Are Rock and Pop music less visible than they once were?
By Carl Halling
@CarlHalling (3617)
United Kingdom
July 28, 2008 8:12pm CST
There was a time when youth culture and Rock music were intertwined, and very visible. Pop shows, Rock shows, were tremendously popular, such as Britain's "Top of the Pops" and "American Bandstand" in the US. There is an immensity of popular music today of all kinds, but it's not as visible as it once was. It seems that much popular music today is effectively "underground" rather than mainstream as it was for so long. Is this a good thing; or even true? Will Popular music regain its visibility? Should it, or is it best less visible? What is your personal opinion of Popular music? Has it lost its earth-shaking power, or not? And is this good, or not? Or was it ever that powerful? What do you think?
3 people like this
3 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
30 Jul 08
I think the problem is the label pop. what is popular these days seems to be Hanna Montana and boy bands. Back in the day, there were more cross overs where you could have a good country song that would make it to the pop charts. And there were some rock songs that would be there too. but these days a "pop" song will be made for a girl of 12.So there isn't that many crossovers. I remember in the 80's pop Was a mixture of rock, country, r&b, and new wave and the birth of hip hop. all of these genres had a song or two on the pop charts. Now the lines have been drawn and no one crosses over.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
30 Jul 08
I see what you mean. In the '80s, many of the New Wave bands who conquered the Pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic were initially experimental with roots in left of field music forms. And yes I see there wasn't such a stark dividing line between Rock and Pop. Today, Pop is its own music genre perhaps. So you could say that crossing over for popular music that isn't Pop just doesn't happen like it once did. It could be said that a new underground has opened up.
1 person likes this
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
31 Jul 08
Maybe so, yes. But also, word of mouth is important. I have a close friend who is my internet mentor. It was he who told me about both myspace and youtube. I indulged him; and lo! He'd introduced me to two whole new worlds of wonder. I still can't get my head 'round the wealth of material of youtube, and the new fans who are as passionate as I ever was about classic music acts from the '60s, '70s, '80s. Just amazing.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
31 Jul 08
I am not sure there is a underground anymore. Once upon a time you had to know the right people to get into the right club to hear the latest great sound. These days with You Tube and My Space I think it is the charts and the record companies that are going underground.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
29 Jul 08
I think pop and rock music will always be around. It may not be as popular as time goes on though. the newer generations are not listening to much of it. they are listening more to the new age music. I think pop and rock will never die though because there are still a few fans of it.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
29 Jul 08
I agree, and you see them on youtube. All the classic Pop and Rock bands have collected thousands of new young fans. It is amazing to me.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
29 Jul 08
True. Trends come and trends go. The internet is the best place to find out about them. I used to read music magazines to check these out.
