Rock Music: History, Features, Culture

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The 1950s saw the emergence of rock music, commonly known as rock and roll, rock & roll, or rock ‘n’ roll.

It is debatable whether rock wasn’t the world’s preeminent genre of popular music by the turn of the 20th century. It began in the United States in the 1950s, spread to other English-speaking nations and throughout Europe in the 1960s, and by the 1990s, its impact was clear throughout the world (if under numerous local guises). By that time, the multinational recording industry’s structure, the sales racks of foreign record stores, and the playlist guidelines of music radio and television all reflected the commercial significance of rock. 

Rock is the musical mainstream, whereas other genres like classical, jazz, easy listening, country, folk, etc. are marketed as niche tastes. As a result, it became the most encompassing musical title throughout the second half of the 20th century—everything may be “rocked”—and thus the most difficult to define. 

Rock and Youth Culture

The primary sociological aspect of rock, its relationship with youth, can be connected to this desire of the novel. This was a straightforward market equation in the 1950s and the early 1960s: rock & roll was performed by young performers for young audiences and spoke to young people’s interests. Originally only referring to high school pupils, the term “youth” has come to include college students.

In addition, rock music evolved into a versatile genre that could be used for both dance and party music. Rock’s globalisation had distinct effects in various nations, but overall it allowed rock to maintain its youthful identity even as its artists and listeners got older and settled down. And it implied that rock’s radical claim—the assertion that the music continued to be in opposition to the status quo even as it assimilated—was supported by youthful recklessness. 

Also Read: Electronic Dance Music

Features of the Rock Music

Most rock songs have a verse-chorus format and are often in the 4/4 time signature. It is usually played by bands comprising an electric guitar, drums, one singer, and a bass guitar. Rock song lyrics can cover a wide range of topics, but they frequently touch on issues like politics, society, and love.

Rock music frequently has the following characteristics:

  • A guitar riff is a brief, repeated phrase that serves as a song’s foundation.
  • When an amplified sound is altered to produce a fuzzy or growling tone on a guitar, this is called distortion.
  • Amplification is the process of increasing the volume of music, typically utilising electronic devices.
  • Power chords are strong two-note chords that typically contain the key’s tonic and dominant, such as C and G in the key of C.

Also Read: Different types of music genres

 

Results

#1. When did rock music emerge?

#2. When did rock music spread worldwide?

#3. A__________ is a brief, repeated phrase that serves as a song’s foundation.

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