Cruising (or surfing) around on youtube, looking for a video to…watch…I came upon this one. The title drew me in. Well, in fact, it did and it didn’t – my first response was, ‘ oh no…not another video reporting on the demise of ‘Rock’ music and why things aren’t like they used to be. I’ve watched them before and have often asked myself a similar question but perhaps in more general tones: why aren’t things like they used to be? Why have things changed, who caused it and can we go back to how it was please. I just see the specific question which the video tries to address as part of a much bigger question: why does our world keep changing?
So, at first I groaned…because I’ve watched them before and dare I say, they all just throw up fragments of light. And clearly they are created/presented by people of a certain age who are lamenting the changes going on around them…and how things are not like how they used to be when they were a lad. Jeez, perhaps I am just a bit weary about the question because I have asked myself so many questions; which is not the case if you are new to asking questions. Ok, fine.
Rock n Roll…rock bands? Well, why don’t we discuss the passing of the Baroque age…or the Classical Age…or the Jazz age? Well, perhaps some do. It’s just another question about change? Why do things change?
First of all, I would say that anyone is entitled to lament the passing of an era which is a recognised stage in human history. We can play a little game with our own minds: drawing lines in the sand so we can say, ‘there, that was a period that was – a moment in time when things were like…THIS!’ Fine. Why does it pass? Because the world is in a perpetual state of motion, that is why. What drives that? All kinds of things but if you want a short explanation then I would say it is all an outcome of basic human drives: the struggle for gain is right at the top of the list. The only reason rock n roll got off the ground in the first place…is because there was money to be made from it.
Secondly, the human condition is such that we practically compelled to compete – from our individual standpoint: to topple the other man, better him – run faster, think quicker yada yada yada. Surely market forces and the endless treadmill of competition drives the world in ways that the individual may no like but feel compelled to run with – because they have no darned choice over the matter. What has that got to do with rock bands? Well, go figure!
Oh, I could go on – his innocuous question about the demise of rock bands is ultimately part of a much bigger question.
Let me finish by saying this: the world keeps changing and there is nothing you can do but run with it. Because there is a cost to not doing that. It doesn’t help to know that the world is comprised of 7.5 billion individuals. And…you cannot contrive to bring back the past – it was a snapshot. The youth of today doesn’t know about the past (well, actually…perhaps they do) but perhaps they accept how things are (not was) because they don’t know any different.
Anyone who thinks you can bring back the past is barking up the wrong tree.
There WAS a golden age for Rock music and Rock bands..and it isn’t now. It is over for a whole multitude of reasons that the individual has no control over. So get over it. That is not to say we must embrace the present as it stands because frankly, there is a lot not worth swallowing…so fight for further change. That’s something you can do – don’t just accept anything…but you cannot bring back the past!
I realise in writing this blog that it isjust an immediate response to a video; or at least the title…although I did watch it – I got the gist of it. These are weighty matters and deserve books that would bore the pants off you!
