Have you ever wondered what happened to rock ‘n roll? Take a look at the music charts these days, and there are no rock ‘n roll bands to be found. Amazingly, Nickelback is considered the top-selling rock act right now. But how many true aficionados consider Nickelback to be REAL rock ‘n roll? They are a cookie-cutter version of rock that emphasizes power balance and corny lyrics. There’s nothing cutting-edge about them, nor is there anything exciting about other rock acts with an Emo bent. All of those guys with ridiculous hair who happen to be holding guitars are not rock ‘n roll. It’s no wonder why the Billboard top 100 is dominated by rap and R&B acts.
There are still some rock dinosaurs stomping around like U2 and the Rolling Stones. No one can ever take away their legacy, but there will be few acts left to take over when they’re done. How many new rock ‘n roll artists can sell out stadiums and maintain their popularity for decades? One big part of rock ‘n roll is creating dynasties that carry on for generations.
You need to have staying power and that means adapting while giving stellar live performances. The young generation of rock bands today don’t seem to understand that concept. Even when they managed to get popular, it’s usually not for long. How many one-hit wonders have we seen in recent times? There are very few rock ‘n roll acts that are built for the long-term.
Now when you take a look at aspects traditionally associated with rock ‘n roll such as lavish lifestyles, sweeping world tours, and extreme wealth, it’s not associated with rock anymore. It has been taken over by the world of rap, and rightly so. Kids aren’t growing up dreaming of becoming rock stars anymore, and they don’t sing these songs at home. They aren’t looking for affordable equipment so they can start up their own rock band in their garage. Now they’re simply picking up microphones and dreaming of becoming the next big thing in rap.
They want to be the next Kanye, Jay-Z, or Diddy – successful artists who also own empires. It’s not just about artistic expression, it’s about being a complete business package. Rap has been able to survive because it’s adapted, and it’s intertwined with other industries as well. And let’s face it, rap simply sounds better than many rock ‘n roll songs that are coming out today. In this fast-paced environment with modern technology at the touch of your fingertips, rap is the art form that is flourishing.
A lot of long-time fans wonder if rock ‘n roll will ever come back. It’s going to have a hard time, especially when it’s becoming relatively forgotten among the younger generation. After all, the only people who are mourning the loss of rock are older fans who aren’t in key demographics for advertisers anyways. In other words, the music industry doesn’t really care what older people think. They cater to the kids with the money, and the kids the money want rap. You can see it in everyday ticket sales, iTunes statistics, and even by going to a karaoke bar. Rap is just a lot cooler, and that’s what kids love. It will be interesting to see how it evolves, and whether or not another genre of music takes its place anytime soon.