It’s been two years now (as I write this post) that I talk to you about the different genres of rock and metal that exist and I try to bring you their main characteristics.

With the objective you can better distinguish the work behind those, and to make you discover (or rediscover) the different facets of rock and metal.

I told you about the birth of rock, the birth of metal but what about these genres today?

That’s exactly what we’re gonna talk about right below!

ROCK AND METAL TODAY

Although both still exist nowadays, for most are still far from the mainstream; the limit between both genres is increasingly blurred.

Indeed, rock and metal are more and more alike. For good reason, rock artists are inspired by metal artists and vice versa. Guitar distortion is common. The use of the double pedal on the drums is also much more present.

One of the only differences is perhaps the form of the songs, more traditional in rock and freestyle in metal. But again, there may be exceptions.

ROCK AND METAL: THE GREAT CONFUSION

It’s getting harder and harder to differentiate between rock, metal and all subgenres. I’ll tell you what’s causing it for me.

PLAYLISTS ON STREAMING PLATFORMS

It’s been several years since I often find metal artists in the playlists dedicated to rock when I do research for my playlists.

So it can be cool to make people discover different genres (I do it for my subscribers’ playlists) but I think of people who only like rock.

Some may not understand why there are “heavy” titles in these playlists. In addition, others may turn away from the genre because they think it is moving in that direction. While there are always, and even more different rock styles.

INFLUENCES

I already talked a bit about the influence of metal artists on rock artists (and vice versa). But there is also the influence of other genres. With all these diverse and varied influences, it’s complicated to categorize groups in a single genre. In addition, a band can have several influences and spread them in different titles or albums. This results in a group having multiple sounds on their own. Ultimately, an artist/band can easily fit into different genres and subgenres of rock and metal.

This fact is becoming more common today.

THE AUDITOR’S PERCEPTION

This point is, for me, the most important.

When you pass on the dark side of the force, like me and many others; that is to say when you start listening to more extreme metal like some metalcore bands, death/ deathcore, black metal, etc.; you realize at some point that rock, hard rock and the like… it’s calm in comparison.

Careful, don’t make me say what I didn’t say. It’s great, but it’s calm.

So if I take my example, some of the songs categorized in rock are for me either pop rock, or electro/ independent music with saturated guitars. Or other things that don’t cross my mind now. But I don’t question the artists’ work in any way.

This leads me to say that the perception of heavy music or not also comes down to what the listener perceives. And that’s where a lot of confusion occurs.

Debates are emerging because of this. For example, some people wonder if Ghost is a metal band, but when we go back in time, in the 80s, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, and others were considered metal bands (glam metal).

With the evolution of extreme music, I think for some metal standards have changed with it. And with, some bands formerly considered metal, fell more into the «old school» hard rock/ heavy metal .

And, I remind you, this is entirely subjective to people.

CATEGORIZING ROCK AND METAL, IS THAT RIGHT?

Yes and no.

Yes, because by knowing the basic characteristics of the genres, you can:

• Directed you towards a kind of music that you want, and discover the universe that goes with it,
• As a musician, you can draw inspiration from these «codes» to be able to make a title/ a work influenced by the genre you want.

Now, generally speaking, I am for doing what you want, when you want, with what you want, and not categorizing anything or anyone. Always with respect of course 😉

And if you want to make one day a rock song, and the next day a metal song, go for it!

So I am very mixed on this subject.

That’s why, at the beginning of each article I specify that I «categorize» to give you an idea of the style but that each artist/ group is free to do what he wants.

AI, ROCK, AND METAL

I had to talk about it at some point. This topic divides a lot of people.

Today, there are more and more bands or people using AI (artificial intelligence) to create works in the world of rock and metal. Whether they are bands that revive deceased members or fans who make their favorite artists sing songs they have never sung. Or bands using it for their music videos or album art, etc.

From my perspective, AI can be helpful… but NOT in music and I will even add: NOT in the artistic field in general or very little (I don’t know if this technology is used in special effects or other very USEFUL things).

For me, whether composing, singing, or even drawing, the human aspect must remain. All these examples have a soul, an emotion that AI will not equal.

AI and singing

In terms of using artist voice:

• First, using the voice of deceased artists will not bring them back and I find it a bit dishonest. We don’t know if the artist in question would have wanted that or not.

• Second, for those living, there’s the right to use the voice to take into account.
  Only I find it absurd/ disturbing that we can make anyone talk by making them say what we want?
• And then by using that, artists no longer need to do anything, and thus, end up «unemployed». Which is a shame because, for me (and I’m sure I’m not the only one), the emotion that a person gives off when singing is important.

Moreover, it is an art to sing (or scream), it’s something you learn ;p

AI and music/ composition

The same goes for composing music. Anyone can compose their music (it can be positive) but the instruments and the practice of these, what do we do? That’s the beauty of a title. Even imperfections make the work unique and beautiful.

And we talk about the theft of artists’ art on socials to create AI works?

Restrictions and other things have been established to inform and delineate the use of AI which is a good start. Now, we’re not safe from dishonest people.

I am sure that the latter can do great things in different areas, but in art, the human should remain master.

Besides, I did not listen to the releases that used IA and I watched ONE video made with it and I did not like it so, my opinion remains the same, for the moment at least.

ROCK AND METAL TODAY: SOCIALS AND FANS

To be honest, I added this part after listening to a video on Youtube of Rockfeed with Ronnie Radkie (a very interesting video by the way, that I put you here if you are interested). And in my opinion, much (if not most) of what is said is right.

Society and people’s mentality have changed over the last few years. So I will not say that everyone is or does like the others, but I will express my opinion although I live in a cave lol.

For me, a lot has changed and/or disappeared:

No more respect for privacy, nor the choices of artists

The video reminded me that because of this kind of behavior, artists leave social networks because it was no longer healthy for them. Now social media and mental health is a whole other debate.

But seriously, people who go looking for birth certificates of Sleep Token members to satisfy their curiosity or the almost daily harassment of others on social networks?!   I understand it must be unbearable in the long run. Put yourself in their shoes for two minutes.

And let’s not talk either that everything you say can turn against you because you don’t have the same point of view on one event, etc. as the other.

Today, you have to censor yourself so you don’t have problems.

Because you’re going to talk about something with your opinion and people you don’t know at all for some are gonna feel targeted, triggered, hurt, and will categorize you as a bad person or an enemy.

I censor myself at times to avoid hurting people’s feelings. Although I try to be as authentic as possible.

Not to mention the angry fans about the artistic direction taken by some bands/artists.

Yet having different points of view doesn’t make you a bad person. This is what we call being humain and you can respect someone who doesn’t necessarily have the same way of thinking as you. The good and the bad are only a matter of perspective. We are not asking everyone to think the same way. It would be very boring otherwise.

And this allows me to transition to the second point:

Artists are humans like you and me!

Crazy right ?!

So iI find it funny when hundreds of people are upset because a band/artist cancels a show/tour. Or because at some point a singer sings less well at a concert, etc.

First, let’s face it, the first to be disgusted are the artists, in either of the two scenarios. But if it’s for their health, it’s the most important. Whether it’s physical or mental health. Is it me, or is there an obvious lack of empathy from fans at some points? Especially if it is someone you admire/adore, all the more reason for the person to take care of themselves.

However, there are adorable and incredible fans, full of empathy and kindness. And I would like to end this on a positive note as it must always be put forward from my point of view.

CONCLUSION

We are in a period of great musical freedom, which is a good thing in most cases. Artists are no longer restricted and can experiment as much as they want. Or not, everyone is free to do what they want. And that’s what’s great!

This is why some people currently use the name «modern metal» for metal created nowadays. That way, they don’t label artists too much anymore.

For rock, well it’s still rock, sorry guys.

