Rock music, sometimes also known as "rock and roll" is a style of music that became popular in the 1950s in America and Europe. Rock music is primarily based on older musical styles, such as the rhythm and blues music originated by African American performers such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard, with a heavy focus on guitar, drums, and powerful vocals.
One of the earliest and most famous performers in the early days of rock music was Elvis Presley, who shocked the world with his suggestive dancing and powerful music. He became an instant phenomenon, and led the way for many other rock music performers over the decades to come. In the 1960s, the beatless were another hugely successful and popular rock music group, also inspired by rhythm and blues songs and by the work of other early British rock music performers, such as Cliff Richard.
Over the years, rock music has branched out into a wide variety of styles. Folk rock music, such as that made popular by Bob Dylan in the 1960s, often featured acoustic guitars and socially conscious lyrics, many with anti-war sentiments. psyhedlic rock music, such as that played by the Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, and the Doors, featured often dissonant music that was heavily influenced by the use of drugs such as LSD. Progressive rock music bands, such as the Moody Blues, Rush, and Yes, experimented with a wide range of instruments, and often included improvisational musical solos that could last for ten or even twenty minutes.
Rock music has also led the way for other music forms, such as heavy metal, which features extreme guitar sound and heavy distortion. Some of the earliest bands that could be classified as heavy metal are Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath. Both bands started out in the mid-1970s. Their heavy form of rock music has paved the way for other heavy metal bands, including Metallica and Megadeth.
Today, the term "rock music" is used to refer to a wide range of musical forms, including anything from soft pop to heavy metal. Rock music has essentially become a default term for any style of music that does not automatically fit into another category, such as R&B, country, or classical. The form has changed significantly since the days of Elvis presley, but the term "rock music" can still refer to his songs as easily as they can refer to more recent bands like Nirvana or Pearl Jam.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
indie rock
The term "indie rock" is short for independent rock, and refers to a category of music in which many artists are on small independent labels or are unsigned, as opposed to being signed to major labels. Some artists, such as Death Cab For Cutie, are now signed to major labels, yet are still considered to be indie rock artists. Indie rock is a fairly ambiguous term, and can be used to define a wide variety of different bands and musicians. However, in general, indie rock musicians have a very strong do-it-yourself ethic, and do not change their sound to fit popular trends.
Indie rock artists are often played in heavy rotation on college radio stations, so this type of music is sometimes referred to as "college rock." Some of the earliest indie rock bands who met popular acclaim on campus stations were REM and 10,000 Maniacs. Many early indie rock artists hailed from Britain, including the Smiths, the Cure, and the Stone Roses. These artists rarely, if ever, made an appearance on the Billboard popular music charts. However, college stations often compiled their own lists of the most popular songs, often featuring these artists. Though musicians played on college rock stations did not necessarily make huge amounts of money, they often had strong fan bases among a younger crowd that are loyal to this day.
Today, there are many different styles of indie rock music. The low-fi style, epitomized by bands like Sonic Youth and Pavement, features an unpolished sound and frequent distortion. Artists like Devandra Bernhardt and Joanna Newsom, who perform experimental folk music, are labeled as "freak folk." Artists like Belle and Sebastian, who play bouncy, mostly acoustic music, are sometimes called "twee pop." New sub-branches of the indie rock scene are always developing.
There is a particular lifestyle often associated with people who listen to indie rock. Many of these people, who often dress in unique vintage clothes, are referred to as hipsters. Many cities have large indie rock scenes, particularly New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, among others. In such cities, the local independent rock bands have very strong followings, which helps them to expand into other areas.
Though some bands that were once considered to be indie rock are now quite successful, such as the Shins and Death Cab For Cutie, most indie rock bands are still under the radar and have to struggle to earn a living with their music. If you like an indie rock band's music, it is important to support them by legally purchasing their music, attending their shows, and recommending them to your friends whenever possible.
Indie rock artists are often played in heavy rotation on college radio stations, so this type of music is sometimes referred to as "college rock." Some of the earliest indie rock bands who met popular acclaim on campus stations were REM and 10,000 Maniacs. Many early indie rock artists hailed from Britain, including the Smiths, the Cure, and the Stone Roses. These artists rarely, if ever, made an appearance on the Billboard popular music charts. However, college stations often compiled their own lists of the most popular songs, often featuring these artists. Though musicians played on college rock stations did not necessarily make huge amounts of money, they often had strong fan bases among a younger crowd that are loyal to this day.
