Chapter 2: Discussion

Chapter 2

Discussion

A. The influence of Rock n’ Roll

As time went by, Rock n’ Roll truthfully fascinated people through its various sub genres and rhythm arrangements. The people were amaze on how it evolved from being a genre which came from other genres to an influential independent genre worldwide. As it rise to fame, Rock n’ Roll showed obvious influence and changes on the society.

According to an article entitled “Social Impact of Rock ‘n Roll” by Faroghe Azzam of merinews.com Rock music has been very appealing for the people ever since it got famous in the music industry. Various musicians also rose to create sub genres for it. It changed the society and how it looks like. However, as how everything goes, Rock N’ Roll had positive and negative influences to offer for the people. One obvious influence of Rock N’ Roll is fashion statement. The author said that long hair, torn out jeans, long T-shirts, satanic necklaces; tattoos, leather jackets, pierced body and all accessories that normally parents call indecent are typical rock style. Rock is all about being rebellious. Rockers want to look tough both physically and mentally. Listeners want to look like their favorite rock icon. Also, the negative side is, fans of Rock n’ Roll often drown themselves on the satisfaction of drugs. Due to the rebellious side of the industry, people think that just because they are into rock n’ roll means they are in to drugs to. Also, the religion gives in a large issue as Rock N’ Roll began to rise. But as time went by, Rock N’ Roll is not just about drugs and rebellion. Different famous bands began supplying for charity as a support for people.

Azzam stated “Several rock musicians have attempted to address social issues directly as commentary or as calls to action.” (http://www.merinews.com/article/social-impact-of-rock-n-roll/124751.shtml#sthash.AOSUTGQD.dpuf).

Certainly, like anything else, Rock N’ Roll gave positive and negative effects that kept people supporting the music industry. Musicians did some charitable works in order to clear what society thinks about them. Rock N’ Roll is not just about rebellion and disgrace; it also raises the charity of giving to people and supporting each other through music and charities.

B. Why is it dying?

Despite the fact that Rock N’ Roll was famous, it’s still lying in danger. As other genres paved its way to the rise of fame, people began forgetting the powerful world of rock. As how the current generation sees it, Rock is now a legend on the music industry. Artists right now are beginning to change their genre on what people want to here and buy. Thus, making rock n’ roll forgotten and die.

1. People stop supporting the industry

Rock N’ Roll rose with the help of people supporting it during 1950s. Without the people who listen to it, it would not be famous. One of the well known supporters of rock is the British. Known to others, Rock N’ Roll originated on the land of Britain and British people were the first to support it. But as decades pass by, people of Britain seems like they got tired of hearing Rock and changed to the newer vibe of music.

In an article entitled “Is Rock N’ Roll finally dead?” by Peter Robinson of theguardian.com, the author discussed that the British top 100 has only 3 rock n’ roll tracks in it and one of them is the revival of “Don’t stop believing” by Journey. The author also classified the songs included as Pop represented 40% of the chart, dance had 10%, and hip-hop and R&B 47% – though when almost half of all top 40 songs seem to feature Rihanna, David Guetta or Black Eyed Peas, it's hard to know where one genre ends and another begins. The 3 rock n’ roll soundtracks included don’t do much on the graph of hundred compared to other artists of other genres.

The author also said that “Rock's current slump in the singles chart comes a decade after the British guitar music scene was last decimated.” (http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jan/11/is-rock-finally-dead).

The thing is, people who once supported it forgot to support it as time goes by. The influence of neo-colonialism from other countries fed up the mind of people. How will other country support Rock music if even the creators and the supporters can’t even accept it today? Rock N’ Roll will be nothing but a history on the music industry.

2. Technology and piracy

The current generation is known as the genius of technological field. Perhaps, people today are also exposed on the influence of social networking sites. Facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube and vimeo are some. People see what’s popular and trending in a click. It makes everything easier for people but harder for musicians and their industry.

According to an article entitled “How technology killed Rock N’ Roll” by Corey Crossfield of musicthinktank.com technology is one of the main reason why Rock N’ Roll is beginning to die. The era of technology makes it easier for people to do things. The author also said that, other musicians just record themselves singing and in an instant they become pop stars. This tactic is not easy for Rock music because it is hard to record heavy beats in a simple recorder. Also, the issue of piracy is putting a hole in rock industry. Undeniably, Rock N’ Roll is beginning to go down. And when musicians try to release a new single or album, people will easily download it in pirate websites and the album will not sell since they don’t have enough supporters unlike other industry.

