WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Much has been written and said about the startling changes in the music world over the past three or four decades. Studies have been conducted, interviews and surveys have been carried out, and even psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers have found it necessary to research the rock and roll enigma and share their views with concerned parents and others. Perhaps all of this effort was unnecessary. Perhaps the situation has been unduly transformed into a more complicated issue than it really needs to be.

With this in mind, we offer our own very simple, very basic study based on nothing more than the names of various rock musicians and the titles of their songs and how they have changed over the years.

POPULAR PERFORMERS OF THE 50’S, 60’S, & 70’S

The Coasters, The Angels, The Drifters, The Orioles, Shrangri-Las, Lovin’Spoonful, Kingston Trio, The Chiffons, Fats Domino, Righteous Brothers, The Beachboys, The Crests, Chubby Checker, The Happenings, The Kingsmen, Gallery, Jan & Dean. Innocuous band names like those listed above have changed to reflect the present state of music and musical tastes. Today we find
groups with names like:

POPULAR PERFORMERS OF THE 80’S & 90’S

Megadeth, Motley Crue, Slaughter, Lynch Mob, Annihilator, Manic Street Preachers, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Poison, beggars & Thieves, Coroner, Mortician, Black Sabbath, Vio-lence, Skid Row, Faith No More, Massacre, Obituary. If the actual group names don’t illustrate my point clearly enough, perhaps a similar consideration of some popular song titles will help to clarify the matter:

POPULAR SONG TITLES FROM THE 50’S, 60’S, & 70’S

Blue Suede Shoes, Dock of the Bay, Crimson & Clover, Sixteen Candles, Sh-Boom, I’m Walkin’, Put Your Head On My Shoulder, Nice to Be With You, Palisades Park, Little Honda.
70’s: Peppermint Twist, Yakety Yack, Surf City, California Girls

POPULAR SONG TITLES FROM THE 80’S & 90’S

Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter, Highway to Hell, Number of the Beast, Talk Dirty to Me, Dead Child’s Eyes, Suicide Solution, Powers of Hate, Sacrificial Suicide, Chopped in Half, Thou Shalt Kill, Dying, Body Bag, Multiple Stab Wounds, Sacrificial Annihilation.

And to think that parents were upset about rock and roll in 1950! With nothing more than the above information in mind, there can be no argument that rock and roll music has come a long, long way over the years.

The problem, however, is that it’s been heading in the wrong direction.

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