Today, there are many different styles of indie rock music. The low-fi style, epitomized by bands like Sonic Youth and Pavement, features an unpolished sound and frequent distortion. Artists like Devandra Bernhardt and Joanna Newsom, who perform experimental folk music, are labeled as "freak folk." Artists like Belle and Sebastian, who play bouncy, mostly acoustic music, are sometimes called "twee pop." New sub-branches of the indie rock scene are always developing.
There is a particular lifestyle often associated with people who listen to indie rock. Many of these people, who often dress in unique vintage clothes, are referred to as hipsters. Many cities have large indie rock scenes, particularly New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, among others. In such cities, the local independent rock bands have very strong followings, which helps them to expand into other areas.
Though some bands that were once considered to be indie rock are now quite successful, such as the Shins and Death Cab For Cutie, most indie rock bands are still under the radar and have to struggle to earn a living with their music. If you like an indie rock band's music, it is important to support them by legally purchasing their music, attending their shows, and recommending them to your friends whenever possible.
90s rock music
'90s music was characterized by a wild variety of genres and styles of music surging in popularity at different times. Many genres that had fallen on hard times, like country music and contemporary R&B, began to dominate the popularity charts, while rap music continued the prominence it had begun to show at the end of the '80s. Mainstream rock and roll saw its popularity dwindle, while offshoots like alternative, grunge, and Britpop found strong followings. At the end of the decade, a resurgence in teen pop and bubblegum was a reaction to some of the edgier '90s music that had dominated the first half of the decade.
The '90s came on the heels of the '80s, a decade in music that was known for decadence. Artists in the '80s tended to provide strong visual components with their music, using light and costume design to make their shows into pageants. The rise of the music video genre had a great deal to do with this, but at the end of the '80s, music television's novelty had worn off. Many fans began yearning for music with more substance, and as a result, much of the '90s music scene was reactionary in nature.
No style of '90s music characterized this more than grunge. Emanating at first from the city of Seattle, Washington in the Unites States, this style of rock contained elements of hard rock and punk coupled with sober, often depressing lyrical themes. The band Nirvana and its lead singer songwriter Kurt Cobain were the leading lights of this genre, which featured bands dressed in muted jeans and flannel shirts combining quiet verses with loud, screeching choruses.
Rap music proved that it was no mere trend, as it continued to be a dominant force in '90s music. It easily transformed from urban culture to the mainstream, as artists like Jay Z and Tupac Shakur became some of music's biggest stars. On the other end of the spectrum, country music became a huge force again in the music industry, led by artists like Garth Brooks who combined songwriting integrity with thrilling stage shows. R&B got a huge boost from talented singers like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, and bubblegum ruled the latter half of the decade thanks to the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.
While rock music may have seemed to be one of the poorer-performing genres of '90s music, closer inspection reveals that it was prevalent in altered forms. In addition to grunge, alternative music became mainstream in the '90s. Bands that had previous only gotten airplay on college radio stations became household names. Britpop music was a huge force in Europe, as brash bands like Oasis and Blur brought traditional British sounds back to the fore and made headlines with their boorish behavior.
The '90s came on the heels of the '80s, a decade in music that was known for decadence. Artists in the '80s tended to provide strong visual components with their music, using light and costume design to make their shows into pageants. The rise of the music video genre had a great deal to do with this, but at the end of the '80s, music television's novelty had worn off. Many fans began yearning for music with more substance, and as a result, much of the '90s music scene was reactionary in nature.
No style of '90s music characterized this more than grunge. Emanating at first from the city of Seattle, Washington in the Unites States, this style of rock contained elements of hard rock and punk coupled with sober, often depressing lyrical themes. The band Nirvana and its lead singer songwriter Kurt Cobain were the leading lights of this genre, which featured bands dressed in muted jeans and flannel shirts combining quiet verses with loud, screeching choruses.
Rap music proved that it was no mere trend, as it continued to be a dominant force in '90s music. It easily transformed from urban culture to the mainstream, as artists like Jay Z and Tupac Shakur became some of music's biggest stars. On the other end of the spectrum, country music became a huge force again in the music industry, led by artists like Garth Brooks who combined songwriting integrity with thrilling stage shows. R&B got a huge boost from talented singers like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, and bubblegum ruled the latter half of the decade thanks to the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.
While rock music may have seemed to be one of the poorer-performing genres of '90s music, closer inspection reveals that it was prevalent in altered forms. In addition to grunge, alternative music became mainstream in the '90s. Bands that had previous only gotten airplay on college radio stations became household names. Britpop music was a huge force in Europe, as brash bands like Oasis and Blur brought traditional British sounds back to the fore and made headlines with their boorish behavior.
punk rock
While the world was dancing the hustle and singing along with Abba, little groups of rebels, some calling themselves the Ramones, the Sex Pistols and the Clash were shaking things up in their respective regions with something they called rock and roll, but the rock writers called "punk rock."