So yes, the boundary between rock and metal is even more blurred than at the beginning. But isn’t the most important thing simply to love what you listen to?

Then there will always be people saying, “It was better before”. And that’s their choice.

On this blog, I continue to categorize so that I can direct you to what I am talking about. But from my point of view, I think it’s great to no longer correspond to a single thing.

Also, I hope that this place serves as a benevolent platform for the rock and metal scenes that sometimes lack. As I repeat and will repeat, everyone has their own opinions about life. This does not mean that we cannot respect each other and gather on what unites us.

That concludes this post!

Feel free to like and share it.

See you soon !

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Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

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Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Claire Abe

The post Today’s Rock and Metal appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

Hello !

If I say goth rock, what’s your first thought?

If you have no idea, I’ll take you with me to discover this dark and gloomy universe.

Let’s go!

WHAT IS GOTH ROCK ?

It is a subgenre of post-punk that appeared «officially» in the 1970s in England and the USA. Its universe is dark and morbid. You could call it depressive music, even if it’s not necessarily true.

Do you see the Addams Family? Well, that’s about it, but in music.

ORIGINS OF GOTH ROCK

There are two genres that have a major influence on gothic rock: punk and glam rock.

Punk will influence aesthetically of course, but also with the energy, what the music feels like. Notably with bands like Suicide and The Cramps.

Glam rock will influence the stage performance (theatricality), with some sonorities (often an organ with a haunting sound) that can be found at Roxy Music and in the music of Brian Eno and David Bowie. Finally, it will influence aesthetics too.

But we can also mention in the influences that impacted Gothic rock (proto-goth):

• Screamin’ Jay Hawkins with I Put A Spell On You (la seconde version),
• The Doors with The End
• Velvet Underground with Venus In Furs and All Tomorrow’s Parties,
• Nico with her solo album The Marble Index,
• Alice Cooper with Dead Babies,

GOTH ROCK CHARACTERISTICS

The very first important thing in Goth rock is the atmosphere that reigns in the songs. This dark, melancholic, evil, uncomfortable, oppressive atmosphere.

It’s the opposite of electro-pop.

Music and instrumentation

The music is slow. The melodies are simple, usually with semitone progressions, and the use of minor tones.

The bass is tuned lower to sound deep, to contribute to this climate.

At the battery level, we prefer playing on tom.

On guitar, distortion is required with the use of reverb and delay.

Singing

Mostly, the singing is slow, impassive, and with a deep voice. With often a ton of reverb on it.

Bands formation

In most cases, the band has :

• drummer,
• guitarist(s)
• bass player,
• singer,
• and sometimes a keyboard player.

Lyrics

The texts are influenced by monsters and other creatures, madness, love (not the happiest way), death, and all other taboo/horrific/marginal subjects.

The genre itself is influenced by fantasy romanticism, horror films, pseudo-secret societies and funerary art.

The look

The gothic look has its own codes:

• Black clothes
• A mix of Victorian and fetish outfits
• Pronounced makeup (black eyeliner + very pale foundation = winning combo, we love it)
• Hair is mostly dark (black) with a messy hairstyle (the electrified kind).
• Silver jewelry with macabre connotations or alluding to a secret society.

Today, the style has evolved. We can find Gothic with hair of all colors and not necessarily messy. But the basis remains the same: pronounced makeup, black clothes, and references to macabre, etc.

All this requires considerable preparation time. This is why, women have a great role in the diffusion of the aesthetics of the genre.

Now, that doesn’t mean that because you’re dressed in black, etc. you’re gothic. Do we have to talk about stereotypes again?

GOTH ROCK ARTISTS/BANDS

The first bands to be associated with Gothic rock were post-punk bands such as Siouxsie and The Banshees, Joy Division and The Cure.

Then, the first actual Gothic rock bands to appear are Bauhaus, Killing Jokes and The Birthday Party.

Other bands have followed the path like Sisters of Mercy, Dead or Alive, Lords of The New Church, Fields of the Nephilim, All About Eve or the 69 eyes.

EVOLUTION

Goth rock still influences all kinds of music today.

He opened many doors to metal, industrial music, and even folk. It has also influenced pop bands and artists.

Here are some who were influenced in one way or another by Goth rock:

My Chemical Romance, Marilyn Manson, Yungblud, as well as many metal bands whose genre will be born from the latter: gothic metal.

As for the gothic aesthetic, it also influences pop culture in fashion, films, books, and visual arts.

Besides, I think part of the prejudice about the appearance of rockers and metalheads comes from the fact that this aesthetic is very well known.

That concludes this post on Goth rock.

You can find the playlist dedicated to it right below.

Feel free to like and share the post if you enjoyed it.

You can also find all the drawings from the blog right here !

See You soon !

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Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources :

Une histoire Musicale du Rock – Christophe Pirenne

What Is Gothic Rock? – Sebastian Wolf : https://www.musicgateway.com/blog/spotify/what-is-gothic-rock

Wikipedia

Claire Abe

The post Goth rock : the love of gloom appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

Let’s go right now.

WHAT IS GRUNGE?

Grunge is a musical genre that appeared in the USA in 1985 and became popular in the early 1990s. The grunge scene is mainly in the vicinity of Seattle and Olympia (not the Olympia in Paris (France), but the city of Olympia in Washington). This genre, counterculture, is closely associated with:

• A “mother” band: Nirvana. Grunge became popular with their album Nevermind.

• The independent label Sub Pop created by developer Jonathan Poneman and journalist Bruce Pavitt.
• Generation X. That is the generation that grew up in the late 1980s, early 1990s. The gender will become the expression of the anxieties and anger of the youth of the time. The latter, living in an economically depressed period, have a rather pessimistic and defeatist vision of the future.

Grunge then becomes more than music, it is also a way of life and a philosophy linked to generation X.

In addition, grunge will revive this «rivalry» between the USA and England. The style will be in «competition» with English Gothic rock. The latter have the same root: punk.

GRUNGE ORIGINS

The genre comes directly from the underground. He is one of the genres derived from alternative rock and draws his inspiration from heavy metal, indie rock, hardcore punk, blues rock, garage bands and pop rock.

Mark Arm (singer of Green River and Mudhoney) is considered the first to use this term to describe this style of music. He will later state, that the use of the term «grunge» was already common in Australia to qualify groups like King Snake Roost, The Scientists, Beast of Bourbon, etc. It was later taken over by one of the creators of the Sub Pop label to define the music of Green River precisely.

The term “grunge” comes from “grungy” which means “dirty”. It can also refer to fungi between the toes (bon appétit!).

GRUNGE CHARACTERISTICS / FEATURES

Grunge is a mixture of melancholy, pessimism, disenchantment, and savagery. We sail between energy and despair.

Counterculture:

Grunge is a sleek kind of genre. When I say sleek, I mean there are much fewer frills. It’s rawer. It opposes all that’s represented by glam rock and glam metal, very popular at this period.

Music and instrumentation:

We can hear very saturated guitars with the use of fuzz, the Larsen effect, and the wha-wah pedal. However, grunge guitarists are considered antiheroes.

Virtuosity (shred) is no longer present in the music. If there’s a solo, it’s only to serve the music. In addition, some guitarists are not interested in mastering, even more, their instrument. Grunge is known for «killing guitar solos».

We also note the use of alternative tuning (Drop D, Open E, E minor, etc.)

The structure of the songs is relatively simple. As for the melody, there are regular changes in nuances within it.

For me, grunge is more about the messages and emotions to convey than about the music itself. Music is just a medium for messages.

Band’s formation :

A grunge band generally consists of:

• The singer,
• A guitarist (who can also be the singer),
• The bass player,
• A drummer.

Lyrics :

We can mention the themes of depression, drug use, ecology, or “anti-social” lyrics. The themes are the expression of the anxieties and anger of the young people at the time. The bands are the spokespersons of generation X.

