Rock 'n' Roll in Turmoil: Cultural Trends in Today's Music is a Downward Spiral

What happened to Rock 'n' Roll after the mid 90's? Metal was slowly fading out, replaced with the grunge sounds of Nirvana, Sonic Youth and Pearl Jam. Wasn't my kind of rock but at least these bands had a message, a voice representing their generation. But after the short-lived yet highly influential popularity of grunge, rock music just seemed to go down the wrong path. Even hip-hop began to follow this artistic destruction.

Today our radios and televisions are filled with pop rock groups like Fall Out Boy and Good Charlotte, the grown up children of late 90's bands New Found Glory and MxPx (thanks guys...). And what is the message music today is giving us? What once was a platform of voice and representation of one's generation suddenly became a disgusting orgy of fads and popularity contests.

I don't even have to read all the lyrics to show the monotony of these groups today. Take a look at the listeners and you can tell in an instant that these fanatics will drop a band today to go running and screaming for the next big act. Real artists attract loyalty and it is because of this loyalty that bands in the past had the balls to piss off their management and do whatever they wanted, shock rock and all, and not get thrown off their label, because if they did they would loose the millions of fans that would follow them where ever they go. Now a days, if you're out of the spotlight for more than a year or two, you are forgotten.

Now I'm not saying all music today is horrible or if you have a Hilary Duff song in your iPod then your taste in music is dead. Popular music is meant to attract a lot of people, that's why its called popular music. I have some ridiculous songs in my MP3 player by the way. But there use to be a balance between mainstream and underground. Rock 'n' Roll use to be able to hold it down in the industry, keeping their identity with out selling out their artistic values to the business. And there are a few bands and singers out there today who value this but unfortunately do not get the recognition they deserve. All of the spotlight is going to cookie cutter bands, with no room left for the artist.

Looking back on how far rock has come, from The Doors to Carlos Santana, from Aerosmith to Guns 'n' Roses, these artists have had different levels of success with their legacy still living on today, despite the brainwashing of the music industry.

If you don't agree that's fine, each person has their different tastes and views on music. But look deep down inside, if it's not already cluttered with MTV Cribs, Super Sweet 16 and Pimp My Ride episodes, and truly ask yourself this question: If you had your tongue cut out (brutal huh?) and couldn't speak, and some one were to ask you to write down a band or artist that can represent your generation's political or social issues to them, would you have an answer?

I'm young, so I can only look back at the generations before me who were influenced or have influenced great artists in the past. But I still have hope and keep my eyes open for another great Rock 'n' Roll band that will come around and change the world of music again.