonies.
listening’.Smooth jazz is a sub-genre of jazz that is influenced
Another title given to ‘easy listening’ isby R&B, funk, rock and pop. Modern derivatives of
‘elevator’ or ‘lift’ music. This isthe genre include the new adult contemporary
usually referred to as ‘muzak’, and generallyformat of broadcast radio. However, the popularity
referred to in a derogatory way. I’m sureof smooth jazz has waned since 2007 and in the US
we’ve all been stuck in a lift, having to put upit was abandoned by several high profile radio
with the constant drone of noise spilling out of thestations, even though smooth jazz concerts and
speakers - so there’s no wonderrecord sales still continue to show fan support.
‘muzak’ is thought of in a derogatory way. Soft rock, also labeled easy, mellow or light rock,
However, as Muzak is actually a corporation whichuses the techniques of rock ‘n’ roll to
manufacture, produces and programmes thiscompose a softer, more toned down sound which is
‘easy listening’ music, it isn’t actually aeasier on the ears and heart rate. Soft rock songs
genre in itself at all.tend to be based on love and life and relationships
The American magazine ‘Billboard’ featuredand tend to involve acoustic guitars, pianos and
an easy listening singles chart in the 1960’s –synths. Electric guitars are toned down to give a
an ‘easy listening music top 40’. Thissofter sound.
morphed into an adult contemporary chart in 1979It’s quite important that all the differing forms of
and continues to this day. Nostalgia or beautiful music;music should keep their own identity and not be put
a subset of easy listening music, had quite rigidunder this very ‘easy to use’ ‘easy
standards for instrumentation when played on thelistening’ label. There are very many styles of
radio – few or no saxophones could be playedmusic it would be convenient to stuff into the,
and only a restricted amount of vocals could belet’s face it, usually bland, easy listening box that
played in an hour. Often, well known cover versionshave their own very unique nuances and deserve to
of the 60’s and 70’s were re-arranged andhave their own label.
customized into instrumental songs for the radio