rock v pop music of the 1970 s v music of the 1990 s

Rock v. Pop: Music of the 1970's v. Music of the 1990's
Music is an outlet to all aspects of life and has a significant way of
forming people and the way they live. Although not always seen directly,
culture has an overbearing influence on the music that is produced and
made popular. The political climate of the early seventies was full of fire
with issues such as Vietnam and constant protest throughout the Unites
States. Social issues also played a major role in the developing culture of
the seventies. Bands often used their popularity to spread their feelings
on such topics. They were, and still are, the central of communication
between all genres of all people across the world. The music these bands
produced, while broadcasting their opinion, also helped shaped our
culture. Through twenty years of constant criticism from people who did
not believe in rock music, the power of the band's opinions still affects
how our country feels about many topics. Some of the things that affects
how the public feels include lyrics, image, and sound
Both classic rock music of the seventies and modern rock music of the
nineties use music to speak to the public. They always have used their
popularity to demonstrate their feelings on wars, depressions, and
beliefs. Almost all rock music groups have had at least one point in time
where they address war, and the feeling of fighting for what is right was
often found in lyrics. Many people believed that the classic rock groups
were bad for the soul or included the use of mind-altering substances and
promiscuous sex. There was more to rock music than this, much more.
In the musician's lyrics, from the classic rock music era of the seventies
to the more modern forms of rock music of the nineties, many good
things have been extracted. Although there was the use of drugs and
there were some bands that were against authority, the musician's from
both eras found their lyrics to be a useful source of output and to let the
audience and the public know how they stood on political or social
issues.
Sadly enough, however, modern rock music has taken on a different type

lyrical content. Many of the lyrics found in modern rock music is
extremely vulgar, unlike most of the music from the seventies. Modern
rock music has earned a reputation for being high impact, loud,
energetic, and intense. People often associate the message of all modern
rock music as containing nothing more than violent anti-government
statements and messages of alienation, once again stirring up ideas in the
public, and having an immense impact on our society, young people,
public views on music, and other rock music bands. Often, unlike classic
rock bands, which tried to pursue peace in a more relaxed type of lyrical
content, modern bands offer nothing more than a continued sentiment of
hostility towards the fans. As a result of the belligerence, many blame the
decline in morale in young people today on the messages, which are
transmitted through lyrics and vulgarity.
The image in which all rock groups convey, including both modern and
classic, is one of rebellion and anarchy. Both genres were for the most
part, rebellious of the typical traditional way of life. In each musician's
personalities, there was a belief in which molded a band's image. Some
of the beliefs include Christian and gothic type music. Although there
were many bands that fell outside of these two categories of musical and
lyrical content, almost all rock groups fell under one of the two
stereotypes. Christianity is a more relaxed and non-belligerent form of
communication and gothic is hard core and denounces organized
government and religion. Whether or not the band actually pushed their
beliefs on others, the lyrics were written and did convey certain messages
to anyone that listened to the music, whether it be a song by Led
Zeppelin or Limp Bizkit.
In our modern world, most people are not afraid to speak out and most
people do so. Our society is more open to new ideas and our music
reflects this thought. Lyrics in modern rock music are much more vulgar
than those of the seventies. Part of the reason may be that because our

society is open to new ideas and thoughts, musicians can get away with
progressively more vulgarity in lyrical content. The difference in the type
of lyrical content used in the seventies compared to that of the nineties
goes without question. The musicians today are much more liberal in
what they say and what they present to the public. Although both modern
and classic rock music have been almost an outcast of society for twenty
years, modern rock is more open and expresses a more gothic gesture
than most classic rock music.
There has always been a unique sound each band has that attracts certain
fans. "From the beginning of time, mankind used it's voice as well as
objects such as wood, rock, and sand in order to create harmonious
melodies" (Romeu 1). Throughout time, science progressed as well as
innovation, and with this came the dawn of new instruments such as
drums, pianos, flutes, and guitars (Romeu 1). Both eras of rock used
these types of musical instruments in one way or the other. They are the
essentials of music. Although there are modified forms of instruments
and there are even new types of instruments, music still manages to
convey a message of one type or another to all that listen. Music grows
with time and as the people change, so does their choice of sound. Music
has evolved in so many ways in the past five decades, that there are
numerous genres of music, including disco, pop, classical, rap and
country. With the spread of ideas between bands, comes the combination
of all type of music. "Although music styles have changed throughout
the years, musicians remain the same, constantly adapting sounds to
evolving technologies" (Romeu 1). Whether or not we want music to
change, a musician's preference in which manner he expresses himself
will forever be in change. Modern rock and classic rock both evolved in
their time period. With the innovation of technology, come new sounds
and that is what makes a band unique.
Music has now evolved into a new sound known as Techno. Many of the

instruments are electronic and most bands compose the beat via
keyboard. Numerous people dislike the new sound and "Techno critics
complain that the computer-generated sounds have caused music to lose
its soulful existence" (Romeu 1). "Although there may be dissension
within elctronica music circles, the sound has united Europe and the U.S.
with it's popularity" (Romeu 2). Sure enough the new sound has started
to spread rapidly throughout our once guitar-based music culture and the
speed and catchy beats amaze almost everybody. Modern rock now
utilizes electronics to do the job that a traditional drum and bass guitar
would do in a classic music based rock group. The concept of our society
accepting new ideas plays a major role in why our music changes so
much and techno is probably a direct result of this concept.
Lyrics, image and sounds of modern and classic rock music groups play
a major role in how our country feels on political and social issues. The
lyrics, images and sounds of both eras have evolved and have shaped our
culture. Musicians use their music to express their ideas, to celebrate, to
mourn or to simply tell a story (Romeu 1). People will always use music
to find answers and the musicians will use their popularity to spread
message to the public. This took place in the seventies, the nineties still
has power of music and the future is sure to have the power of music.
How will the music evolve in the future? Nobody knows, we have to
leave that up to our society to figure out how our music's lyrics, image
and sounds will change.
Romeu, Jeanette. 13 February. 2001: 2 pages. On-line. Internet.
Available WWW:
/>