In
Depth Analysis of Alternative
Rock
What
is Alternative Rock
Music?
The
question is; what is the
definition of alternative rock
music? “I am not sure
exactly what it is. It strikes a
middle ground between heavy metal
and pop”, explained a
19-year old youth.
A New
Wave So to Speak
Yes,
despite alternative rock having a
wide appeal among the youth, this
type of music is relatively new.
However, what has made this type
of music so popular? As one youth
put it, it seems to ‘relate
to different problems and
experiences that we young people
encounter’.
Admittedly,
it can be hard to tear away from
a form of music that seems to
speak directly to your emotions.
While it disturbs some adults and
with little or no idea what
alternative rock is, let us take
a look at this form of
music.
Unexplainable?
Alternative
rock cannot easily be explained.
Originally, it was the kind of
music for the youths who wanted
to be different. As the name
suggests, it was an alternative
form of music to the mainstream
music common on radio. Some say
that this form of music had its
roots when local college radio
stations gave airtime to
virtually unknown bands.
Alternative
Rock Lyrics
The songs
themselves were also different in
content. While rap and heavy
metal music cover more or less
the same content, alternative
rock is about harder feelings. It
covers a wide variety of sounds,
feelings and moods. It is hard to
classify exactly that it covers.
What about
the beat? Again, this can be
described in one word –
alternative. The beat is neither
hard or soft, fast or slow. One
youth even said that he is not
sure if likes alternative rock,
because he does not even know
what it is.
Peer
Pressure or a Musical
Message?
For many
people, music is simply a matter
of going after the crowd. For
others however, it is the sound
and the message that makes it so
appealing. A lot of people seem
to identify with songwriters
feelings and experiences.
Such
feelings as despair, confusion
and lust are common among the
youth and alternative rock
becomes a sort of an emotional
sound track that speaks about
them. However, despite the
seemingly harmless nature of
alternative rock, some bands show
clear lack of balance.
Be
Careful when Listening to
Alternative Rock
Some
alternative forms of music can
bring feelings of anger,
depression and rebelliousness.
Others have lyrics that identify
not only the thoughts of the
musicians, but also their
lifestyles.
All of
these elements of the music can
help to identify what genre the
music belongs to. Even with
alternative rock, remember to be
selective with what you listen
to. And, as parents, listen to
what your kids and teens are
hearing. You still need to have
some control over what goes into
their minds.
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