Rock and Media
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted its latest round of musical heroes to its oddly pyramid-shaped structure in Cleveland by holding a concert in New York Monday night.
Of course, the latest class of performers -- ABBA, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, the Stooges and the Hollies -- sparked the annual debate as to what bands and singers constitute "rock and roll." None of these five were really rock and roll bands in the format's original sense. Cliff was a reggae artist. The Hollies were British blues. Genesis was pro rock and the Stooges were a garage rock band. ABBA was Europop. Variations and offshoots, but not "rock and roll." Yet, the biggest question came over ABBA because they were the least "rockingest."
The bigger question, though, from a media standpoint is what will the future hold? Let's face it, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was created to capture a shared cultural past. Generational moments were defined by Elvis and the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, Woodstock, the punk revolution, MTV and the grunge era. People remembered those moments. Inductees to date show that taste.
It is tough to say if that will happen again. Kids can now download songs from the Internet en masse, which means more selection and less the wonderment of going into a record store. Concert tours are aimed at selling T-shirts and more albums as opposed to providing real entertainment. Yes, there are good bands out there, but they buried behind layers of plastic wrap. What is this generation's shining musical moment? Kanye West assailing Taylor Swift on stage? It makes me wonder if there will be Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions 20 years from now when the likes of Beyonce, Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears become eligible? Will a generation even care?
Of course, the latest class of performers -- ABBA, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, the Stooges and the Hollies -- sparked the annual debate as to what bands and singers constitute "rock and roll." None of these five were really rock and roll bands in the format's original sense. Cliff was a reggae artist. The Hollies were British blues. Genesis was pro rock and the Stooges were a garage rock band. ABBA was Europop. Variations and offshoots, but not "rock and roll." Yet, the biggest question came over ABBA because they were the least "rockingest."
The bigger question, though, from a media standpoint is what will the future hold? Let's face it, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was created to capture a shared cultural past. Generational moments were defined by Elvis and the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, Woodstock, the punk revolution, MTV and the grunge era. People remembered those moments. Inductees to date show that taste.
It is tough to say if that will happen again. Kids can now download songs from the Internet en masse, which means more selection and less the wonderment of going into a record store. Concert tours are aimed at selling T-shirts and more albums as opposed to providing real entertainment. Yes, there are good bands out there, but they buried behind layers of plastic wrap. What is this generation's shining musical moment? Kanye West assailing Taylor Swift on stage? It makes me wonder if there will be Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions 20 years from now when the likes of Beyonce, Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears become eligible? Will a generation even care?
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