The Effects of Rock Music There are many types of music but people now a day seem to like

a certain genre of music namely, Rock n Roll, or simply, rock music. From the soothing, like Soft Rock, to the blaring, like Death Metal and Screamo, the heavy, dance-oriented rhymes, uncomplicated melodies and harmonies, and lyrics have succeeded in capturing the ears of many people, mostly teenagers, whose concerns---young love, the stresses of adolescence, and automobiles--- are being sympathized with by the said genre (Frith). More often than not, however, teenagers tend to follow trends without knowing their origins, whether their backgrounds are actually good or bad; and even if they do, influence and peer pressure sure do their jobs by, without the knowledge of the victims, subtly pulling them into the craze. This paper aims to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of rock based on its physical and psychological effects on the teenagers, and determine whether or not it's still advisable for them to listen and associate themselves with it. It is interesting to note how the innocent purpose of rocks existence, which is, to serve as a voice of peoples desolations, transformed drastically into implanting various thoughts with reference to drugs, sex, and violence into the minds of the youth today (newswise.com). It dates back to the late 1800s when the Africans were taken as slaves to America and the blacks were constantly discriminated by the white. Due to this mistreatment, the miserable and exploited used their rhythmic African backgrounds and sang to voice out their desolation. This, however, did not reach the ears of those who are being addressed; and thus the music sprouted new subgenres, jazz and the rhythm and blues. Soon enough, some Americans perceived brilliance in the blacks creations and involved themselves in the industry. Jazz evolved into bebop, cool, hard bop, avant-garde and soul jazz, many of which people arent familiar with. Rhythm and blues (R&B), on the other hand, transformed into soul, funk, country and disco once foreign twangs were mixed into the creations. These served as the starting ground for the next genres of music to come, of which includes rock music and all of its subgenres (Barton). When rock and roll first emerged in the 1950s, it was described as the blues with electric guitar. (MeGsTeRI3) It was Alan Freed who came up with the phrase rock and roll in 1955, the idea coming a 1920s song of Trixi Smith, My Baby Rocks Me with One Steady Roll. From the title itself, we see that a sexual connotation was attached to it (rockmusic.mu).

Compared to the slight malice the origin of the word rock displays, its evolution is even more controversial, sparking various reactions from the society. Pioneered by Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly and Little Richard, the world renowned band, the Beatles, took on their lead and presented a new age of rock in the 1960s, just when British invasion (the arrival of British bands that found success in America in the 60s) was introduced to the world. Soon after them, hippy and psychedelic bands with their drug-induced lyrics and hypnotic melodies appeared, bringing with them a series of trendsetters such as progressive rock, folk rock, and heavy metal. After the Vietnam War in the 1970s, bands had started remodeling the previous genres to create and promote their own style of music. Led Zeppelin, a famous band from the 1960s, perfected the combination of hard rock and blues. Others tried out a new sound, one which led to a new era of rock and roll, the punk rock. Popularized and refined, this new genre of music, highly influential and powerful, was described as being marked by extreme and often deliberately offensive expressions of alienation and social discontent (Boone and Covach). In the 1980s, heavy metal bands such as Guns and Roses, Van Halen, Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi appeared on stages with tight leather pants, soaring guitar solos, and outlandish hairstyles. Indie/Alternative rock became a hit among college students, and its improvisation to grunge made it even more popular in the 1990s. With dark lyrics that expressed teenage angst plus the strong guitar riffs that were played with distortion and feedback, it appealed mostly to teens. (MeGsTeRI3) Sure enough, rock is only seen as an entertainment by many; and there shouldnt be anything more than that. There are, however, different, underlying issues present within each of its subgenres which should, if possible, discourage people from listening to it. According to Kwan, Heavy metal doesnt just bring you the ear-splitting music of all time. It also alters your sense of fashion when you see those aberrantly dressed hippies in music videos who plan on promoting not only their music, but also their style of clothing. According to Peter Christenson, author of the book Its Not Only Rock and Roll: Popular Music in the Lives of Adolescents, music personalities provide models for how teens act and dress. (newswise.com) Studies have shown that listening to violent lyrics can lead to feelings of hostility and aggression, but unfortunately, more research is required in order to consider the results conclusive (queendom.com). Anecdotal evidence shows that emotional rock, a subgenre of punk rock, with

