0
Rock's Death Came Like A Thief In The Night...
Posted by
Quiet One
,
10 May 2007
·
31 views
This entry was inspired by our good friend Murray Walker and his questions on how controversial was the "old" popular music. Of course, the fact that he didn't even heard "Lola" until now disqualifies him automatically as an authority on what can be regarded as "old" 
On the other side, this question gives me an opportunity to write about an issue that has been running inside my head for the past days: Politically Incorrectness.
Ok, first about MW's question: no, I don't think today's music is more controversial. Today's controversial music must, by definition, break the boundaries established by the old music, but that breaking isn't as spectacular as it used to be when the rock revolution began (to set an arbitrary parameter for comparison). You don't see huge campaigns calling to burn the records of any band (as it happened in the 60s). Religious crusades against rock music have decayed steadily (thanks to the return to medieval ways of thinking in the past years, though, some of them survived until now). Public in general seems quite indiferent to the controversies new bands try to arise. Nothing compared with the Beatles and drugs issue, Stones and drugs and violence issue, Kiss and their slaughtering of chickens on stage (a myth, but a good one!
), Ozzy Osbourne and his satanic rituals, etc.
During the 50s-early 80s era, conservative society watched Rock with suspicion and fear. Nowadays, it's just music. Yeah, you still can arise some controversy, but it will not become a worldwide success as in the past. In that respect, rock as "soundtrack" for a revolution from the youth, is really dead. Money has finally prevailed
On the other side, this question gives me an opportunity to write about an issue that has been running inside my head for the past days: Politically Incorrectness.
Ok, first about MW's question: no, I don't think today's music is more controversial. Today's controversial music must, by definition, break the boundaries established by the old music, but that breaking isn't as spectacular as it used to be when the rock revolution began (to set an arbitrary parameter for comparison). You don't see huge campaigns calling to burn the records of any band (as it happened in the 60s). Religious crusades against rock music have decayed steadily (thanks to the return to medieval ways of thinking in the past years, though, some of them survived until now). Public in general seems quite indiferent to the controversies new bands try to arise. Nothing compared with the Beatles and drugs issue, Stones and drugs and violence issue, Kiss and their slaughtering of chickens on stage (a myth, but a good one!
), Ozzy Osbourne and his satanic rituals, etc.During the 50s-early 80s era, conservative society watched Rock with suspicion and fear. Nowadays, it's just music. Yeah, you still can arise some controversy, but it will not become a worldwide success as in the past. In that respect, rock as "soundtrack" for a revolution from the youth, is really dead. Money has finally prevailed