Punk rock was the antithesis of all that was popular. It was fast, stripped-down, machine gun music that stormed in, shot up the place and left just as suddenly. The songs were usually brief and had confrontational, provoking lyrics. Punk rock took on the themes of establishment, politics, hopelessness and angst so common in the grunge music that would come along about 15 years later. But punk rock made it sound like these people wanted to change the world, not just whine about it.
In 1977, punk rock went nationwide in England, although it had already sneaked into the United States via The Ramones' first album in 1975. Punk rock stayed rather in the background in the U.S. for several more years, whereas in Britain, it became almost mainstream. When The Clash released London Calling in 1979, they had enjoyed a couple of years of fame in Great Britain, and their Combat Rock album of 1982 with "Rock The Casbah" made it to the charts in the U.S.
Most punk bands didn't go places, but the ones that did, such as the aforementioned three groups, had a huge impact on the music of their times. Disco died once punk rock really came into town. The stage was set for the New Wave bands of the early 1980s.
Looking under the punk rock 30 years down the road, a rock historian can see many musical trends in their infancy. The garage-band sounds of punk rock influenced grunge. The experimental side of punk influenced bands like Duran Duran to take some chances with instrumentation. Sisters doing it for themselves in punk roused a new wave of girl groups — even bands like Courtney Love's Hole, or Babes in Toyland.
Some punk rock even sounds a little tame these days, considering the death metal and speed metal that have come after it. There were dozens of punk rock groups that realized only regional fame, but they changed the tastes of listeners who were tired of slick, sunny, over-produced pop. Once punk rock rolled in, it was impossible to ignore.
Punk rock was the antithesis of all that was popular. It was fast, stripped-down, machine gun music that stormed in, shot up the place and left just as suddenly. The songs were usually brief and had confrontational, provoking lyrics. Punk rock took on the themes of establishment, politics, hopelessness and angst so common in the grunge music that would come along about 15 years later. But punk rock made it sound like these people wanted to change the world, not just whine about it.
In 1977, punk rock went nationwide in England, although it had already sneaked into the United States via The Ramones' first album in 1975. Punk rock stayed rather in the background in the U.S. for several more years, whereas in Britain, it became almost mainstream. When The Clash released London Calling in 1979, they had enjoyed a couple of years of fame in Great Britain, and their Combat Rock album of 1982 with "Rock The Casbah" made it to the charts in the U.S.
Most punk bands didn't go places, but the ones that did, such as the aforementioned three groups, had a huge impact on the music of their times. Disco died once punk rock really came into town. The stage was set for the New Wave bands of the early 1980s.
Looking under the punk rock 30 years down the road, a rock historian can see many musical trends in their infancy. The garage-band sounds of punk rock influenced grunge. The experimental side of punk influenced bands like Duran Duran to take some chances with instrumentation. Sisters doing it for themselves in punk roused a new wave of girl groups — even bands like Courtney Love's Hole, or Babes in Toyland.
Some punk rock even sounds a little tame these days, considering the death metal and speed metal that have come after it. There were dozens of punk rock groups that realized only regional fame, but they changed the tastes of listeners who were tired of slick, sunny, over-produced pop. Once punk rock rolled in, it was impossible to ignore.
80s rock music
By the end of the 1970s, disco music was rapidly declining in popularity, due in no small part to the raw energy of punk rock and the rise of an alternative pop sound known as New Wave. Early 80's music was largely dominated by groups such as the Clash, Blondie, Talking Heads, the B-52s and other New Wave or mainstream punk bands. The earliest years of 80's music also saw the return of one-hit wonders such as Chilliwack and the Greg Kihn Band. Much like the early 1960s musical doldrums, the first few years of the 1980s were not particularly memorable.
The 80's pop music scene benefited greatly from the advent of music videos and a cable television station dedicated to showing them on a regular basis. When the Music Television channel (MTV) first went on the air, bands and solo artists who already had promotional videos got an unexpected career boost. One important element of 80's music became the visual aspects of the song's promotional video. In fact, many 80's music hits can be identified just as easily by the images in their videos as they can by the artists or song lyrics.
With such an emphasis placed on visual as well as musical appeal, many musical groups concentrated nearly as much time on their appearance and choreography as they did on their music. Bands such as Duran Duran, Bananarama, INXS and the Go-Gos often produced stylized videos shot in exotic locations and prominently featuring the most camera-friendly members of the group. The early to mid- 1980s were perhaps the best years for pop groups which incorporated fashion into their onstage personas.
