middle-of-the-road

The phrase "Middle of the road" is also used in other contexts as a synonym for political centrism or general moderation.

Middle of the road or MOR is a broad term encompassing a number of musical 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 in outlook, but not cutting edge; it is generally strongly melodic and frequently uses vocal harmony techniques and arrangements involving orchestral 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.

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.

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

• Easy listening
• Traditional pop music of the pre-rock & roll era, or later recordings imitative of that style
• Orchestral ballads
• Songs from musical theater
• Smooth jazz
• Soft rock

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

Notable MOR musicians

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

• Air Supply
• Tony Bennett
• Michael Bolton
• Pat Boone
• Bread
• Mariah Carey
• The Carpenters
• Nat King Cole
• Perry Como
• Bing Crosby
• John Denver
• Celine Dion
• Engelbert Humperdinck
• Norah Jones
• The Eagles
• Grand Funk Railroad
• Hootie and the Blowfish
• Journey
• 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
• Bonnie Tyler
• Dionne Warwick
• Roger Whittaker
• Baja Marimba Band

Contemporary Usage

The term "middle of the road" has begun to be used in a pejorative sense by more dedicated (or genre-specific) music fans to describe musicians who avoid innovative or "edgy" material and calibrate their appeal to the lowest common denominator of popular taste; in other words, it is used as an accusation of blandness. Critic Sasha Frere-Jones, in a generally positive article on Mariah Carey, characterized her music as "appeal[ing] to people who don't otherwise listen to pop. These are people who probably also like Andrea Bocelli and Céline Dion, singers who avoid the sexual tug of the blues and the glorious noises of rock and hip-hop in favor of tremulous expressions of chaste emotion."^[1] Artists such as Westlife (by pop fans)^[2] or Train (by rock fans)^[3] would generally be considered to fall within this category. Similarly, 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 Pitchfork's review of Duran Duran's Rio 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 the song "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.

Citations

1. ^ Frere-Jones, Sasha. "On Top". New Yorker, April 3, 2006, pp. 76-77.
2. ^ http://arts.guardian.co.uk/christmas2003/story/0,,1100163,00.html
3. ^ http://www.nme.com/reviews/train/6019

See also

• Traditional pop music
• Adult Standards

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