Production :

The production of grunge works is minimalist. It goes back to a less digitized sound, less worked, and more «conservative».

GRUNGE BANDS / ARTISTS

In the grunge bands, we can mention Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Alice In Chains, Melvins, Stone Temple Pilots, Hole, L7, Temple of The Dog et Green River, among others.

GRUNGE LIFESTYLE

The philosophy of the young people of this period is “I don’t care about anything” (being polite). Some will say that it is felt in their everyday looks. However, it must be remembered, the economy is going badly (as a little in all decades).

The grunge style that we define as a “I don’t care” kind of style, well, depends on what young people can afford at the time. And when I say afford, I mean buy, recycle, mend, etc.

In fact, the style and lifestyle of grunge is the reality of these young people at the time. They had almost nothing, managed to live, and expressed their emotions thanks to this music.

However, with the success of the style, the fashion industry and other marketing companies took over the imagery of grunge.

In addition, we talk about counter-culture because grunge, is opposed to the theatricality, the somewhat macho spirit, and the dress code of glam rock and metal.

EVOLUTION

Of course, the death of Kurt Cobain was a trigger for the gender decline. Subsequently, several groups split up and grunge gradually withers away. However, some bands of the movement continue to produce albums and tour around the world.

In addition, other bands heavily influenced by the genre will be categorized post-grunge like Foo Fighters (with Dave Grohl – former drummer of Nirvana), Seether, Puddle Of Mudd, Creed or Nickelback.

Conclusion

Grunge represented the state of mind and reality of the young adults of the time. Mix of desperation and anger, rock and metal. This style may not have lasted long in time, but it has left its mark on memories and music forever.

You can now find the playlist dedicated to the article just below

And feel free to share a maximum or leave a comment.

Also, you can see all the drawings / caricatures right here !

See you soon !

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources :

Une histoire musicale du rock – Christophe Pirenne

Cadence info – La musique grunge et son histoire , un style éphémère des années 80 : https://www.cadenceinfo.com/la-musique-grunge-et-son-histoire.htm

Larousse – grunge (encyclopédie) : https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/divers/grunge/46796

Wikipédia

Comme un camion – le style grunge : histoire, tips et pièces incontournables : https://www.commeuncamion.com/2022/07/23/le-style-grunge-histoire-tips-et-pieces-incontournables/

Claire Abe

The post Grunge : the dirty energetic music appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

Let’s dig to discover this underground genre!

What is alternative rock ?

It’s a movement that emerged in the 1980s that comes directly from the underground field. It will be very popular in the 1990s.

If you don’t know, “underground” means all forms of art made outside of ordinary commercial circuits.

The alternative term is used to describe bands inspired by punk (and its derivatives), which are under contract with independent labels and rejecting the mainstream. (It is like, we are not bought, we do not want to do the shit you want! It’s a bit of the mindset. You add in the rebellion of punk and here we are)

It’s a movement that has several subgenres, including:

• Grunge,
• Independent rock,
• Britpop,
• Gothic rock,
• Independent pop,
• And shoegaze.

Origins of Alternative rock

Alternative rock, initially, refers to any form of underground music that has appeared as a result of the punk movement. He is influenced by the latter, the garage band and the new wave.

In addition, we can consider that some bands of it are garage bands. These are young people who gather around their love for music in their garages or other places where they can practice their art.

At the same time, some subcategories are also inspired by other musical styles such as folk music, reggae, electronic music or jazz.

But one band can be considered the founder of the genre: Hüsker Dü

Coming from punk – hardcore punk, they paved the way for all the big names of alternative rock in the 90s. With their albums Metal Circus or Zen Arcade, they will influence bands such as Nirvana, the Pixies, Dinosaur J., Sonic Youth, Green Day, Foo Fighters and more.

Thanks to Hüsker Dü:

• We start talking about rather morbid facts in the songs, instead of just talking about politics. Especially with their song Diane, where they recount the murder of Diane Edwards (true fact) from the point of view of the murderer.
• They played a major role in convincing the underground scene that melody and punk rock were not opposed.
• It’s one of the first bands in the underground scene to give credit to university stations and to sign with a major (Warner Bross).

Alternative rock characteristics

Diffusion

Alternative metal is defined with the rejection of commercial success in popular culture. Although a few were successful, at first, alternative rock bands were all underground. They performed in small clubs and were broadcast on university radio. The latter were very important in their dissemination role. Moreover, these radio stations gained credibility when they broadcast bands that later became famous.

Their popularity also depended on word of mouth.

All of this changed with the signing of some bands in majors as well as the worldwide success of grunge which will allow different alternative rock bands to be successful. Moreover, some will consider the end of alternative rock at this very moment, when this genre becomes popular.

Bands

We generally find:

• A guitarist,
• The bass player,
• A drummer,
• And a singer.

In addition, bands include the presence of women, usually on bass and/or singing. Although the majority remains male.

Production

It’s simplified to the maximum. There is a rejection of digitization and a return to a more «raw sound».

Lyrics

We can hear lyrics about drug use, depression, or ecology. All these themes aim to respond to the social tensions of the time.

Alternative rock bands

We can mention : REM, the Pixies, Sonic Youth, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Pavement, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, Jane’s Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Go-Between, Muse, Radiohead, U2, Placebo, The Cure..

EVOLUTION

Several events should be noted for this part:

On the one hand, the genre began to die out for some during its popularization.

On the other:

• The death of Kurt Cobain in April 1994

• The trial between Pearl Jam and TicketMaster: The group found that the tickets were too expensive, but the latter having a monopoly on the larger venues, Pearl Jam had to bow.

• The cancellation of the Loolapalooza festival in 1998, for lack of headliners.

However, a resurgence of the genre appeared in the 2000s with influenced bands or «heirs» of alternative rock such as Whites Stripes, The Killers, Linkin Park, Modest Mouse or Franz Ferdinand.

In addition, from alternative rock, alternative metal and all its derivatives developed and continue to exist to this day!

Conclusion

A parent genre to many others, as popular as he is, alternative rock has helped shape current music.

Although its popularity is the beginning of the end for some people, I personally find that its popularity has proven the creativity and talent of underground artists compared to mainstream ones. Be careful, I’m not saying that mainstream artists don’t have talent.

If you want a taste of alternative rock, you can listen to the dedicated playlist right here.

In the meantime, feel free to share the article as much as possible.

Also, you can see all the drawings / caricatures right here !

See you soon !

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources :

Larousse : https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/underground/80529

Une histoire Musicale du Rock – Christophe Pirenne

Histoire du rock – alternative rock : https://histoiredurock.fr.gd/Alternative-Rock.htm

Trash talk – Hüsker Dü and the Birth of Alternative Rock : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjbGAX72JYw

Claire Abe

The post Alternative rock, from darkness to light appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

Today, we will be heard and loud because today’s topic is PUNK ROCK!

So, style your hair crest, put on your jacket, and let’s discover the genre!

PUNK ROCK: WHAT IS IT?

Punk rock is a musical genre derived from rock. It appeared in the mid-1970s in the USA, Australia, and England. The period in which it develops the most is between 1974 and 1976. It will become worldwide thereafter.

It intervenes while some are fed up with the music of the time (including rock), which they call «docile».

The word punk is not a «very good term» over the years. It will describe successively: a rotten wooden plank, a homosexual, and a thug/rascal.

You understood, the word punk does not have a good reputation. But it will please the rock area that will use it to describe this new genre. Three critics “argue” over who used it first. But all agree on the same bands:

• Those who played Garage Rock in the ’60s,
• Those who were inspired by it.

THE ORIGINS OF PUNK ROCK

We can go back a long way to see traits that will correspond with punk rock.

