Will they be forgotten? Never
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Will there come a time where people would forget Elvis Presley, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones? Yes, you heard me right. Forgotten?
They are the epitome and are representative of the most adulated and most abused decade of modern pop history, the Sixties. The 60s is like a password of an era where Bob Dylan is more than just a folk singer, he was a cultural force that shaped an entire generation’s way of thinking.
As a child of the 70s, I am oft, intrigued by all this all-conquering, consuming celebration of the 60s. There are friends I knew who were wearing diapers when the Beatles broke up. This year marks the 27th and 30th anniversaries of Lennon and Elvis respectively.
I was born a bit too late when Elvis was crooning to “Blue Hawaii”, when John, Paul, Ringo and George screamed “Love Me Do” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was the most astounding guitar opening riff ever. In school or at home, I do know that rolling stone gather no moss, not a band.
The 60s have never left us. The music, the mini-skirts never did go away. Seriously, would anyone think it can be so endearing? Sir Mick and his rock n roll mates were part of one the most famous generations in rock history ever, they still continue to play the part to perfection.
At 64 this year, Mick Jagger is essentially doing the same thing on stage as he has been doing for the past 30 odd years. Prancing, jumping in those no-ballroom tight pants. To me, the Rolling Stones can do no wrong. The scowl, attitude and raw energy that started out as an act of rebellion to the squeaky clean Beatles, has now become a ritual. The rubber lips and that lolling tongue, used to be too sexual, is now a corporate logo for Stones Incorporated.
I guess the 50s was an era when rock n roll was born, the 60s was about how rock n roll sought to move the world. How about the 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond?
The 70s was post-Beatles, each going their own ways. Olivia Newton John, Barry Manilow and some others became 70s icons. Wait a minute, we also got Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, the Eagles, Rod Stewart and Elton John.
The 80s was the rise of synthesizer music and the invasion of British pop. I swear then, people felt that music coming out from a digital synthesizer has no less soul than an electric guitar and fiddle. Duran Duran, Culture Club, Kajagoogoo, Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones, Madness and company churned out pretty good stuff.
90s music might have brought better music than anyone can expect. It had some genuine innovation and surprising seriousness. Bands like Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails were awesome. It had that visceral kick and panache. Things were shook up, evasions got blast away and there was the direct expression of the moment.
Our parents, uncles, the elders are likely to convince us that music from the 60s are only worth listening to. I’m sure they wouldn’t quite relate to Boy George, Pete Burns and Blackie Lawless. For them, only the 60s matter. On the contrary, the Rolling Stones is one band that has been rocking from the 60s till today.
Forget them? No way.
They are the epitome and are representative of the most adulated and most abused decade of modern pop history, the Sixties. The 60s is like a password of an era where Bob Dylan is more than just a folk singer, he was a cultural force that shaped an entire generation’s way of thinking.
As a child of the 70s, I am oft, intrigued by all this all-conquering, consuming celebration of the 60s. There are friends I knew who were wearing diapers when the Beatles broke up. This year marks the 27th and 30th anniversaries of Lennon and Elvis respectively.
I was born a bit too late when Elvis was crooning to “Blue Hawaii”, when John, Paul, Ringo and George screamed “Love Me Do” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was the most astounding guitar opening riff ever. In school or at home, I do know that rolling stone gather no moss, not a band.
The 60s have never left us. The music, the mini-skirts never did go away. Seriously, would anyone think it can be so endearing? Sir Mick and his rock n roll mates were part of one the most famous generations in rock history ever, they still continue to play the part to perfection.
At 64 this year, Mick Jagger is essentially doing the same thing on stage as he has been doing for the past 30 odd years. Prancing, jumping in those no-ballroom tight pants. To me, the Rolling Stones can do no wrong. The scowl, attitude and raw energy that started out as an act of rebellion to the squeaky clean Beatles, has now become a ritual. The rubber lips and that lolling tongue, used to be too sexual, is now a corporate logo for Stones Incorporated.
I guess the 50s was an era when rock n roll was born, the 60s was about how rock n roll sought to move the world. How about the 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond?
The 70s was post-Beatles, each going their own ways. Olivia Newton John, Barry Manilow and some others became 70s icons. Wait a minute, we also got Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, the Eagles, Rod Stewart and Elton John.
The 80s was the rise of synthesizer music and the invasion of British pop. I swear then, people felt that music coming out from a digital synthesizer has no less soul than an electric guitar and fiddle. Duran Duran, Culture Club, Kajagoogoo, Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones, Madness and company churned out pretty good stuff.
90s music might have brought better music than anyone can expect. It had some genuine innovation and surprising seriousness. Bands like Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails were awesome. It had that visceral kick and panache. Things were shook up, evasions got blast away and there was the direct expression of the moment.
Our parents, uncles, the elders are likely to convince us that music from the 60s are only worth listening to. I’m sure they wouldn’t quite relate to Boy George, Pete Burns and Blackie Lawless. For them, only the 60s matter. On the contrary, the Rolling Stones is one band that has been rocking from the 60s till today.
Forget them? No way.
posted by The Quiet Stone at 1:37 PM
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