This Decade in Music
When people look back at this decade in rock history, what will they think? What has this decade contributed in terms of rock music? The 60s delivered psychedelic music, the 70s gave us prog, the 80s gave us every conceivable variety of metal, and the 90s hit hard with grunge. How will the 00s, for a lack of a better term, be defined?
Maybe I’m just being cynical, but will this decade be remembered for emo? I’m cringing at the thought that my high school and college years will be defined by such a shallow genre. Especially one that will undoubtedly be forgotten in a few short years. Yet when looking back on it, nearly half the guys in my high school were sporting girls pants, the emo comb over, and whatever else which was suited more for a five year old girl than an eighteen year old male. There is even a distinct picture pose for emo! Which if you ever looked at MySpace I probably wouldn't have to elaborate on, but for those who may not know what I'm talking about--the infamous I'm too artsy and depressed to smile into the camera, instead I'll just look the other way while my emo comb over is covering half my face. Yeah, that one. I wonder if the crotch hugging female pants ever caught up to them in terms of infertility?
On the other hand however, maybe this will be a decade defined by Indie music. Numerous Indie bands hit the scene with enormous success considering the very title of the genre in which they are classified. For some reason though, I can’t see people looking back and saying the 00s were ruled by Franz Ferdinand and Death Cab for Cutie.
With all that said, I’m thinking if this decade will be defined by any genre it will unfortunately be emo. Emo was just as much of a fashion trend as it was a musical genre which gives it more strength in its hold over the decade. Sort of like grunge, emo has a defined state of mind and fashion. Being emo is just as much of a clique as goths and jocks. Hopefully the jury is still out on this one, but as I see it, the 00s will be remembered for emo...
Maybe I’m just being cynical, but will this decade be remembered for emo? I’m cringing at the thought that my high school and college years will be defined by such a shallow genre. Especially one that will undoubtedly be forgotten in a few short years. Yet when looking back on it, nearly half the guys in my high school were sporting girls pants, the emo comb over, and whatever else which was suited more for a five year old girl than an eighteen year old male. There is even a distinct picture pose for emo! Which if you ever looked at MySpace I probably wouldn't have to elaborate on, but for those who may not know what I'm talking about--the infamous I'm too artsy and depressed to smile into the camera, instead I'll just look the other way while my emo comb over is covering half my face. Yeah, that one. I wonder if the crotch hugging female pants ever caught up to them in terms of infertility?
On the other hand however, maybe this will be a decade defined by Indie music. Numerous Indie bands hit the scene with enormous success considering the very title of the genre in which they are classified. For some reason though, I can’t see people looking back and saying the 00s were ruled by Franz Ferdinand and Death Cab for Cutie.
With all that said, I’m thinking if this decade will be defined by any genre it will unfortunately be emo. Emo was just as much of a fashion trend as it was a musical genre which gives it more strength in its hold over the decade. Sort of like grunge, emo has a defined state of mind and fashion. Being emo is just as much of a clique as goths and jocks. Hopefully the jury is still out on this one, but as I see it, the 00s will be remembered for emo...
posted by Jeff at 4:45 PM
8 Comments:
I think it might be the hip-hop crossovers. Groups like the BEPs and OutKast, the mainstream attention on Fifty and Kanye.
A lesser possibility is pop country. I don't think it had enough substance, but it is still kinda going strong.
Emo's honestly not even on my radar. Though I am in my 30s.
Peace.
Hmmm.
I don't think it's going to be a definitive genre. What I would say, in a very broad kind of way, is that I think because of the advent of super duper commercial pop towards the end of the 90s, there's been a sort of counterattack from rock bands -- bands that used their heroes from the 60s and 70s for inspiration. Think about just a few of the big bands -- Mars Volta, Muse, Queens of the Stone Age -- these are bands that I would say fit that description perfectly. Sure, I haven't listened to everything that exists, and I'm obviously a rock guy, but that's what I think has happened.
Daniel - I might have a distorted view, because my high school was really into emo. I feel like half the school was comprised of emo kids. Yet when I went to college there was a stark difference. It may have been the area I grew up in which makes me feel that way.
Hatter - I tried to narrow it down to one specific genre. For the most part I'm thinking that no one genre will be remembered as the dominant genre of the decade, but for the sake of the post I tried to pick one. I ended up cutting out a paragraph which I was basically saying that there was no definitive genre in the 00s. I would love if TMV, QOTSA, and Muse are remembered as the greatest bands of the decade, because they certainly should be.
Wow. No offense, but I hope you are wrong that's very depressing (no pun intended). This is a very good question. I am glad I come from the era that produced the true classics :)
In other words...I'm old.
Layla - I'm hoping I'm wrong too...
With the full bloom of Tool and Dream Theater and the emergence of bands like Mastodon, I'd love for the 00s to be known as the decade of prog metal. Barring some popular explosion, however, it is much more like this will be seen as the decade of pop tarts (Britney being the poster girl).
Actually, upon giving this thought, the 00s will surely be remembered (sadly) as the era of American Idol. I heard this week that three or four of the Billboard charts were topped by various winners from the show.
Sad.
David - Hmmm...I didn't really think about American Idol, but you're probably right. AI is HUGE, and has produced a lot of the biggest names in music.
Post a Comment
<< Home