Berken and Middle of the road (music): Difference between pages

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| subject_name = Berken

:''This article is about the radio format. For the Blur single, see "[[M.O.R.]]" For the music group, see [[Middle of the Road (band)|'''Middle of the Road''']].''

| municipality_name = Berken

'''Middle of the road''' or '''MOR''' is a broad term encompassing a number of [[music]]al styles. Not technically a [[genre]] in its own right, it was, and in some places still is, a popular [[radio format]]. Music classed as MOR is broadly [[popular music|popular]] in outlook, but not [[Avant-garde|cutting edge]]; it is generally strongly [[melody|melodic]] and frequently uses vocal [[harmony]] techniques and [[arrangement]]s involving [[orchestra]]l instruments. Such music is rarely (if ever) aggressive or abrasive. The [[Beautiful Music]] stations of the [[1960s]] and [[1970s]] can be regarded as a form of MOR radio, as could today's [[Smooth Jazz]] and [[Soft AC]] formats.

| municipality_type = municipality

| imagepath_coa = |pixel_coa=

| map =

| languages = German

| canton = Berne

| iso-code-region = CH-BE

| district = [[Wangen (district)|Wangen]]

| lat_d=47|lat_m=14|lat_NS=N|long_d=7|long_m=43|long_EW=E

| postal_code = 3376

| municipality_code = 0972

| area = 1.4

| elevation = 420|elevation_description=

| population = 52|populationof=January 2005

| website = www.berken.ch

| mayor = |mayor_asof=|mayor_party=

| mayor_title = |list_of_mayors =

| places =

| demonym =

| neighboring_municipalities= [[Bannwil]], [[Graben]], [[Heimenhausen]], [[Walliswil bei Niederbipp]], [[Walliswil bei Wangen]]

| twintowns =

|}}

Conceived as a format that would include music of broad and almost universal appeal due to its pool of bestselling performers and its gently inoffensive sentimentality, it is often the format of choice for doctors' offices, stores, and other public and semi-public places of business. The combination of the unchallenging, decorous quality and its association with being piped in to places one is compelled to remain has drawn the genre its detractors. Ironically, the format has largely replaced what was once referred to as [[Elevator Music]], or [[Muzak]], which was anonymous, instrumental versions of such popular but mild tunes designed to lull the listener, yet the stigma of being unwelcome background music has transferred to the MOR genre if only because of its similar usage.

'''Berken''' is a [[Municipalities of Switzerland|municipality]] in the district of [[Wangen (district)|Wangen]] in the [[Cantons of Switzerland|canton]] of [[Canton of Berne|Berne]] in [[Switzerland]].

Some musical styles frequently included under the general heading of "middle of the road" include:

==External links==

* [[Easy listening]]

* {{HDS|558|Berken}}

* [[Traditional pop music]] of the pre-[[rock & roll]] era, or later recordings imitative of that style

* Orchestral [[ballads]]

* Songs from [[musical theater]]

* Light [[jazz]]

* [[Soft rock]]

MOR should not be confused with [[Album Oriented Rock|AOR]] (Album Oriented Rock).

==Notable MOR musicians==

{{Berne-geo-stub}}

Some artists whose work falls wholly or mostly into the category of MOR include:

{{Municipalities of the district of Wangen}}

[[Category:Municipalities of Berne]]

*[[de:BerkenAir Supply]]

*[[es:BerkenTony Bennett]]

*[[fr:BerkenMichael Bolton]]

*[[it:BerkenPat Boone]]

*[[Bread (band)|Bread]]

[[nl:Berken]]

*[[Mariah Carey]]

[[ru:Беркен]]

*[[The Carpenters]]

[[sv:Berken (kommun, CH-BE)]]

*[[Nat King Cole]]

*[[Perry Como]]

*[[Sarah Connor]]

*[[Bing Crosby]]

*[[Celine Dion]]

*[[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]]

*[[Norah Jones]]

*[[The Eagles]]

*[[Frankie Laine]]

*[[Melissa Manchester]]

*[[Barry Manilow]]

*[[Dean Martin]]

*[[Johnny Mathis]]

*[[Katie Melua]]

*[[Matt Monro]]

*[[Anne Murray]]

*[[Olivia Newton-John]]

*[[Patti Page]]

*[[Helen Reddy]]

*[[Kenny Rogers]]

*[[Carly Simon]]

*[[Frank Sinatra]]

*[[Barbra Streisand]]

*[[Dionne Warwick]]

*[[Roger Whittaker]]

*[[Baja Marimba Band]]

See also [[Traditional pop music]]; [[Adult Standards]]

==Contemporary Usage==

The term MOR has begun to be used derisively by more dedicated music (or specific genre) fans, towards artists who gain exceptional levels of success because of their trend towards tried and tested [[formula]]s of [[songwriting]], or lack of innovative techniques. In short, it can be seen as an accusation of blandness. Artists such as [[Westlife]] (by pop fans)<ref>http://arts.guardian.co.uk/christmas2003/story/0,,1100163,00.html</ref> or [[Train (band)|Train]] (by rock fans)<ref>http://www.nme.com/reviews/train/6019</ref> would generally be considered to fall within this category. Also the term is often used in a somewhat negative light when describing the progress of a band from innovative to more tried and true pop paths. For example here is an excerpt from Pitchforks review of Duran Duran's [[Rio (album)]] on their list of the top 100 albums of the 80's: "The band peppered the 80s with a number of hot singles (most of which can be found on the unstoppable side A of Rio) before departing for MOR country." Lyrics to Hit Factory by [[Godley and Creme]] on their album "L" include "MOR is safe. MOR is here. MOR is you".

Nonetheless, Middle of the Road music does have a following, usually with listeners age 50 and up. Frequently referred to as Adult Standards or Nostalgia, a few radio stations continue to broadcast versions of the format.

[[Category:Popular music]]

[[Category:Radio formats]]