80's music was also defined by older solo artists who contributed much of their best work during that decade. Michael Jackson's iconic album Thriller became a monstrous hit during that time. 60s icon Tina Turner became a solo sensation after the release of her album Private Dancer during the early 1980s. Singer/songwriter Billy Joel also dominated the pop charts with his album An Innocent Man. One of Paul Simon's most critically acclaimed solo albums, Graceland, also appeared during the 1980s. Other groups such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Dire Straits and REM all enjoyed major success during the 1980s.
While the pop music scene remained in flux, harder edged rock bands continued to produce solid albums, but many of the arena rock bands of the 1970s had either disbanded or succumbed to the excesses of the hard-living rock and roll lifestyle. So-called "hair bands" such as Motley Crue, Skid Row, Sebastian Bach and Whitesnake took over the reigns of hard rock, mixing the wild antics of Glam Rock musicians with the vocal pyrotechnics of power ballads and stadium shows.
Country music during the 1980s became much more commercial, with production techniques previously reserved for mainstream pop artists. Classic country acts were largely replaced with more commercially appealing performers such as Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers and the group Alabama. The slick production values and pop sensibilities of many of these 1980s albums did not sit well with traditional country fans, however, and by the end of the decade many of the more traditional country artists were back on the charts.
One defining feature of 80's music was the frequent use, some might argue overuse, of electronic keyboards and drum machines. Many music producers used banks of keyboards and studio tricks to create a fuller background sound. This heavily produced sonic sweetening can frequently be experienced during the end credits of many 1980s movies, where groups such as Asia or Survivor would perform power anthems enhanced with synthesizers and over-the-top vocals. Perhaps the power ballads performed by these and other groups best defined the quintessential sound of 80's music, especially songs such as Starship's 1986 ode to the Bay City music scene, We Built This City.
.
The 80's pop music scene benefited greatly from the advent of music videos and a cable television station dedicated to showing them on a regular basis. When the Music Television channel (MTV) first went on the air, bands and solo artists who already had promotional videos got an unexpected career boost. One important element of 80's music became the visual aspects of the song's promotional video. In fact, many 80's music hits can be identified just as easily by the images in their videos as they can by the artists or song lyrics.
With such an emphasis placed on visual as well as musical appeal, many musical groups concentrated nearly as much time on their appearance and choreography as they did on their music. Bands such as Duran Duran, Bananarama, INXS and the Go-Gos often produced stylized videos shot in exotic locations and prominently featuring the most camera-friendly members of the group. The early to mid- 1980s were perhaps the best years for pop groups which incorporated fashion into their onstage personas.
80's music was also defined by older solo artists who contributed much of their best work during that decade. Michael Jackson's iconic album Thriller became a monstrous hit during that time. 60s icon Tina Turner became a solo sensation after the release of her album Private Dancer during the early 1980s. Singer/songwriter Billy Joel also dominated the pop charts with his album An Innocent Man. One of Paul Simon's most critically acclaimed solo albums, Graceland, also appeared during the 1980s. Other groups such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Dire Straits and REM all enjoyed major success during the 1980s.
While the pop music scene remained in flux, harder edged rock bands continued to produce solid albums, but many of the arena rock bands of the 1970s had either disbanded or succumbed to the excesses of the hard-living rock and roll lifestyle. So-called "hair bands" such as Motley Crue, Skid Row, Sebastian Bach and Whitesnake took over the reigns of hard rock, mixing the wild antics of Glam Rock musicians with the vocal pyrotechnics of power ballads and stadium shows.
Country music during the 1980s became much more commercial, with production techniques previously reserved for mainstream pop artists. Classic country acts were largely replaced with more commercially appealing performers such as Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers and the group Alabama. The slick production values and pop sensibilities of many of these 1980s albums did not sit well with traditional country fans, however, and by the end of the decade many of the more traditional country artists were back on the charts.
One defining feature of 80's music was the frequent use, some might argue overuse, of electronic keyboards and drum machines. Many music producers used banks of keyboards and studio tricks to create a fuller background sound. This heavily produced sonic sweetening can frequently be experienced during the end credits of many 1980s movies, where groups such as Asia or Survivor would perform power anthems enhanced with synthesizers and over-the-top vocals. Perhaps the power ballads performed by these and other groups best defined the quintessential sound of 80's music, especially songs such as Starship's 1986 ode to the Bay City music scene, We Built This City.
.
pop rock
Pop Rocks®, called Space Dust in the United Kingdom, is a very unique carbonated candy. The popularity of Pop Rocks® has gone through highs and lows, depending on popular opinion, marketing, and urban legends.
