BUT IS IT ROCK ‘N ROLL?
I have long felt that rock music is slowly dying. Long gone are the anthems for the underdogs and the inspiration for the hopeless. I keep trying to find inspiration and come short. The billboard charts used point me in the direction of some new noise to quiet my mind. Lately I haven’t had any such luck. I was looking at the Billboard Rock charts today, and again I found myself wondering, what ever happened to Rock n Roll?
When I look at the list of what the rock and alternative charts today, this is what I see:
Hot Rock Songs Now (Billboard listed: March 23, 2013*): | |
1
|
Ho Hey - The Lumineers
|
2
|
Radioactive - Imagine Dragons
|
3
|
I Will Wait - Mumford & Sons
|
4
|
It’s Time - Imagine Dragons
|
5
|
Little Talks - Of Monsters And Men
|
6
|
Carry On - fun.
|
7
|
Sail - AWOLNATION
|
8
|
Home - Phillip Phillips
|
9
|
Some Nights - fun.
|
10
|
My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up) - Fall Out Boy
|
Alternative Songs Now (Billboard listed: March 23, 2013*): | |
1
|
Radioactive - Imagine Dragons
|
2
|
Mountain Sound - Of Monsters And Men
|
3
|
Madness - Muse
|
4
|
The Pit - Silversun Pickups
|
5
|
I Will Wait - Mumford & Sons
|
6
|
Stubborn Love - The Lumineers
|
7
|
Little Black Submarines - The Black Keys
|
8
|
Trojans - Atlas Genius
|
9
|
Carry On - fun.
|
10
|
Lover Of The Light - Mumford & Sons
|
These charts seemed a little “light” to me, so I then went back 10 years to make sure I wasn’t crazy and this was what I found:
Alternative Songs 10 Years Ago (Billboard listed: March 22, 2003*) | |
1
|
Can't Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers
|
2
|
Somewhere I Belong - Linkin Park
|
3
|
Bring Me To Life - Evanescence Featuring Paul McCoy
|
4
|
Like A Stone - Audioslave
|
5
|
No One Knows - Queens Of The Stone Age
|
6
|
Times Like These - Foo Fighters
|
7
|
When I'm Gone - 3 Doors Down
|
8
|
Swing, Swing - The All-American Rejects
|
9
|
Headstrong - Trapt
|
10
|
Clocks - Coldplay
|
A bit "heavier" don't you agree? And a lot more worthy of being called rock n roll. For the Hot Rock songs chart, unfortunately, I was only able to go back as far as June 20, 2009. Apparently the Mainstream Rock chart existed before this date* but is not available on the website, but you can still see a trend from the earliest Hot Rock Songs chart listed:
Hot Rock Songs Now (Billboard listed: June 20, 2009*): | |
1
|
Know Your Enemy - Green Day
|
2
|
New Divide - Linkin Park
|
3
|
Use Somebody - Kings Of Leon
|
4
|
Careless Whisper - Seether
|
5
|
Lifeline - Papa Roach
|
6
|
Panic Switch - Silversun Pickups
|
7
|
Sound Of Madness - Shinedown
|
8
|
Ain't No Rest For The Wicked - Cage The Elephant
|
9
|
Second Chance - Shinedown
|
10
|
Sex On Fire - Kings Of Leon
|
While I admire each artist on these lists (then and now) for various reasons, I find myself wondering what has changed. These now charts seem pretty "light" to bear the title of "rock." Versus the older charts, it seems that rock is getting quieter... Mellower... “Happier” almost (gasp!).
Perhaps this generation is less lost than those that came before it. Perhaps the definition of rock n roll has just gotten lost along the way. Or is rock slowly dying? How can we keep it alive? If we don't, who's going to save us? Where is all that noise that echoes what is going on in my own head (and yours)? Has everyone's minds grown quieter while mine remains a war zone? Where have the anthems for the angry, hurt, lost and alone? They seem to be getting less and less.
I look at this chart today, and I know in my heart that this isn’t Rock n Roll. I know I am not alone in this. And I hope in time the fire will rise again. The anthems will rain on me. They will inspire, and we will feel less alone.
sources:
*Billboard.com/Billboard feedback
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