Is Rock n Roll dead? Should anybody do anything about it? Are ideologies shifting? Can Philosophies change? Could one of the reasons why Rock n roll has taken a backseat be that the other genres are gaining more popularity? Experimental music has come down drastically with the Gen Y embracing the melodious, sweet songs that are restricted, clustered and congested. This being the scenario, we should look back on what happened in the 60s, what happened when the rock music geniuses without any apprehensions gave their music wings, when they reached horizons and beyond with their experiments. I am no music critic or a marvel, but as a layman in love with Rock n Roll, I think this is when we should all set aside some time and listen to the gems that were created eons ago. What was it that paved way for the rockstars to explore and use their whimsical, musical superpowers?
Counterculture - now that s something only courageous people can do .. Rebels, the ones that have confidence in their beliefs and can face a whole world to prove them right. Why were The Beatles so popular? It was because they questioned the routine, they countered the norms, defied rules and went on to become an inspiration for a whole generation. If Lennon were still alive, he would change the way the world s working today. He had the power, the enormous power to change world. Him and Patti Smith would be the axiomatic god and goddess of not only culture but the world, of an era!
I am amazed by what Alex Turner spoke about and did at the Brits Awards last week. I wonder why he received so much flak for the speech. In all honesty, it was honest, shot through the heart and not bizarre as it is made up to be. It was pompous alright but he wasn't being pompous about himself or what he wrote. He was pompous about where he came from. Seems like the young generation musicians are a clan that exists for money vending purposes. There is no heart and no soul in what they want to convey with their music or lyrics. They are interested in making "hummable" songs and get the teen audiences go gaga over them and then Ka-ching! What about experimenting? What about leaving the ordinary as is and moving on to create a revolution? what about finding fame in standing for what you believe in and spreading it across? I think that s where Turner's fury comes from.
Now this might feel weird, but keeping aside technicality for a minute, I would say Turner is a Revivalist (In ref to Music Only). I am not saying he doesn't work for money but Arctic Monkeys are trying to revive the lost or dead rock n roll! How many rock n roll bands have achieved fame like The Beatles in the recent years? How many of them have had sales like say, one direction has? Very few, aint it? That is why I am calling Turner a Revivalist. Pop and R n B have been flourishing like never before and that s defining the era today. Turner is turning up against em all. We shouldn't be criticizing him. We should be encouraging him. You drop that damn mic turner ! You drop it!
Rock n Roll was Elvis, Rock n Roll was The Beatles, Queen, The Rolling Stones and is Aerosmith, Arctic Monkeys, Led Zeppelin and the likes.. It shouldn't end here.. It should expand.. Like the love in your heart for a beloved! Because Rock n Roll can never go out of fashion.. Like Turner said, "That rock’n’roll, eh? That rock’n’roll, it just won’t go away"..
For all of those who don't know the whole speech, you can find it here -
http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/poll/2014/feb/20/alex-turner-brits-speech-what-did-you-think
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