its brimming negative and depressing emotions, leads to a higher suicide rate (Kwan). Grunge, on the other hand, houses underground feelings voiced by artists who have reputations of being into illicit drugs. Such is Kurt Cobain of Nirvana who died a drug-fueled death. (Kwan) The disadvantages of listening to rock, however, is not only limited to influences and emotions; it can also be found within the loudness and intensity of the music itself. An example of this is as follows: Physicist Harvey Bird and neurobiologist Gervasia Schreckenberg subjected different groups of mice to the sound of traditional voodoo drumming, to Strauss waltzes, and to silence, and then tested each group's ability to navigate through a maze to get food. All music was played continuously at low volumes to eliminate possible behavioral effects from loud sounds generally. The groups that were subjected to either silence or Strauss waltzes had no problem learning the maze, with the Sitrauss waltz group having a slight edge in performance. However, the voodoo group performed progressively worse over the period of time they were exposed to the music and eventually became so disoriented that they became unable to complete the maze at all. These mice were also hyperactive and aggressive, often engaging in cannibalistic behavior. (Wicke) The test conducted above showed that the music had negative effects on mice; and this was caused by a mere voodoo drumming, the intensity of sound not even half of what soft rock has in store. Not only did it damage the thinking capacity of the subjects; but it also affected their behaviors, causing them to engage in cannibalistic behavior. This was found to be caused, upon dissection of the brains of these mice, by highly abnormal neuronal growth patterns that were found in the hippocampus region, with excessive dendritic branches growing out in all directions yet making few connections to other neurons. The hippocampus region is known to be important in learning and memory formation; and the excessive dendritic branches demonstrate the persistent attempts of the brain to make sense out of the music, yet to no avail. These findings, as suggested by researchers and health professionals, show that the electronic distortion implemented in rock harms the human health. Another incident that could show the harsh effects of rock music, this time, on humans, would be: In the summer of 1974, the rock critic Lester Bangs was invited to type a review of a J. Geils Band concert onstage as part of the bands show. Jumping at the chance to jam with a favorite band and, at the same time, to storm the ultimate barrier between music and meaning, Bangs set up his typewriter next to the musicians as if it were another instrument. As he typed away in rhythmic and mental counterpoint to the music, he

became more excited and frustrated until, at the songs climax, he smashed the table and finally stomped the typewriter in a fit of ecstatic rage. (Boone and Covach) This incident shows rocks ability to hypnotize the human mind, making it even creepier to listen to. In the late 1950s, scholars had already begun debating whether rock music is an authentic artistic endeavor or a mere fabricated commodity, whether it represents genuine social forces seeking to contest established institutions or is a cunning sort of mystification serving to lull its listeners into acquiescence while appearing to stimulate them. (Weinstein) Since rock was created within the era of racial discrimination (such as the blacks quest for social justice) and social disturbance (such as movements opposed to the Vietnam War), its musical structure was originally designed to reflect political issues present (Boone and Covach). During this period, the youth generated its own musical expressions and went as far as creating their own utopian visions of society that would incorporate the spontaneous exercise in will and venting of primal emotions. In the 1960s, for example, rock reflected the dissatisfaction of the youth under the guns and butter policies of Lyndon Johnsons administration wherein even if employment opportunities expanded, one might suddenly be called to arms. Thus, unlike the 1970s rock which was sparked by economic decline, the 1960s rock was, aside from being a component of the counter-culture, merely an expression of their distress. The anger and frustration caused by an oppressive and unjust society, into harmless release, as Weinstein states it. Also, aside from rock being an outlet for most people to voice out their emotions, it is being seen as something people gain money from, a commodity produced for the purpose of profit. In fact, the holding standard rock music once had, which was, a form of artistic expression, has now taken a drastic change as its already being interpreted as something being shaped not by authentic expression but according to commercial standards to enable it to appeal in the marketplace to the mass audience. (Weinstein) The ideology of rock is reduced to being a genre found within the struggle between music and commerce. If this is the case, then rock would be reasonable enough to listen to. It, however, is not. Sadly, the original expressive purpose of the creation of rock is defeated by its harsh effect on the youth nowadays given the damages they bring. After all, rock

has the power to manipulate teenagers through their music and lyrics. But what if the messages its songs bring are capable of inducing us to do things that will impose harm on ourselves? According to Stanford researchers, We know people use music as a mood amplifier and a mood controller. If youre blue and listen to blue ballads, you get bluer. The increasingly popular heavy metal rock and rap music, whose lyrics often express anger, violence, alienation and misogyny, amplify those feelings as well. If what they said so were true, then this is one reason to start hating rock music for our own protection; for there are a ton of songs out there which imply everything they have just enumerated. Life it seems will fade away. Drifting further every day. Getting lost within myself Nothing matters, no one else. I have lost the will to live Simply nothing more to give There is nothing more for me Need the end to set me free. These are the lyrics of Metallicas song entitled Fade to Black. Doesnt it imply surrendering ones will to commit suicide when the world crumbles and death would be one sweet escape? Lyrics have the power of heightening the desires of people depending on the mood they have. Thus even if the negative lyrics dont mean anything to naturally happy and cheerful people who disregard rock as a mere form of entertainment, those who have negative, violent, or depressive thoughts are prone to committing suicide, which, after all, are what the lyrics of some songs suggest. Either of which wont really do any good to the down-heartened teen. Considering the damages rock music will bring us as criteria for our decisions, then the choice is ours whether or not we want to listen to it. There isnt anything stopping us to do so after all, and its up to our discretion whether we want our eardrums shattered. However, peoples perception to the songs lyrics and the effect of rock music in their lives will never be the same for anybody. It is perfectly fine for us to listen to rock, given that we view it only as a form of entertainment and watch out for the implied messages that could do us harm. In the end, music is just music; and everyone should be reminded of it. Whatever meaning the words of a

song convey is for us to deduce. Our interpretation of a song may not always be the same as the intention of its artist. In the end, when listening to songs, our mind should prevail instead of our emotions. Only then can we ensure not only our safety, but the societys as well.

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