The 1950s

We start to hear the excitement that will carry punk rock around 1958 with The Phantom (who’s real name is Jerry Lott).
The same year, Link Wray (a proto-punk pioneer) revolutionized the music:

• In Rumble, he uses distortion, feedback, and power chords (and is one of the first to use them).
  Feedback: it is a kind of controlled feedback that can increase the maintenance of notes on the guitar.

The 1960s

In the 60s, the latter will again advance the music. Link Wray joins forces with Bunker Hill (gospel singer with a distorted voice related to this genre) for the song The Girl Can’t Dance.

The same year, The Kingsmen (Garage band) sing Louie, Louie. And we also see the beginnings of punk performances:

• The text is incomprehensible because it is poorly articulated,
• Guitars filled with distortions,
• One of the first performances where you can hear a swear word. (The drummer drops a “fuck” because he dropped one of his chopsticks)

Thereafter, bands such as The Trashmen, The Sonics, The Monks, Love and ? And The Mysterian will contribute in their own way to punk rock.

Also, ? And The Mysterian will be considered by some as the 1st punk band.

In 1964, in England, bands made music that can be compared to the American Garage Band. For example:

• You Really Got Me and All Day and All Night from the Kinks
• My Generation from the Who

The latter will start to «punkified» English rock.

In 1967, in the USA, the Velvet Underground released White Light/ White Heat. A game-changing album. They will influence generations of musicians. Including Buzzcocks that will be inspired by Sister Ray.

1969 marks another turning point. We can actually see punk taking shape. And thanks to 2 bands from Detroit:

• MC5
• The Stooges

Another group will also influence : Led Zeppelin with Communication Breakdown.

All this will lead to the 70s, when punk will be at its peak.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PUNK ROCK

First, the punk genre is very varied and ambiguous artistically speaking. There is a striking contrast between the intellect side and the “raw” side. But everyone has this desire to do something new.

Also, another fact, there was no punk rock record before 1975/1976.

INSTRUMENTAL

The songs are short. There is no intro and little solo (and they are usually basic). The structure of the song is mainly as follows: versus 1 – versus 2 – bridge 1 – versus 3 – bridge 2 – chorus – chorus.

The rhythm is almost always down stroke (which means that you only scratch the strings down) and it is played quickly.

You can see that they usually use 2 or 3 chords for a song. And they often use the same chords for several tracks.

The sound of the guitars is very distorted.

THE BAND

It mainly consists of:

• Two guitars,
• A battery,
• A bass,
• And a singer

Aussi, l’équipement est minimalist.

LYRICS

The lyrics evoke the worries, frustrations, and rage of the teenagers of this period. We can find the themes of unemployment, social conflicts, rejection of politics, sex, drugs, anomie, …

It is a confrontation with the culture of the time. The goal is to provoke and shock.

They also talk about more conventional rock-and-roll topics such as flirting, heartbreak or buddies.

PUNK ROCK BANDS

We find in punk rock bands:
Patti smith, Television, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Blondie, Talking Heads, Buzzcocks, Modern Lovers, The Saints, The Damned or The Misfits.

Later, we will find The Offsprings, Bad Religion, Rancid or Green Day.

From the punk rock genre will come a revolutionary cultural movement: THE PUNK MOVEMENT.

THE PUNK MOVEMENT: WHAT IS IT?

As said before, the punk movement stems from punk rock.

It begins as an artistic movement expressing the anguish, rage, emotions, and desires of difference of the teenagers of the time. It responds to the political and socio-economic reality of that period. Politics will have a big place in the movement.

Punks want to be heard and share their ideologies. And if that means going to extremes, so be it.

The ideologies of punk are: anarchism, individualism, existentialism, anticapitalism, anti-authoritarianism, or even antiracism.

Slogans such as “No future”, “Anarchy” or “Punk is not dead” flourish everywhere. They are also proponents of what is now called DIY. They are advocates of freedom of thought and expression and are opposed to the consumer society.

In addition, in the early days, people in the movement usually come from oppressed or marginal backgrounds in society.

They will also differ from the others with their clothing style: «fetish» garments, sleeveless t-shirts, pants with many zippers or leather with nails, clothes with provocative slogans or illustrations, and clothes mended with tweezers.

The movement and its ideologies will be repeated many times for commercial purposes.

EVOLUTION

We can’t talk about decline in the case of punk. It is certainly an underground genre (like many rock and metal genre), but it still exists today. Its impact is, moreover, colossal.

His way of thinking has changed society. But the movement will also significantly change the way albums are marketed as well as fashion.

In addition, from the punk rock will come subgenres such as post punk, hardcore punk, or pop punk.

Conclusion

Few genres have had an impact like punk. Even if he has not «lived» long, his diversity and his commitment will influence hundreds of musicians posterior and not only! Society itself will be impacted by punk as much in politics, as in marketing, fashion or culture.

You can (re)discover punk in the playlist just below.

As usual, feel free to share as much as you can if you liked it or if you think someone might be interested.

Also, you can see all the drawings / caricatures right here !

See you soon !

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Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources :

Une histoire musicale du rock – Christophe Pirenne

Wikipedia

Histoire du Rock – Punk Rock : https://histoiredurock.fr.gd/Punk_Rock.htm

Grow – generation for rights over the world – Le movement punk – Matthieu Gervais : https://www.growthinktank.org/le-mouvement-punk/

Thrash Theory – Before 1976: How punk became punk : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHYwxbVW-ho&list=PLG7tBOM3CtVICAKcMomOtfxwPhlFU-cUt&index=16

Claire Abe

The post Punk rock : everything you need to know appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

So put on your best-sequined clothes and let’s discover this genre together.

WHAT IS ROCK MUSIC

Glam rock, or also called glitter rock, is a style of rock that appeared in the 1970s. It begins and develops in England, then spread in America afterward (although the scene is less than the English one).

Glam comes from glamorous and glitter from the clothes they wear.

It should not be confused with his most direct legacy, Glam Metal, which appeared in the 80s.

The genre appears in a complex societal context. It also follows the disappearance of several great rock figures such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison. It will allow young people who are a bit lost to belong to a community.

With this style, rock becomes a stage, a theater, and contradicts the very reason of rock. That of a representation of real life, authenticity, and sincerity. Some will even use glam rock to create a character/role, like David Bowie.

This theatricalization also corresponds to the passage of rock concerts from clubs, etc. to stadiums. This leads to the spectators being far (or very far) from the stage. It’s where the games of sound and lights, as well as special effects and other staging, come into play.

In addition, glam rock will have some link with the LGBTQ movement.

THE ORIGINS OF GLAM ROCK

Mark Bolan, leader of the group T. Rex, will start the genre and will emancipate as much the artists as the young people of the time.

The latter appears in Top of The Pops (a famous show in England on BBC) with sequins glued to these cheeks and relatively bright and colorful clothes.

He will be inspired by the basics of rock n’ roll for his music and the stage presence of artists like Mick Jagger or Little Richard.

After him, a wind of freedom breaks down and artists begin to dare.

The next flag-bearer of the genre is David Bowie, during the Ziggy Stardust period.

THE FEATURES OF GLAM ROCK

Appearance

Appearance has a central place in style!

The artists dress extravagantly, dare to wear sequins, rhinestones, gold, very colorful and/ or glittering clothes, dye their hair or wear wigs and wear compound shoes. Whether they are male or female. Androgenicity is at its peak with glam.

Some even go as far as ambiguity. Is it a man or a woman? Once seductive, then repulsive. Friendly one moment, pervert the other.

With this look, we move away from mods (see below) and psychedelic.

MODS

As an abbreviation for Modernists, mods are part of an English sub-culture (mod) that emerged in the late 1950s.

The mods are young people who have tried to differentiate themselves from their parents. Their favorite music is soul, rnb or ska. We can see some conflicts with another subculture: rockers. We find the mods during the Swingin’ London period (which I explain in this post).

