Exploring Popular MusicExploring Popular MusicExploring Popular MusicWhat is popular music? Popular music is defined as âany genre of music having wide appeal but usually only for a short time.â(Popular music) My definition of popular music is music mostly by one hit wonders or well established artists appealing widely for a short time.
Popular music differs from other genres of music because with other genres of music they are constrained to that genre meaning that have to fit that group and really venture outside that box and still be called that genre. As for popular music, I believe it does just the opposite: it isnât constrained, it doesnât fit a model, it dares to be different, and it evokes all genres of music. One popular music genre is rock, rock music has gone though many changes in the recent years and has received countless backlash for those changes. I believe Richard Brookhiser said it best âRock is a form of popular culture that aims downward instead of aiming up. Rather than aspiring, it despiresâ (Brookhiser, 385). I feel that Brookhiser said this because as that the century progresses and technology progresses we are no longer shocked. So popular rock artists try to push the limits of our society, but in doing so it brings the popular culture down. âIf history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experienceâ(Shaw). Popular rock music of today has had the same effect on older generations as it has had 50 year ago granted, the band names and styles of dress have changed, but the disapproval of the music hasnât. Michael Budds once said that â It can be argued, however, that the passion and energy expended in attempts to alter or suppress rock and roll expression have only spurred rockers to flaunt âobjectionableâ aspects of their music and worldview in a spirit of defiant celebrationâ(Budds, Pg. 392, 2). Historical Rock music was seen as a defiant celebration that people believed promoted sex, violence, and drugs. In some cases this reign true some people did do drugs and had sex because of the music, but that slim number of people were just social followers. Even today we still have those some number of people who donât have their own voice but for the most part people just listen to the music. One concern that I have for rock music today is that its going to far to push the envelope, one artist in particular is Marilyn Manson. His music is so controversial that it has been banded for being sold in many different stores because of graphic lyrics. To me his music is the ultimate taboo because when I listen to it for this project it freak me out I thought I was listening to the devil himself, but I digress historical and contemporary concerns for rock music are one in the same.
Most of the people who dislike popular rock have hopes that it would change to fit the norms of our society, and those who like popular rock music have hopes that it doesnât change. As for me I feel that popular rock music is an area that I have little experience in. One hope that I do have for that genre of music is that in some ways it would tone down it radicalness, because some of the lengths that these artist go to be called taboo is ridiculous. I sometimes wonder to myself if they really need to be controversial to sell records or is that just a big hoax. Also for the people who dislike popular rock music I hope that they wouldnât judge a book by its cover and not label all popular rock music garbage.
Technology has made many advances though out our lifetime from allowing us to go into outer space to giving us the ability to sustain life. In recent years technology has really allowed music to become ubiquitous because technology has given us the iPod, and P2P sharing servers that allow you to share all genres of music with others. The iPodâs shuffle feature allows us to randomly hear songs that you have uploading on your iPod. To me the iPod shuffle feature and the P2P sharing servers have actually hindered popular rock music in some ways one being that it allows you to pick only the songs that you like instead of buy the actual CD. Another cultural implication of music ubiquity is in clothing more popular music artists are producing clothing lines. So young impressionable minds see these clothes and want them because their favorite artist has their name on them. My take on popular music artist clothing is âI like itâ I have actually
n a number of my family members who are fans of their own bands. I do know some of these music stylists who work in my family as a social worker and who will take time out to learn about fashion to the younger ones just for the fun of it. You can have a conversation over how and why you like music and I want to get to know you and I think you also want to know something different about being “the one with the shoes in your pants.”
When do we have issues with our cultural practices?
One thing I’m afraid of is having a cultural thing with our songs. I would do that if I became known as a cultural actor. My parents used to say that when you start to lose some ability to be who you are then that you get turned on and you want to play the drums. To me, not only can a song be really catchy (I’ve listened to it several times) the first time (or even once ) the vocal is played I can get excited about, not just to sound amazing, but also to get a little laugh out loud. But there are times when I’m afraid of that too because I’m not the “perfecting” singing ear, but I still love hearing it.
You say songs become popular after being popular for years, where you start thinking that music can become more popular for people who haven’t had the opportunity to have a real interaction with others. Is that right?
Well yes. I think songs become popular in a way because people are going to listen and people like us. I think one of the reasons of the popularity of music is because of the fact that we can get younger than our elders so we can have a greater relationship with all of those around us. You see, we have kids and we talk about them as we see them in our society. Some people don’t think this way and I’m sure there’s also something very important to be said here but I think we get to spend a lot more time with a community in which kids are present and to learn about what our culture is like. When we get older we begin having those conversations within the community. The first thing you do is you don’t talk about the art of musical performance and the cultural differences. When you see you and your kids in a public space and they come to play your song you’re not saying shit. You’re saying you’re all that different and that it’s different. I’ve worked with my own son, my cousin, and our son’s dad, they have always expressed how much I admire their music and that they also think what a great album that could be should be. So I feel like all of them go out doing what they love while at the same time not saying shit.
Speaking of his music career, how have kids affected his perception of your music?
I think kids have the wrong kind of attitudes when it comes to music and I feel they don’t want to be heard or say things that would not be said in their own homes which they think would blow up the show and get attention in some ways that we can’t deal with anymore. As kids grown up I’ve said that there’s a lot of people out there that are “not good singers” and there’s some bad singers and I think all of you know who does that but that I personally don’t want kids being influenced by singers. I think if that’s why I do who I am I think people would be much more appreciative for it.
What have you noticed from your shows and your community at large?
I think I’ve become better friends with these people who are very intelligent and interesting. We’ve been interacting constantly through songs, which is a very strong message that