Rock N Roll

Soft rock is still alive and kicking, even all these years after it first came on the scene. Soft rock is like anything else, it enjoys a great start, fizzles out a little and keeps enjoying revivals. It was though, in the 70’s and the 80’s that soft rock enjoyed its most popular time.

Soft rock is the sound of mellow instruments, kind lyrics, gentle arrangements and songs all about romance, love and heartbreak. The main reason this form of rock music was so soft was to appeal not only to the teenagers, but to the parents. Soft rock is sometimes thought of as boring, offering the rock fans nothing but dull lyrics and easy sounds. However, there is a huge amount of quality, timeless songs that came from the soft rock era.

Many rock fans though of soft rock as far too easy going to be cool. Soft rock purposely avoided being involved in controversy and sometimes received criticism because of this.

The main artists within the soft rock era were James Taylor, Bread, Foreigner, Firefall, Chicago, America and many others. Their soothing, dulcet tones with the combination of the soft guitars and the gentle beats were what made them popular. The quality of the songs and the lyrics were second to none.

Rock and roll music has evolved into lots of different types of music over the years. Soft rock is just one of the ways in which it has changed through the times.

Country music has an unfair stigma attached to it. Many people think it is UN cool, UN hip and well, boring. However, even though most rock fans would hate the thought of listening to country music, they should be aware that they probably already are listening to it.

It is hard to deny the influence that country music has had on rock music today. Sounds of country twangs, guitars and voices can still be heard in a large variety of rock artists now. The Eagles, Neil Young and the Doobie brothers are all rock artists that credit country music with their sound and style.

It is thought that the first person to make country rock songs was Gram Parsons who died living the typical rock and roll lifestyle. However, country music ion rock music goes all the way back to the beginning of rock music in the 40’s and the 50’s.

Neil Young has a huge country sound to his music and is probably the most well known country rock artist in the world. Bob Dylan was another artists that successfully fused the country sound and the rock beat into his music – and very successfully too.

Whatever your opinion on country music, there is no denying the fusion between country and rock works perfectly.

Little Richard is America’s original and best wild child within rock and roll. Born Richard Wayne Penniman in 1935, Little Richard had his very first taste of everything showbiz when he sang with the church choir.

He was only 16 years of age when he recorded and made his first song. He was signed with RCA Records in Atlanta and began laying down tracks. He had no success with the record label or the songs he had made, but that was only the beginning.

Eventually, he signed with Specialty, which was just becoming a huge label at that time and he never looked back. He had hits such as “Long Tall Sally”, Rip It Up”, Ready Teddy” and many others. He had hits both in the US and eventually in the UK charts.

In 1957, Little Richard cut his amazing career short by going back into the church and leaving rock and roll behind him for good. There are a few theories and speculative reports as to why he would give up a lucrative career so fast, but they are all rumours. Some people think he was involved in gangland activities and needed to leave rock and roll fast, some others simply believe it was the work of god. Only little Richard knows why he gave up his amazing career so quickly and easily, and it looks like no one else will ever know.

Whatever the reason, rock and roll should just be thankful he was involved at all – he created amazing songs that still pass the test of time.

The 50’s was when rock and roll was really discovered by the masses. Rock and roll in the 50’s is usually divided into two camps – Primal, party music (Big Joe Turner, Wynonie Harris) and Rockabilly music (Elvis Presley).

Rockabilly combined the sounds of blues music found in the south and country music. Elvis Presley made rockabilly popular with his good looks, swaggering style and guitar riffs combined with a lush voice. Rockabilly songs focused on fats cars, gorgeous girls, and love found and lost again.

Rockabilly seemed to wane towards the end of the 1950’s as new music emerged in the 60’s. Rock changed forever in the 60’s with the British invasion of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Artists new they had to evolve the sound of rockabilly music to keep the kids and the adults entertained.

Rockabilly did enjoy a comeback in style during the 70’s and the 80’s. Many artists use rockabilly music as the basis of their sound and adapt it to the age they are in. Rockabilly was the rock and roll music that changed a generation – kids love it and parents couldn’t stand it. Rockabilly gave kids a sense of freedom, rebellion and a new found wave of sexuality.

Rockabilly is the foundation of the rock and roll music we love today, and is also the backbone of everything you hear in the charts now.

Rock and roll has provided us not only with fantastic music and brilliant stars, but also given us some of the best and most intriguing conspiracy theories!

The most famous case would be that of Elvis Presley. Many people actually believe he didn’t die and is walking around living a normal life now. The circumstances of his death have been widely documented, but many people question what actually happened. Some believe that he was over worked, stressed and wanted peace and quiet again. So, he faked his own death to escape the media and the life he had.

The rumours are rife around the world that he is still alive and they still continue today. There are books about his death and whether or not it was real, there are websites dedicated to finding out if he is alive or not and there are millions around the world who think they see him on a regular basis.

Elvis could not have known how huge he would have become around the world; he wanted to be able to walk around like a normal guy out with his family, something which he couldn’t do anymore. The big question is how much he wanted to be ‘normal’.

Many stars and other singers have questioned whether or not his death was real or not – stars such as Ronnie McDowell and Merle Haggard have all wondered whether or not he is actually dead or alive.

Do you think he is still alive?

Rock and roll keeps defining eras throughout history. Not only has it been associated with hatred, protests and drugs; it is also strongly associated with peace, love and happiness.

Love and peace took a prominent place on the stage during the 60’ and the 70’s. Social issues and problems were often addressed using music and this made it possible to convey messages of peace and love all over the world.

Folk artists such as Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie made a huge impact on the social messages that the music conveyed. Other artists such as John Lennon, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s also made songs that held strong, social and personal messages.

Spiritual messages have also featured heavily in rock and roll music. Many artists have explored many areas of spirituality in their work, artists such as Pete Townsend and the Beatles to name but a few.

Many bands and artists have used God and religion as a foundation for their music and many are very religious. Some artists have even become born again Christians after overcoming drug and sex addictions due to their fame and money.

Rock and roll music has changed the world that we live in forever. It can be accredited with spreading and promoting the message of love and peace, but many still believe that it is nothing short of evil. While everyone is entitled to their opinion on all forms of music and the message they convey to the masses, most would agree that rock and roll has given the world something that many could not – soul.

It was official in the 60’s and during the height of rock and roll – adults didn’t get it, kids loved it and many thought rock and roll was the work of the devil! Rock and roll music was a way for the younger people to rebel against society, the government, their own lives and their family.

Living in the rock and roll lifestyle usually meant dabbling in sex and drugs. This wasn’t the same for everyone, but many artists and fans used drugs and had unprotected sex with, well anyone!

Psychedelic music became prominent in the 60’s and so did the drug use of everyday people. This is partly due to the fact that many of the artists and the bands actively encouraged their listeners to appreciate the music while being under the influence of drugs.

The rise of drug use coincided with artists and bands openly admitting that they too took the drugs. A famous case of this includes the Beatles. Once they had admitted to taking cannabis and writing songs while under the influence, the fans followed suit. Drugs and rock and roll soon became intertwined with each other and one of the main reasons why adults and parents hated it with a passion.

Many famous and legendary rock stars have died from drug abuse and many wear the scars and the tell tale signs of hard rug use on their faces today. Of course today, we are a little wiser about drugs and stars try not to promote taking illegal substances.