They have a rather festive lifestyle with several codes:

Hairstyle 

THE mods haircut is the French Line followed by the back comb.

(As I didn’t find any free images with these hairstyles, I invite you to search mods or mods hairstyles on the web to get an idea of what it looks like. If you are interested, of course.)

Clothing

These young people can be seen wearing 2-piece 3-button suits (preferably Italian) as well as Fred Perry polo shirts, Clarks shoes generally, and US Army parkas. As for the girls, the mini-skirt is very popular.

Means of transport

The mods like to move in Vespa GS160, Lambretta TV and SX200 covered by (too much?) headlights, mirrors, and chrome parts.

Drugs

Drug use is regular, and amphetamines are preferred.

Art

Art is also important. The visual is key and dance is a pillar of the movement. Mods are also often very good dancers. We can even see competition within the group in order to know which are the best. This is in order to appear either in TV shows or in clips. Many attend art schools.

The mods will also influence the music of the time both visually (with the use of the Royal Air Force roundel among others) and the musical influence of the bands.

Rhythm and music

The principle of glam rock is to return to simple music, but catchy and danceable.

We find the basics of rock n roll and even some of hard rock. The songs are short, with little, if any solos, experiments, and the use of major chords.

We can also see the repetition of riffs and choruses or parts of songs that the audience can repeat with the artist or bands.

Although there is a lot of rock in this genre, we can see that they are also closer to pop. Moreover, the genre is known to be at the crossroads between rock and modern pop.

Instruments

In glam rock, you can hear:

• Guitars (usually electric),
• A bass,
• The battery,
• A piano,

And sometimes

• Brass instruments,
• A (analog) synthesizer.

Lyrics

The genre deals with light subjects such as love, friendship, or party, but can also tell the story of the character they have created from scratch.

GLAM ROCK ARTISTS

Following in the footsteps of Mark Bolan (T Rex) and David Bowie, there are others: Gary Glitter, Elton John, Mott The Hopple, Sweet, Alice Cooper, Slade, The New York Dolls, Roxi Music, the Runaways (beginning) or Queen (beginning).

EVOLUTION

Glam rock is not really going to decline. Its influence is much more important than you might think. And for good reason, it will directly influence:

• Punk: which appears right after glam rock (chronologically speaking). The only difference between the two movements is the mood (darker) and the political scope of the latter.
• Glam metal: direct heir to glam rock! I remind you, do not confuse the two genres. The latter is more «heavy», is a little more of a caricature than glam rock, and it appears later. I talk more about it in a future article.
• Current Pop: it is entirely influenced by glam rock, only instruments change.
  It will also influence and still influence today the notion of concert/show and fashion.

In conclusion

Glam rock, although a light genre, will raise societal issues as well as bring young people together.

Its colossal influence will allow music, shows, and fashion to develop in order to become what we know today.

To dive back into this period, you can listen to the dedicated playlist by clicking on the button below.

Also, feel free to share as much as you can if you liked it or if you think it might interest someone.

Also, you can see all the drawings / caricatures right here !

See you soon !

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What makes a good rock / metal song ?

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Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources :

Une histoire Musicale du Rock – Christophe Pirenne

Wikipedia

Histoire du rock – glam rock : https://histoiredurock.fr.gd/Glam_Rock.htm

MAIS C’EST QUOI EN FAIT ? #4 – Le Glam Rock – L’intimité du rock : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQMaEjfYr4s&list=PLG7tBOM3CtVICAKcMomOtfxwPhlFU-cUt&index=58

Oneland – Quoi savoir sur les cultures Mods et Rockers – Charles-Edouard Carrier   : https://onelandmag.com/mods-rockers-montreal-histoire/

Claire Abe

The post Glam Rock : the beginning of shows and glitters appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

Do you hear what I’m hearing? London’s calling my dear!

So grab your passport and let’s cross the ocean among our English friends to talk about the British Invasion. And believe me, it’s going to move!

THE BRITISH INVASION, WHAT IS IT?

It’s used to describe the huge phenomenon that emerged in the mid-1960s. This is explained by the colossal number of British bands entering the American music market at that time.

This term, created by journalists, coincides with the arrival of the Beatles in the USA.

However, this British invasion is global.

In this post, we’re going to simplify things and split it into two categories: the USA and the EU.

HOW WAS CREATED THE BRITISH INVASION ?

The movement is based on a generation of young Englishmen with a particular attraction for America and its culture. It can also be said that many artists of this kind have attended art schools. 

Many of these young people claim a strong attachment to African-American music: blues, rhythm and blues, soul and rock n’ roll of course! They walk in the footsteps of their idols.

On the music level, some start to play skiffle (I tell you all about it in this post), others go directly to an electrified sound. 

In 1963, many artists and bands met on the market: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, The Animals, The Small Faces, The Spencer David Group, The Troggs, Them, and many more.

THE BRITISH INVASION IN THE USA

The Beatles in the USA

When they arrived in the USA on February 9, 1964, THOUSANDS of people were waiting for them to land. As for their appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, 50 000 seats have been requested while there are only 700 seats available! And during that event, over 70 million Americans gathered to watch the show. 

Three months later, the Beatles flood the charts.

Today, the appearance of the Beatles at the Sullivan show is considered as an iconic event that has led to the emergence of important cultural changes.

And yet, a year before, no one could imagine this scenario! In 63, when George Martin approached Capitol and Vee-Jay (another record company) in America, he was ignored. Over this year, they will be going through failure after failure on the other side of the Atlantic. 

The situation changed in December 1963, when the Beatlemania exploded in England and the latter was covered by the American press. 

American teenagers, intrigued by these 4 young men, rushed to the record stores to buy one of their single. Unfortunately, the record stores had no stock and they found themselves faced with increasing demand.

This led, in December 1963, in the middle of the Christmas holiday, to a huge number of people plundering their single. This is how the British invasion and Beatlemania in the USA began.

In the wake of the Beatles

Dozens of English bands follow the path set by the Beatles. We can include The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Yardbirds, The Kinks, or The Who. But those bands will have a success that will come more slowly, if not much more. We can mention the Who, whose success took off only 3 years later.

THE BRITISH INVASION IN EUROPE

In Europe, except in England, it’s more nuanced. The popularity of bands is measured by record sales.

We find, of course, in many countries the phenomena Beatles and Rolling Stones, but they are confronted with other phenomena and musical genres.

I speak mostly of these two bands, because the others, as in America, are very far behind or are known for one or two titles.

In France

At this time, it is the ye-ye who take the country by storm. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones meet Claude François, Adamo, Sheila, Richard Anthony, or Johnny Halliday.

Note :

In French-speaking countries, the success of English bands is also reflected in the phenomenon of translation. The success of the Beatles was such that artists will adapt and make their own versions. From then on, Francophone/local productions will be much more successful than the original ones.

Examples :

• Please, Please Me → Tu perds ton Temps – I. Trovatori
• All My Loving → Toi L’Ami – Richard Anthony
• She loves You → Elle t’aime – Jimmy Frey

At the same time, Johnny Halliday (a French rock star afterward) also starts by proposing an adaptation of a Beatles song. But he’ll be much more known for his cover of the Animals’ song The House of The Rising Sun which becomes Les Portes du Pénitencier.

Others will choose to adopt the attitudes and postures of English groups like Antoine or Jacques Dutronc.

In Italy

It’s the same thing. However, it is the Italian variety that is in the spotlight with artists like Adriano Celentano, Gianni Morandi, Dalida, and Adamo (again).

An exception comes from the Nordic countries, where most English hits are at the top of the charts.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE BRITISH INVASION

The British invasion, just like the rock n’ roll when it began, gives a sense of belonging to teenagers.