In 1956, William A. Mitchell, a chemist with General Foods, patented the idea of a carbonated candy. However, the candy was not available to the public until 1975. Pop Rocks® were created with sugar, corn syrup, flavoring, and lactose, among other ingredients. The ingredients are mixed and heated, causing the mixture to melt. The melted mixture is then exposed to carbon dioxide gas under 600 pounds per square inch of pressure, and cooled. Bubbles have then been trapped inside the candy under high pressure, and can be seen under a magnifying glass.
When the candy touches the saliva in the mouth, it melts and releases carbon dioxide from the tiny pressurized bubbles, causing a tingling feeling and a popping sound. The novelty of this experience appeals to many Pop Rocks® consumers, although it could be surprising and disturbing if you were not prepared for what will happen in your mouth!
In 1983, the candy was pulled by General Foods. This may have been due to the urban legend that many readers of a certain generation will remember. The rumor that was passed around and quickly became widespread involved the supposed death of "Mikey," from a popular cereal commercial. Mikey was said to have eaten Pop Rocks® while drinking a soda, causing his stomach to explode. Although General Foods spared no expense to prove the rumor wrong, and the actor is still alive and well, Pop Rocks® did disappear from the shelves for a couple of years.
Fortunately for fans of carbonated candy, the rights to the candy were bought by Kraft Foods, which put it back in the stores. Sold by Kraft as Action Candy®, Pop Rocks® are once again available under their original name. A Pop Rocks® chewing gum is now available, as is a Pop Rocks® choclate bar.
Dr. Marvin Rudolph, one of the people involved in the first years of Pop Rocks® manufacturing, wrote a book in 2006, entitled Pop Rocks®: The Inside Story of America's Revolutionary Candy. The book chronicles the story of Pop Rocks®, along with providing interviews with many of those who created and produced the famous carbonated candy.
In 1956, William A. Mitchell, a chemist with General Foods, patented the idea of a carbonated candy. However, the candy was not available to the public until 1975. Pop Rocks® were created with sugar, corn syrup, flavoring, and lactose, among other ingredients. The ingredients are mixed and heated, causing the mixture to melt. The melted mixture is then exposed to carbon dioxide gas under 600 pounds per square inch of pressure, and cooled. Bubbles have then been trapped inside the candy under high pressure, and can be seen under a magnifying glass.
When the candy touches the saliva in the mouth, it melts and releases carbon dioxide from the tiny pressurized bubbles, causing a tingling feeling and a popping sound. The novelty of this experience appeals to many Pop Rocks® consumers, although it could be surprising and disturbing if you were not prepared for what will happen in your mouth!
In 1983, the candy was pulled by General Foods. This may have been due to the urban legend that many readers of a certain generation will remember. The rumor that was passed around and quickly became widespread involved the supposed death of "Mikey," from a popular cereal commercial. Mikey was said to have eaten Pop Rocks® while drinking a soda, causing his stomach to explode. Although General Foods spared no expense to prove the rumor wrong, and the actor is still alive and well, Pop Rocks® did disappear from the shelves for a couple of years.
Fortunately for fans of carbonated candy, the rights to the candy were bought by Kraft Foods, which put it back in the stores. Sold by Kraft as Action Candy®, Pop Rocks® are once again available under their original name. A Pop Rocks® chewing gum is now available, as is a Pop Rocks® choclate bar.
Dr. Marvin Rudolph, one of the people involved in the first years of Pop Rocks® manufacturing, wrote a book in 2006, entitled Pop Rocks®: The Inside Story of America's Revolutionary Candy. The book chronicles the story of Pop Rocks®, along with providing interviews with many of those who created and produced the famous carbonated candy.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
TOP TEN TALLEST MTS.OF THE WORLD
| Rank | Mountain | Height in feet (metres) | Location |
| 1. | Mount Everest | 29,035 (8,848) | Tibet / Nepal |
| 2. | K2 | 28,250 (8,611) | Pakistan / China |
| 3. | Kangchenjunga | 28,179 (8,586) | India / Nepal |
| 4. | Lhotse | 27,940 (8,516) | Tibet / Nepal |
| 5. | Makalu | 27,766 (8.485) | Tibet / Nepal |
| 6. | Cho Oyu | 8,188 | Tibet / Nepal |
| 7. | Dhaulagiri | 26,795 (8,167) | Nepal |
| 8. | Manaslu | 26,781 (8,163) | Nepal |
| 9. | Nanga Parbat | 26,660 (8,125) | Pakistan |
| 10. | Annapurna I | 26,545 (8,091) | Nepal |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)