A sad time for Rock – Part 1
As everyone knows in their heart, Rock and Roll has faded away. It’s not what is popular, it’s not what is new, and the only people who really buy it are those who grew up with it. So yes, it is a sad time for Rock n’ Roll. But Rock and Roll is not dead and it will never die. You still hear the sounds of the Beatles in stores and restaurants. You can still hear the King (Elvis) and the Killer (Jerry Lee Lewis) on the radio. Billy Joel and Elton John still sound great. These are great musical artists who have aged well but the younger generation doesnt respect what has come before. Hip Hop is all right and Techno is just fine but it doesn’t make up for the pure energy of Rock. Not the energy you get in a Scremo band or Pop Rock music but that sort of driving feel. Pop Rock is an easy going perky version while Hard Rock is the other extreme, all “in your face” and “listen to me!” But real Rock n’ Roll goes back to the classics like The Rolling Stones, who made you jump and dance, with guitars and drums playing hard, fast and continuously. That kind of music revolutionized our world. That is Rock and Roll and today’s teens have forgotten it.
If you go onto TV shows or find what is hip, do you see any new popular Rock groups? Do you see any Rock groups at all that aren’t Retro groups? Today’s music doesn’t use real drums anymore. You can just use mechanical drums, loops and patches, or effects, because you don’t need drums you just need a beat. We compromise the live sound of drums for this computerized programmed stuff. Is it that we are too lazy to get actual performers to play or is it we just want to program a loop and not worry about it. You can play two notes on the guitar and sing and then program in other sounds, effects, and patches to make a song.
We have thousands of songs to choose from so we listen to what we like. I love all types of music as long as the lyrics are clean. Without appreciation for the classics of Rock and Roll, we lose the cultural jokes and social commentary of the 60s through 90s and any appreciation for the advances made musically at that time. I quote Bob Seger, “Call me a relic, call me what you will, say I’m old fashioned, say I’m over the hill. Today’s music ain’t got the same soul, I like that old time rock n’ roll.” Or in the words of the Beatles, “It’s gotta be that rock n’ roll music, any old way you choose it. It’s got a back beat you can’t lose it, any old way you use it. It’s gotta be rock ‘n’ roll music, if you want to dance with me.” Stray Cats put it well: “Put that cold dollar in the can, but all they played was disco man, come on baby we got to rock this town tonight.” Then I think what describes my feelings most has to be The Rolling Stones, “I know it’s only rock ‘n roll but I like it,
I know it’s only rock ‘n roll but I like it, like it, yes, I do.”
Tags: King Elvis, Play Two, Real Drums