This movement will greatly influence modern rock, the one we listen to today. Especially on Garage Rock bands. We can also see the first rockstars, guitar hero as well as the first rock composers.

EVOLUTION

The movement died out around 1967, leaving room for the Swingin’ London and the Hippie movement, which reached the pinnacle of its success.

SWINGIN’ LONDON

Swingin’ London, also called Swingin’ Sixties overlaps with the British Invasion.

It is a musical and cultural revolution generated by young Londoners. Everything goes : music, fashion, cinema, etc. For the first time, young people have money to spend and are free enough to unleash their creativity and free themselves from morals. They value modernity and the hedonistic lifestyle.

It is located in King’s Road, Kensington, or Carnabary Street. There are many art galleries, clubs, shops, and concert venues. Stores are becoming more than sales places, they are also meeting places. As for the venues, major groups like The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd make their debut.

We can mention various symbols belonging to this period:

• The Beatles, who initiated the British invasion;
• The appearance of the mini-skirt;
• Some popular models (e.g., Twiggy or Jean Shrimpton);
• The anti-nuclear movement;
• The sexual liberation

If you really want to see what the Swingin’ London was like, I invite you to watch The Avengers (TV show) or the first James Bond. These give a good representation of gender because they were created in relation to that period.

Swingin’ London died a year after the British Invasion in 1968. It will also stop with the arrival of American psychedelism and the hippie movement.

Conclusion

The British Invasion had a MAJOR influence on current music. Whether rock, metal, or even pop! Still today, many people listen to the artists of this period (and I included myself in it).

So if you want to dive back into those years, you can listen to the Spotify playlist dedicated to this article right here.

Feel free to share if you liked it or if you think it might interest someone.

Also, you can see all the drawings / caricatures right here !

See you soon !

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Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

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What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

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Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

sources :

Une histoire musicale du rock – Christophe Pirenne

Hguitare, La (petite) histoire du rock #2 – La british Invasion : https://www.hguitare.com/communaute/blog/conseils/histoire-du-rock-british-invasion

Musicislife – La british Invasion : http://www.musicislife.fr/la-british-invasion.html

Wikipedia

MusiqXXL- Swinging London, Londres et ses années folles de 1965 – 1968

 : http://www.musiqxxl.fr/swinging-london/ 

Claire Abe

The post The British Invasion: everything you need to know appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

So put on your sunglasses, take your surfboard (if you have one) and let’s go for a ride on the sunny beaches of the California coast.

SURF ROCK: WHAT IS IT?

Surf rock is a musical genre born in the late 1950s in California. But it will not take off until the 1960s. It is intimately linked to the lifestyle and the surf culture. 

The funny thing about this story is that a lot of bands doing this music don’t live near the sea nor are surfers themselves. 

Furthermore, in the beginning, surf rock was not a particular genre. It was just a rock very influenced by the surf culture. And it’s made for! The goal was to get all these young people who belong to this community to dance.

The latter was introduced by artists such as Duane Eddy or Dick Dale. They will be followed by groups such as The Ventures, The Surfaries, Jan and Dean, The Astronauts, and The Orbits.

However, it will be democratized and internationalized by THE band that you must surely think of when I tell you about surf rock: the Beach Boys.

FEATURES OF SURF ROCK

Tone

Generally, the songs are short, fast, and joyful.

Lyrics

Surf music lyrics usually speak about the daily life of surfers: girls, cars, parties, and big waves.

Bands

Surf rock bands are generally composed of :

• a lead guitarist and a rhythmic guitarist. They will have a preference for the Fender guitar brand,
• a bassist,
• a drummer.

However, the singer is not required because some bands only play surf instrumentals. 

They can sometimes be accompanied by a Hammond organ.

The aim is to highlight their musical virtuosity. Moreover, this genre, even if it’s “light”, gives to hear new sonorities for the time.

Melody

We can see an influence of the rock n’roll of the early days. But also other influences and techniques that have revolutionized the world of music such as:

• They use a lot of reverb and vibrato.
  Reverberation: When a sound is emitted from any source, it reverberates on the objects that surround it (a wall for example). The effect of sound against these objects (arranged at intervals more or less close to the sound source) is called reverberation, 
• The rhythm of the drum is very fast and in 4/4,
• They are inspired by Latin sounds and jazz (for drums)
• Dick Dale has also spread the use of effects like tremolo picking or glissando on guitar. These techniques have the effect of creating noise resembling the effect of waves. If you do not know them, I explain them in this article.

Taking the example of the Beach Boys music, we can also see:

Vocal parts were largely inspired by black Doo-Wop, white vocal groups (e.g.: the four seasons), and women’s groups (e.g.: the Crystals, the Ronettes, the Shangri Las).

The rhythmic, very catchy, is a direct legacy of Chuck Berry rock’n’roll.

To give this choral aspect and give more scope to their songs, they use techniques of recordings close to the Wall of Sound.

The WALL OF SOUND

In fact, it is a question of building a sound wall by filling different stamps or magnifying the sonorities.

It’s associated with 2 things:

• Phil Spector. He developed this recording technique that gives such a special sound to the artists who recorded with him.
• The Gold Star Studio, where he recorded almost exclusively between 1962 and 1966. It has an echo chamber, a DIY mixer, a 3-track recorder, and a group of musicians named the Wrecking Crew.
  Echo chamber: an electromechanical or electronic device that adds one or more copies of this signal to the electrical signal with a delay, repeating itself in a decreasing manner.

2 main techniques are used:

• Layering: several guitarists, bassists or percussionists play the same note/the same chord or the same passage to give a certain “thickness”. The expected effect is to look like an orchestra.
• The layout of the microphones and the echo effect: in the studio space, the microphones are placed to capture both a specific instrument and neighboring instruments. These plugs are sent to the echo chamber for re-recording.

SURF ROCK DIFFUSION

The spread of the genre will be accelerated by the publication of the book Gidget by Frederick Kohner. He was inspired by the stories told by his daughter, who frequented the surfing community a lot. This book will then be adapted into several movies.

With this success, several other films will be launched, in the same vein as Beach Party, with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.

THE SURF ROCK EVOLUTION

Surf rock began to fade out in the mid-1960s. It coincided with the emergence of a new phenomenon: the British Invasion. Garage rock, blues rock, and psychedelic rock will also contribute to its decline.

Only the Beach Boys would resist and compete against their English counterparts, the Beatles, but nothing more.

However, in the 70s, a revival of interest in some punk bands or derivatives brought back to taste some titles of the genre.

Even if the success is no longer there today, it resurfaces from time to time in the BO of film or series.

In conclusion

Even if it’s not what it was in the 1960s, the influence of surf rock is still present. Even today, we can listen to this genre (without being ashamed) to put ourselves in a good mood or on the holiday road for example.

So if you want, you can listen to the playlist dedicated to this post just below. And you can share if you liked it or if you think it might interest someone you know.

Also, you can see all the drawings / caricatures right here !

See you soon !

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources:

Une histoire musicale du rock – Christophe Pirenne

Histoire du rock – surf rock : https://histoiredurock.fr.gd/Surf_Rock.htm

Wikipedia

WeCompose – Les reverb / delay : https://compositeur.wecompoze.com/reverb-delay-fonctionnement/ 

L’influ X – La surf music en 3 vagues : https://www.linflux.com/musique/la-surf-music-en-3-vagues/ 

Claire Abe

The post Surf rock: everything you need to know about appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

Loved or hated, hard rock marks a turning point in rock music.

Let’s discover together its history and what composes it!

What’s hard rock ?

If we look at Collin’s dictionary, it says: “Hard rock is a type of very loud rock music with a fast beat.”

Let’s dive a little deeper than that.

Hard rock is a style of rock that appeared in the middle of the 60s. It comes after the psychedelic rock movement, flower power, etc.

