In 2005 The Rolling Stones released an album called “A Bigger Bang”. Many critics, as usual, chose it as their favourite of the year. This isn’t very surprising, but if you think that “A Bigger Bang” was their 25th album now the Rolling Stones have been around for more than 40 years, and that singer Mick Jagger, guitarist Keith Richards and the other musicians are all well into their 60s, and are all grandfathers, it starts to look a bit strange. The idea of my grandfather standing on a stage in front of thousands of people singing “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” is just embarrassing. Can you imagine your grandfather doing it?
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But the Rolling Stones are not an exception. Last year, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney also released a new record. He worked with the producer of the band Radiohead to give himself a more modern sound. His record only had limited success, but again thousands of people came out to see the man when he played live concerts. Many young people still listen to Madonna, as well. She is regarded as being an exciting contemporary artist, even though she has now been making records for more than 20 years and is in her late 40s. Even a former terror like John Lydon (who used to be called “Johnny Rotten” when he was the leader of infamous punk band the Sex Pistols) still makes records. He now appears regularly on tv chat shows in Britain, and was even a contestant on the reality show “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of here!”
It used to be said that pop music was an art form created by and for young people. Many groups or singers make one or two good records when they are in their early 20’s, then disappear, or carry on making less interesting records. It was difficult to find artists who could continue making great records, year after year, for a long time. In some ways, this is still the case. The Rolling Stones, for example, are still much more famous for the songs they made in the 1960’s and 70’s than for their more recent recordings, and even though many people go and see Paul McCartney in concert, they are really hoping he will sing some old Beatles songs, rather than his new ones. People like to watch John Lydon on tv because they hope he will do something outrageous, like he used to do. Many of these rock’n’roll grandads are really still living off the past.
This phenomenon is not limited to the west. In other parts of the world where there is more respect for older people and less of an emphasis on youth, perhaps it is to be expected. Last year, veteran Indian singer Asha Bhosle, now in her 70’s, released a new record. She is a musician who has continued to develop, changing her style and working with other interesting western musicians such as Michael Stipe from the American rock band REM and classical musicians, the Kronos Quartet. However, it seems that at her concerts people still hope that she will sing the old Bollywood film songs such as “Dum Maaro Dum” that originally made her famous.
Pop only used to be for young people, now it has grown up. Now pop and rock music have been around for 50 years, people who started listening to it when they were young are now old. Why should their tastes change?
Of course, boy bands – groups of singing and dancing young people who are often not much older than the people who buy or download their songs - still continue to be hugely popular all over the world. However, it is very difficult to imagine a group like Blue still going in forty years time. And while older readers might remember the Backstreet Boys, or even Take That – how significant has their contribution to popular music really been? And can anyone already even remember McFly? Will anybody still be listening to Blue or Britney Spears when they’re in their sixties?
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What do you think of this article? Do you think that pop and rock music should be only for young people? Why? Why not? Send us your opinions.
Yulia writes “I really like music that makes a man grow up in his own soul. Music should help us to be better and better every day. Most of all I like classical and folk music. I like listening to traditional songs and classical music, opera and ballet. Also I love to visit the museums of great musicians like Tchaikovsky or Chopin. The Beatles are my favourite group because that music reminds me of the best moments and feelings of my life. I like songs that stay in your mind because the music is good and the words mean something good. One of my favourite songs is "Michelle". Everybody knew that song in the 70s and every young boy or girl could sing all words without any mistake. Who can compare with that four boys nowadays?”
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Zahra Pedram writes “In my opinion, age isn't the main factor which causes us to change our taste, not only in choosing our favourite music style but also in other parts of our life. Alternatively, society’s rules and culture are factors which make us change our taste in every side of our life. I still love the music I listened to ten years ago and I'm sure I'll love it for the rest of my life.”
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Moe Moe Kyaw writes “I think that pop and rock music is not only for young people but also for those who always keep their mind young, and especially for pop and rock singers and composers. That 's why most of the singers always want to make more modern songs although they are getting older and older, and still want to attract more fans with the same style as they did in younger days. But I think the people, including me, who go and see their concerts, are hoping to see and hear the songs they became famous for in their early days. In this way, feelings are different between creative persons and their audience. For me, I wouldn't feel shy if my grandpa were standing on the stage in front of thousands of people singing and dancing , but I would burst into laughter in a place where my grandpa could not see me. Because I absolutely believe that my strict grandpa will never do like this!”
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GiManil writes “I think pop and rock music is not only for young people. It is for everybody who likes it whether you are young or old. It used to be said that pop music is only for young people because it was mainly started and developed by young people. People like listening to old music because it was the music which made an artist famous. Also old people become happy when they remember their older days.”
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Bahareh Tarzi writes “I believe is that (a love for) pop and rock starts when you are young but can last for that same generation for years and attract the next generation. Good is good and ‘vivo’ for ever. Any music style that touches your heart one day, if you don’t lose your heart or change it for an artificial one during your life; can ravish your heart after years, even though your body gets older”
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Wikipedia: rock and roll
Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
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