Grunge Music Effects

Kurt Cobain; one of the most famous and influential musicians in the history of rock and roll - more specifically, Grunge. Being a member of Nirvana, the most prominent band in the history of the genre isn’t the only accomplishment of the late, great musician though as he also won many awards. Kurt Cobain had an interesting upbringing, successful musical career, and a life that ended with a sudden death.

Rock ‘n’ roll and 20th Century Culture      According to Philip Ennis, rock ‘n’ roll emerged from the convergence of social transformations which resulted from World War II (Ryan 927). Despite its pop culture origins, rock music is arguably one of the strongest cultural factors to develop in this century. Artists such as Lennon, McCartney and Dylan defined the emotions of a generation and, in the last decade, it as even been acknowledged by members of the establishment which it hoped to change as a major influence in the country. In order to understand how rock went from a sign of rebellion to a cultural icon, it is necessary to understand where it came from.      According to Albert

Grunge music originated in Seattle, Washington and can be described as dirty guitar, strong guitar riffs with distortion. They had dark lyrics and expressed the emotions of teenagers. Punk rock is the most popular genre with young rebellious teens that talked about they hated listening to their parents. These genres didn’t become mainstream until the world discovered the rock and roll band “Green Day” in the mid 90’s. The style of the time consisted of cut off T-shirts and tight, ripped jeans. Bands like a “Aerosmith” and “Guns and Roses” played a big fashion roll during this

In the 1950s, when rock was developed, one of the first groups to drift to it was teenagers, being attracted to its themes of rebellion and non conformity. Certain groups of individuals have sprung up around certain musical styles. For instance, punk, techno, and ethnic music all include some type of subculture that embrace an entire lifestyle.

Rock ‘n’ roll music has widely influenced music and society and continues to do so today. Rock ‘n’ roll emerged in the 1950’s a time where whites and blacks were heavily segregated. Rock and roll music not only changed the nation’s current musical norms, but indicated the joy of the emerging youth culture of the generation. It influenced artists whether black or white to come into the mainstream music. Famous artists still remembered today also influenced rock and roll. Those pioneers helped change the musical norms and the overall history of music. White rock ‘n’ rollers helped build a ladder for black artists to come into the scene. It was certain that rock ‘n’ roll made it possible for greater acceptance, appreciation and a wider

Kurt Cobain had a troubled youth, especially in his adolescent years. Born Kurt Donald Cobain on February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen Washington. “Growing up in a small logging town, Cobain showed an interest in art and music, he excelled in drawing and he enjoyed playing with a kiddie drum set” (Kurt Cobain’s Biography). Starting in kindergarten his parents and teachers could tell that Kurt had excelled far more in arts and music rather than anything else. Cobain learned to play the piano by himself, additionally he enjoyed spending his time learning how to play the drums with the kiddie drum

Rock and roll helped break many people out of the pre-war mindset and into a new, fresh one. Although many adults detested rock, the younger generation felt that it symbolized a break from the war and the “age of anxiety” that the previous World War had caused. In addition, it promoted a promiscuous lifestyle that celebrated sex and drugs. Rock and roll seemed to be associated with this because many of the “rock stars” endorsed in a loose and laidback standard of living. Because many of the performers practiced recreational drug use, followers felt compelled to do so as well, feeling that that way of life was acceptable. Rock and roll was thought to be outlandish, primarily because of the performers’ gyrating and grinding of their hips, their suggestive lyrics, and rebellious undertones that provoked erotic senses in teenagers and upset parents. Rock and roll was said to establish a sense of identity and power in teenagers, mostly because of the new energy that came from the new style of music. Rock music was seen as satanic by the older generation because it seemed to lead to the

Rock ‘n’ roll has played a major role in some known historical developments post World War 2. Music plays a significant part in America 's Cold War culture. Music gave us a sense of new technologies and helped the world to prosper. It also is linked with African Americans living in the South. Music was known for shaping the lives of the people during the 1950s and 1960s. Music was geared towards the youth, race, ethnicity, gender and class. “All Shook Up: How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America” by Altschuler, Glenn C, tells us the story of the birth of rock and roll during the concrete years of 1955 to 1965. Altschuler gives us a overview of how rock ‘n’ roll has an historical context. “ For two years the Times printed dozens of

The emergence of Rock and Roll was one of the most pivotal moments of our nation’s history. The impact that this genre of music made is still evident in our culture. However, before this genre was able to gain momentum, it faced many cultural conflicts. The book, All Shook Up: How Rock ‘N’ Roll Changed America by Glenn C. Altschuler analyzes the impact that rock and roll music has made on American culture. It explores how the Rock and Roll culture was able to roughly integrate and later conflict with preceding cultural values. This is especially apparent in chapters regarding race and sexuality. Overall, Rock and Roll was extremely controversial amongst parents and educators. This new music genre was condemned by the previous generation as

also started the Grunge movement. He was there from when he started until Kurt Cobain

Now a days, we are used to shocking lyrics and eye catching looks. It seems that every artist now is fighting to be so different that everyone is drawn to them. It was not always like this. In the late nineties and early two-thousands, most artists tried to fit in with the other blonde, processed pop stars that the industry was spitting out. When there was an artist who was not always happy and did sing about PG rated topics, they were blamed for what was wrong with the world, especially teenagers. In his article ‘I’d Sell You Suicide: Pop Music and Moral Panic in the Age of Marilyn Manson”, Robert Wright delves into and debunks claims that rock music, especially that of Marilyn Manson, is a main cause for teenage suicide.

Grunge music was one of the most popular genres in the 1990’s, bringing a new style of rock with gritty distortion and new styles of hair and clothing.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is an analysis essay written by a Virginia Commonwealth University student, Matt Compton. In his essay, Compton analyzes the lyrics of the song, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” performed by Nirvana and written by Kurt Cobain. “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, released in 1991, received many music awards. Although some could not interpret the song’s meaning, it was exactly what many youths “needed to hear”. By drawing attention to specific verses and changes in rhythm, Compton applies that the song articulated “the emotions of America’s youth.” Compton expresses that “Cobain had written and performed a song about his own confusion, and in the process he had connected with young people all over the United States.”

Nearly thirty years later, We experience one of the most talk about re-births of the movement, It started to take form in a remote part of the United States, more precisely in the city of Seattle during the late 80’s and early 90’s and It was a desperate attempt to rebel against a society that felt corrupted by the overconsumption to which people were bombarded during those years through fashion, advertising and specially the media industry, and go back to the roots of the punk movement. The Grunge movement or Sub-Culture, their looks and music engraved in bands like Alice in Chains, Nirvana or Soundgarden although They were politically against consumerism and

Pop culture in the 1990’s had a strong presence in the development of the music industry as a whole; particularly the grunge and hip hop music industries. Shifting from the usual Pop music that once invaded the list of Top 40’s by artists such as Duran Duran and the Human League, music soon evolved into a darker, more introspective genre called Grunge. This style of music derived from Seattle, Washington in the late 1980’s but was not popularized until the early to mid-1990’s. Grunge music addressed