Bands, tired of these musical genres, began to look for a more powerful and heavy sound. Sound that, until that time, was unprecedented.

The origins

Hard Rock draws its roots from:

Blues and Blues rock musics

Blues-rock was imported by the artists who were part of the British invasion. The latter contributed to its dissemination to the white population with covers of Howlin’ Wolf or Muddy Waters. It was then taken over and tamed by Power Trio (group of 3 people) and garages bands.

We can mention as groups of the British invasion: the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, the Faces, the Kinks, or the Beatles.

In addition, the blues impregnated by jazz and rock n’roll by Jimi Hendrix will greatly influence hard rock.

Rock n’ Roll

If you want to know more about it, you can read this post.

African-American elements

Runs-in with the devil of Robert Johnson and Howlin’ Wolf opened the doors of Satanism. (Or at least stories with the devil. Because, a small reminder for those who do not know, but all rockers and metalheads are not satanists. But this is another debate…).

With his stage performances (screaming and gestures), James Brown uninhibited generations of white singers. Extroverted postures, moans and screams become essential elements of a performance.

Baroque music

It is important to note the beginning of the link between (hard) rock and baroque writing music techniques.
Now some of you will say that I have completely lost my mind. But no!

The Highway Star solo from Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple) is a perfect example.

It contains a majority of ingredients specific to Bach’s music:

• Repetition of melodic figures (in this case they are arpeggios),
• Very square sentence structure,
• The virtuoso approach of the instrument,
• Typical harmonic progression.

The main rules of hard rock

The riff

It’s generally composed of “power chords” and is influenced by the early rock n’ roll. The novelty comes from the use of chords in sharp (increased) and flat (decreased). These allow to create more complex harmonic progressions.

A riff that alone represents hard rock is Smoke On The Water from Deep Purple. Simple, unforgettable, powerful. With its syncopated passages, it will form the basis of thousands of songs of this kind.

Rhythmic

The hard rock takes back the bases of the rock n’roll of the beginnings, namely a rhythm in 4/4 with the 2nd and 4th beats scored. But from now on, the beating of drummers is much heavier! This gives rise to a particular pulsation, prompting us to shake our heads. This is the famous “headbanging”.

It is also possible to hear shuffle beats from blues rock on occasion.
The blues rhythm or «shuffle» is a division into 3 parts from which we would have skipped the 2nd beat. This gives a “shuffling” effect to the melody.

THE best rhythm that describes hard rock is Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll (played by John Bonham). The latter hammers all the time: the 1st and 3rd at the bass drum and the 2nd and 4th at the snare drum. It’s heavy, strong, and visually impressive.

Bonham becomes the archetype of the hard rock drummer: banging his drums, drenched in sweat, and completely in his music.

The omnipresence of distortion

Distortion is the transformation/distortion of the sound between the moment it’s emitted by the instrument and its diffusion by the speakers.

One of the very first ways to produce saturation is to maximize the amp.

In 1958, Link Wray introduced the distortion pedal. However, experiments by guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Dave Davies (Kinks), Pete Townshend (Who), Eric Clapton (Cream) or Jeff Beck (Yardbirds), as well as technological advances, pave the way for new methods (including phasing, feedback, and distortion).  One of them is the fuzz pedal. Marketed in the mid-1960s, it offers better control. You just have to insert it between the instrument and the amp.

Sound saturation creates two main effects:

The harmonic stability

It comes from the fact that the distortion extends the sonorities of the guitar as much in the bass as in the treble. The high-pitched harmonics add brilliance to the sound and the low-pitched tones create sounds below the usual range of the instrument. Which makes hard rock one of the MOST STABLE music, harmonically speaking!! Hell yeah, in your face haters!

Sustain

It’s the ability to maintain sound. When a note is pinched on the acoustic or electric guitar without saturation, it declines rapidly. With a strongly distorted signal, the sound is compressed and forms a kind of loop that can be maintained indefinitely.

Hard rock and then heavy metal will change the quality of the distortion. From parasite, it becomes synonymous with strength and power.

Lyrics

They talk about themes that are found in the blues. That is to say, broken loves, loneliness, drugs, alcohol, women, and even sex with much innuendo.

It should be noted that many groups have been accused of misogyny. (Well on this level, we can see that, at the moment, misogyny is found a little in all styles of music).

Group formations

Hard rock will as much triumph thanks to:

Power trio

With bands like Cream, Grand Funk Railroad, Mountain or Rush.

Quatuors

With Led Zeppelin, or Black Sabbath for example.

Quintets (with keyboard)

We can mention here, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Steppenwolf or MC5

Hard rock has continued to develop. In the 70s, alongside the aforementioned bands, a second wave of hard rock artists such as Judas Priest, UFO, Thin Lizzy, and Scorpions were added.

However, this second wave is also considering itself in the HEAVY METAL category.

In the next post, we will see what this genre is, whose border with hard rock is very fine, but still present.

In the meantime, you can listen to the playlist dedicated to this post right here. And feel free to share it if you like it, or if it might interest someone you know.

Here are caricatures of artists belonging to this Hard Rock

Also, you can see all the drawings / caricatures right here !

See you soon !

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Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources :

Une Histoire musicale du rock – Christophe Pirenne

Histoire du Rock : https://histoiredurock.fr.gd/Hard_Rock.htm

La (petite) histoire du Rock #4 : Le Hard Rock et le Heavy Metal – Raff de HGuitare – Hguitare https://www.hguitare.com/communaute/blog/conseils/histoire-du-rock-hard-rock-heavy-metal

Histoire du Hard Rock, l’arrivée d’une musique lourde et saturée – Dominique Mesmin – Cadence Info: https://www.cadenceinfo.com/le-hard-rock-histoire-et-evolution.htm

C’est quoi un shuffle ? Le rythme du blues expliqué aux débutants – Alexis – Guitar School Garden : https://guitarschoolgarden.fr/techniques/shuffle-blues-debutant/

Apprendre le solfège – Binaire et ternaire (temps): https://www.apprendrelesolfege.com/binaire-et-ternaire

Collins Dictionary: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hard-rock

Claire Abe

The post Hard rock: Everything you need to know about it appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.

Today, we meet to talk about the union of two musical genres resulting in a very famous style of rock music: FOLK-ROCK music!

But first, to be able to talk about folk-rock music, you have to know what folk is. Because these two kinds of music are intrinsically bounded.

This means that this post will be a little longer than usual, so get comfortable! 😀

What’s folk music?

In 1954, the International Folk Music Council decreed that its object of study (folk) was “the product of a musical tradition that had evolved through an oral transmission process.”

More simply, a folk song is a melody transmitted from generation to generation, gradually forgetting its origins and the names of its authors.

However, with folk revival (in the 60s), the latter part of the definition becomes obsolete.

With this movement:

• Artists bring back a practice existing for at least 1 century (hence the folk revival).
• The new folk songs are localized, attributed and dated.

The instruments of folk music

We can find in particular:

• Guitars/ Dobros/ mandolins/ ukuleles;

• Banjos;

• Harmonica;

• Fiddles/ Violins (the difference between the two instruments is that the fiddle is a popular instrument and the violin is more for classical music);

• Accordion,

• “DIY” / unconventional instruments (spoons, sandstone pot etc.).

Folk music in the USA

It’s the Appalachia music (mountain ranges in the East of the USA) that is the main source of renewal in folk music.

The latter is derived from various European and African influences. We can hear the influence of English ballads and traditional Irish and Scottish music.

Appalachia’s music gives to folk music :

• An instrumental setting: a singer accompanied on the guitar (by himself or not)
• A literary framework: lyrics about the realities of everyday life (money, work, love, death) or events such as war, labour movements, social/legal injustices affecting people’s lives.

