During the decades of the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, a type of music emerged that became very popular for easy listening. Also known as chillout, lounge music in contemporary terms is often known as the type of sounds heard in a hotel bar, piano lounge or casino. The first appearance of this genre was back in the 1920s, when it was termed light music.
There are many influences to this musical genre. These include electronica, downtempo, space age pop, swing, polynesian, bossa nova, exotica and particularly jazz. Instruments typically used to create tunes in this genre are vibraphones, the guitar, drums, the piano and ethnic percussion.
When you listen to this musical style, you will get a sense of being taken to another place; one that is more tranquil and perhaps even other-worldly, like outer space. The key theme behind the genre is to relax and feel comfortable. This is easy to understand when you consider where you might hear these tunes. It is a good choice of genre for a relaxed social setting.
While a great deal of this genre is purely instrumental, particularly in modern times, there are quite a few artistes who can date the start of their careers back to being lounge singers. The swing jazz era of the 30s and 40s is also considered to be of this genre. With this era, however, there is more importance placed on the singer as opposed to the instrumentals.
Singers from this time include Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. And Dean Martin, also known as the Rat Pack. Some other vocalists from this era are Louis Prima, Sonny King, Sam Butera and Jackie Gleason. Many of these artistes performed to the music of songwriter and producer Burt Bacharach, who has won six Grammys and three Academy Awards. The artistes he worked with performed mostly in Las Vegas casinos at the time.
In the nineteen nineties, Combustible Edison, Love Jones, The Cocktails and The High Llamas were just a few of many groups that revived the genre. In nineteen ninety-six, Capitol Records released an entire seris of Ultra-Lounge albums. The genre itself was very different to the other popular style at the time, known as grunge.
In the new millennium, musicians and singers have revamped the entire genre by combining strong elements of contrasting musical styles. An example of this would be Richard Cheese and Lounge Against The Machine, who covered both metal and hip hop tunes but in the manner of a lounge singer. Nouvelle Vague, a band from Paris, did something similar where 80s post-punk tunes were redone.
There are a number of nightclubs that are less like the loud, dance environment of a regular club where these tunes from this genre can be experienced. These clubs are styled more like high end bars where cocktails and mingling are the focus. There is rarely a separate dance floor, but partially private rooms are often available for a more intimate social setting. It is a much more subdued environment than a regular nightclub.
There are many influences to this musical genre. These include electronica, downtempo, space age pop, swing, polynesian, bossa nova, exotica and particularly jazz. Instruments typically used to create tunes in this genre are vibraphones, the guitar, drums, the piano and ethnic percussion.
When you listen to this musical style, you will get a sense of being taken to another place; one that is more tranquil and perhaps even other-worldly, like outer space. The key theme behind the genre is to relax and feel comfortable. This is easy to understand when you consider where you might hear these tunes. It is a good choice of genre for a relaxed social setting.
While a great deal of this genre is purely instrumental, particularly in modern times, there are quite a few artistes who can date the start of their careers back to being lounge singers. The swing jazz era of the 30s and 40s is also considered to be of this genre. With this era, however, there is more importance placed on the singer as opposed to the instrumentals.
Singers from this time include Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. And Dean Martin, also known as the Rat Pack. Some other vocalists from this era are Louis Prima, Sonny King, Sam Butera and Jackie Gleason. Many of these artistes performed to the music of songwriter and producer Burt Bacharach, who has won six Grammys and three Academy Awards. The artistes he worked with performed mostly in Las Vegas casinos at the time.
In the nineteen nineties, Combustible Edison, Love Jones, The Cocktails and The High Llamas were just a few of many groups that revived the genre. In nineteen ninety-six, Capitol Records released an entire seris of Ultra-Lounge albums. The genre itself was very different to the other popular style at the time, known as grunge.
In the new millennium, musicians and singers have revamped the entire genre by combining strong elements of contrasting musical styles. An example of this would be Richard Cheese and Lounge Against The Machine, who covered both metal and hip hop tunes but in the manner of a lounge singer. Nouvelle Vague, a band from Paris, did something similar where 80s post-punk tunes were redone.
There are a number of nightclubs that are less like the loud, dance environment of a regular club where these tunes from this genre can be experienced. These clubs are styled more like high end bars where cocktails and mingling are the focus. There is rarely a separate dance floor, but partially private rooms are often available for a more intimate social setting. It is a much more subdued environment than a regular nightclub.