Rock 'n' Roll. These words can make you shake your head expectantly or frown with disdain.
It means many things to many people.
Here, I'll try a futile attempt to give my own definition of it. It may not be yours, it may be close to something you feel as well. Anyway, it is my vision. The sense I put behind Rock'n'Roll.
To me, Rock'n'Roll ain't noise pollution. Yeah, AC/DC told the world that before I did, I know.
Yes, Rock (to make it shorter) is music. Music. With a BIG m.
Where Jazz had "the swing", this mysterious thing you couldn't define but that made you move your feet and snap your fingers, Rock has "the groove".
It doesn't make you snap your fingers.
It makes you want to move your head in any direction possible, it makes you want to jump around, it makes you want to kick the air, it makes you want to scream your guts out. It makes you high, somehow.
To me, Rock includes bands like the Doors or even Pink Floyd, even though Pink Floyd is based on another kind of effect, a little more laid back. Yet, when I listen to Pink Floyd, I *do* feel like screaming, and I sure feel kinda high.
But Rock goes as far as Heavy Metal is concerned, it goes through the whole 70's Hard Rock movement with AC/DC or Deep Purple, and takes in its stride some fusion bands like Rage Against The Machine or Red Hot Chili Peppers. It goes as far as some Death Metal, but to me it still needs some "finesse". Take Children of Bodom.
I will not mention all the bands I consider Rock. There's too much, and there are many i just don't know.
But Rock just has to move my guts.
And that is why I have a problem with what they call Rock lately, all these brit-like bands, who sound kinda old.
Most of them just don't make my big toe wiggle. Not even.
Is it just me ? I don't know. But I don't judge. I just express a feeling. And to have the Rock, you need a little magic...
As to the lifestyle involved, there's none. The point with Rock is not how much you display your Rockness. The point with Rock is how much you enjoy the Music. And besides music, how much you enjoy life.
Rock may make you scream your guts out, but you have to love this feeling somehow.
2 comments:
Somehow that last sentence, "Rock may make you scream your guts out, but you have to love this feeling somehow." Now, that's the absolute. :) Rock hard, play hard, enjoy life, live it up! Afterall, like a beautiful song, it only lasts so long.
Rock hard, ride free !
The new kind of british rock uses some vintage sound, but unfortunately they forgot the groove, because nowadays most of the bassists are just guys that gave up with guitar... When those instruments, even if they look similar, have a very different purpose and should be played differently.
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