By “Tampa” Earl Burton
Many things can be laid at the feet of “rock and roll.” It is the joyous, rebellious spirit of youth. It is the spirit of protest, of effecting change in society. It is the sound of love, confession, and embracing a significant other. And it can be the sound of raucous, unrepentant fun being had during an adventurous evening – or even a few hours doing the “horizontal bop.” There is a problem with the current world of rock and roll, however…why has it gotten so serious? Why has rock and roll lost its fun?
The Malaise of Rock and Roll
As a music journalist, I get a LOT of emails about the latest music from a myriad of artists and bands that span different genres of music. Along with the music itself, there is also usually a blurb from the artist, or the leader of the band, which reflects on the creation of the song/album and what the mindset of the creator was in penning their work. The recurring themes for most of these creators are darkness, depression, and bleakness.
A look at the blurbs I have recently received demonstrates this trend:
The writer was “thinking about the nature of inauthenticity in modern life, of how often it drives interactions and is often encouraged by social media, and how authenticity has become something quite rare…”
(Author’s) exploration through “the album’s themes of disillusionment and hidden truths…”
(The song) “.. touches on issues where there is a lack of empathy, whether between two people or world leaders, simply asking them an important question, ‘What About Love?’…”
This is just a quick sampling of some of the blurb quotations I have received. The thing about all these tracks (and all three are quite good songs, to be honest) is that they tend to push the listener away because of their darkness, their bleak outlook, and their navel-gazing that seems to be occurring.
When Did We Get So Sad?
Rock and roll could always look into the soul and ask tough questions. But it always seemed that it balanced out in the past – for every “Rock and Roll All Night,” we had an “Ohio” to function as a counterweight. What happened to effect such a change that every rock band or artist now must “make a statement” with their work, rather than a celebration of living? We’ve only got to look back a few years to see where it all went off track.
Let’s look back to the world of rock and roll circa the Eighties. You had the synth rock (New Wave) of Europe and England raging across the Atlantic, while the States (especially the Sunset Strip and California) brought a dual attack in thrash and “hair” metal that was changing the hard rock world. Even pop music was partying it up, through dancing on the floor or in the sheets. By the end of the Eighties, however, there was a genre that was looking to come crap in the punchbowl.
I certainly hate to lay another lifeless body in front of this genre – they already are alleged to have “killed” hair metal – but grunge must bear some responsibility for the death of “fun” in rock and roll. Grunge would delve into several different themes in the creation of its sound, but more often than not, it would also tap into the darkness that rests in all men’s (and women’s) souls. A quick look at the subject of some of grunge’s greatest hits displays this quite well.
Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy” – an overlooked child goes on a shooting spree in a classroom…
Nirvana’s “Rape Me” – an examination of power dynamics and subjugation in a relationship…
Soul Asylum’s “Somebody to Shove” – a song about loneliness and a desire for connection…
Need I go on?
Can We Find That Balance Again?
While rock and roll has lost its semblance of balance in this area, other genres have been able to maintain a mixture of seriousness and frivolity. Country music morphed into “bro country,” prattling on about girls in their “Daisy Dukes” and slamming drinks out of red Dixie cups. Rap/hip-hop continues to create around the sexuality issue and partying the night away. Other genres – Latin music in particular – continue to push forward with a high-energy sound that captures listeners.
Meanwhile, rock and roll continues with its journey to “serious artistic statements” with its subjects. But why? Why can’t rock and roll get back to the days when they balanced out a night at the strip clubs (“Girls, Girls, Girls”) with a reflection on a geopolitical situation (“Living on the Edge”)? If there were more fun to rock and roll rather than the 24/7 seriousness that seems to have encompassed the genre, perhaps it would be in the public consciousness more than what it currently is. Isn’t it at least worth experimenting with?
- Why So Serious? Why Has Rock Lost Its Fun? - March 1, 2025
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Announces 2025 Nominees – and Here’s Our Choices - February 15, 2025
- NightShift Puts Their Imprint on the Classic ‘Rocket Man’ - February 13, 2025