In comparison to the lyrics of pop or rock music, folk is a «serious» music. It will interest more the educated young city adults, than the rural working class ones, whose folk are supposed to be born.

For its fans, its number one attraction is the fact that folk music is “common people” music for “common people”. Artists are not superior to the public, they represent it. Only matters a simple, direct and unpretentious performance.

Urban settlement and the discovery of folk by the middle classes took place in the 1940s. It is symbolically associated with the meeting of 3 distinct traditions in New York :

• Leadbelly’s country blues
• Woody Guthrie’s Dust-bowl Ballads
• Pete Seeger’s Urban Folk

Calypso music

It is music from the Caribbean and popularized in the USA by Harry Belafonte (Jamaica Farewell, The Banana Boat Song).

The texts of these songs sometimes consist of an Anglo-Jamaican patois. As for the accompaniment, it includes an acoustic guitar and bongos (which will give a folk aura to this genre).

Other groups (usually made up of university students) will surf on success, such as the Kingston Trio, the Brothers Four or the Highwaymen.

Calypso music will help the development of folk music in the USA.

The development of folk continues with artists such as Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Patrick Sky, Eric Andersen, Judy Collins, and Léonard Cohen.

folk music in the UK

In England, interest in folk music has been evident for several decades. In a whole host of initiatives, some artists, such as Shirley Collins, Mat McGinn, and Bob Davenport, have been successful.

But, at the end of 1955, it was Lonnie Donegan who changed the course of music with his cover of the title Rock Island Line.

In his song, the rhythm goes crescendo, and he uses «homemade» instruments (in this case, a washing board).

However, nothing is new, neither the composition nor the instrumental configuration. Leadbelly and the skiffle had already used them previously.

Skiffle

Originally American, it meant a kind of music played mainly by African-Americans. It emerged in the early twentieth century in New Orleans and spread to all southern American states shortly thereafter.

They used, in addition to string instruments (guitars, banjos, mandolins), instruments handcrafted from domestic accessories such as washing boards, string bass whose resonance box consists of a literal box, kazoos, violins made from cigar boxes, or the use of combs that are rubbed on paper.

What makes Lonnie Donegan successful is the fact that he brought the energy and excitement that was missing at the time to English music. He’s given teenagers something to hang on to.

Although his success was brief, his influence would continue decades later. The young Englishmen of the time considered skiffle as a window on America. Donegan’s successes have become the manual of hundreds of apprentice guitarists:

• After playing skiffle: Cliff Richard embarked on the path of rock n’roll, Martin Carthy in folk, Alexis Korner began electrifying the blues,

• John Lennon was first a skiffle player,

• During Jimmy Page’s 1st TV performance, he also played this style of music.

• Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Robin Trower (Procol Harum) et David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) did their class in that genre.

Folk music in EU

France

In 1960, Hugues Aufray brought this style and also mixed it with Latin and South American music. He offers interpretations attached to folklore other than those in the USA. At the same time, he transposes Bob Dylan’s songs.

Folk music continued to expand in the 1970s with bands Malicorne, Maluzerne, Mélusine, Tri-Yann and Alan Stivell. We are also talking about folk revival.

In the 80s, we can see a strong development of Breton music that is inevitably linked to folk music.

More generally, we can see differences in the instruments. In France and in Europe, violins, tin whistle, bagpipes, and hurdy-gurdy are commonly used. Later, the accordion will join and will be at the origin of the musette style.

Moving from Folk to Folk-rock music

In 1965, Bob Dylan marked a turning point in popular culture with the appearance of Bringin’ It All Back Home, Highway Sixty One Revisited and Blonde on Blonde :

• By successfully combining oral literature and folk tradition, he brought the text of popular song into the literature.
• And by adding electric instruments in some of his compositions, Bob Dylan becomes the promoter of a new genre: FOLK-ROCK.

The critics will be there as much for the lyrics as for the folk-rock. He becomes traitor and opportunist for some and messenger of genius for others.

At first, the folk community expressed little face to this change. It’s from his performance at the Newport Folk Festival that the reactions appear. He will be booed by half the crowd, and Pete Seeger and other «folk elders» will feel betrayed. All this because, in their minds, switching from acoustics to electric, Bob Dylan sold his soul to pop music and therefore to big capital.

However, all these controversies and the adherence of rock lovers to the approach of Bob Dylan have made folk-rock a dazzling trend of the music industry!

In the summer of 1965, dozens of titles borrowed or inspired by Bob Dylan were published:

• The Turtles enter the charts with It Ain’t Me Babe;
• Sonny and Cher are successful with All I Really Want To Do;
• At the same time, older protests-songs such as Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Universal Soldier (1964) and Phil Ochs’ There But For Fortune (1964) were quickly released in an electrified version.

Behind these hurried releases, folk-rock also quickly sees the emergence of original and lasting figures of the genre such as The Byrds, Simon and Garfunkel, or The Mamas and The Papas.

As early as 1965, the term Folk-Rock became a vast catch-all. Artists that mixed committed lyrics, folk tunes, and rock instruments were put in. No matter the sound, level of commitment, or direction of the artist. But the movement was launched, and its various branches were to prove as numerous as they were sustainable.

So if we have to define folk-rock, it’s folk music, where we added the rhythm of rock as well as electric instruments.

Folk-Rock in the UK

This new instrumental approach, combined with electrification and an inexhaustible national repertoire, gives rise to an important branch of Folk-Rock whose notoriety will equal other rock forms.

The Incredible Sting Band, Pentangle and Fairport convention open the procession, followed by many guitarists such as Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, Martin Carthy or John Renbourn.

Folk-Rock in the USA

Bob Dylan, who had completely disappeared after a motorcycle accident that almost cost him his life, returns. He first recorded an album with the Canadian band The Band in 1967.

He returned to his personal production in January 1968 with the album John Wesley Harding, on which will feature the famous All Along The Watchtower.
Yes, guys! This is an original song by Bob Dylan, covered by Jimi Hendrix. And personally, I like both versions.

On his side, Leonard Cohen helped to confirm the emergence of literary popular music. And for good reason! The latter first makes itself known by publishing collections of poetry.
For those who do not know Leonard Cohen, he’s the original singer-songwriter of the song Hallelujah.

We can add to the list of American folk-rock bands, Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills and Nash (sometimes joined by Neil Young)

Today, the two genres are still very closely related. Artists oscillate between the two. The difference is that there is less debate about the use of electrified or non-electrified instruments for a song.

To listen to the Spotify playlist dedicated to this post, you can click on the button below.

Feel free to share this post if you liked it or if you think it might interest someone you know.

Also, you can see all the drawings / caricatures right here !

See you soon !

Uncategorized

Speed Metal : the beginning of speed

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! We meet today to talk about a genre that marked a turning point in the world of metal when it …

Various theme

What makes a good rock / metal song ?

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey ! Today, we meet to discuss a topic that I find very interesting: What makes a good rock/metal s…

Uncategorized

Blues rock : Back to the roots

Posted on January 24, 2025 by Claire Abe

Hey there ! Today we meet for a recognizable and inevitable genre! I’ll get you in the mood. Imagine…

Sources :

Une histoire musicale du rock – Christophe Pirenne

Wikipédia

https://stringfixer.com/fr/Appalachian_folk_music

La musique folk des années 60 – T. Chatain – Cadence Info : https://www.cadenceinfo.com/la-musique-folk-des-annees-60.htm

https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/divers/ragtime/85432

What are the Main Instruments in Folk Music? – Dave Fox – Youtube Music Sucks : https://youtubemusicsucks.com/what-are-the-main-instruments-in-folk-music/

Artiste Audio : https://artisteaudio.fr/histoire-de-la-musique-folk/

Claire Abe

The post Folk-rock music: everything you need to know about it appeared first on Rock N' Roll World.