Crossfield also said “Rock and roll was once urgent, immediate, a call to arms, and powerful because it was ugly and different. It encouraged outsiders to embrace their differences and live outside of both musical and societal norms. Now due to the rise of technology, the musician’s middle class, and the destruction of the myth of rock and roll, the genre has died.” (http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/how-technology-killed-rock-and-roll.html).

In fact, people are beginning to forget how hard it is for rock musicians to make their way to international records and sell their music to them. They do not think about it because they know that technology can help them get what they want.

3.  Fake rockers and posers

Musicians of rock are often defined as individuals who are unimaginably talented on musical instruments and vocals. Past-paced music and rhythms are their strong point. And as Rock N’ Roll became famous, a lot of artist tried to include themselves in the industry. But are they worthy enough to be there?

In an article entitled “Rock and Roll is dead” by Ceiling Cat of whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com  the reason why rock n’ roll is dying is because a lot of artists claim that they are rock n’ roll musicians but they do not set a legacy on the industry. They just make music and people will start forgetting it in an instant. The author called it mediocre. The rock musicians of the current generation are making new sub genre that are not as one of a kind as what the past gave to rock industry. They look like posers and fake. They just do it to look like they are following a genre that is not well known today but in reality, they mix rock with something hippie and known to many to sell their music. They are nothing compared to what past artists of rock offered.

The author also said, “No, the songs on the oldies stations in 20 years will be pretty much what they are now: the Beatles, the Stones, the great soul music of the 60s and early 70s, the Band, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Ray Charles, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, and . . . well, I can go on forever.  Why will their music last? Because these people were artists, who produced interesting music, with lovely tunes and (often) meaningful lyrics.  That’s simply not on tap these days. What we have is a crop of overhyped, oversold, autotuned mediocrities.” (http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2013/08/21/rock-and-roll-is-dead/).

The current generation of rock musicians that are well known don’t give anything remarkable for the industry. They just do it for the sake of being famous and having money for the living. They do not actually care for the industry that was once the most powerful of all. These people are the ones who make Rock n’ Roll die and forgotten by the current generation.

C. How to restore Rock N’ Roll?

If Rock N’ Roll is dying, shall we just watch it pass by? Of course not. The real supporters of rock n’ roll are actually making a way on how to revive the industry they once love and still adore. It would never be enough to just watch the industry that really influenced a lot of people die without fighting.

According to an article entitled “Top seven reasons why rock is dead and how to revive it” by bragider of spike.com, Rock n’ roll is surely dying but there are solutions for it. The author gave 7 reasons why it is dead and how to revive it. First, the stiff competition with other genre of music industry is hard to deal with. The solution is make way to the shows of rock n’ roll and support it for it to be spectacular just like how it was decades ago. Second is the fall of record producers. The things is, rock n’ roll need layers of editing to put the sound of instruments together to sound good but music producers are beginning to fall because auto-tuned tracks are in today. The solution is, bands and musicians should settle with tracks that need less editing and surely it would sound good. That’s how the old era deals with it. Third is record industries are too picky when it comes to artist. We cannot blame them, they just do their job and they only get artists that people want. The solution is, rock n’ roll musicians should not rely to them, they should stand on their own and make way for themselves. Sooner or later, someone can appreciate them. The biggest issue tackled on the article is the musicians now adays settle on what the people want instead of what they can do. They are too conscious of what will happen to them if people don’t want them. But that’s what rock is; being different and rebellious. The solution is, bands and musicians should not be so conscious on what they look like or what the society thinks about them. They should focus more on the music they give to people and how it affects the society.

The author also stated “It should be something the government wants to keep tabs on. It should be at the heart of every risky decision and flippant reaction we make. Rock 'n' roll should to be born from emotion, not a desire to cash in.” (http://www.spike.com/articles/qarwtt/the-top-seven-reasons-rock-is-dead-and-how-to-revive-it?page=2).

We need to do something if we know that Rock n’ Roll is an important thing in the music industry. We should make a way to introduce it again to people and make legacy on the industry of Rock n’ Roll.