As a twenty one year old, studying English literature and English language, I listen to alternative rock music. Age and education therefore does not influence ones taste in music as it is usually regarded and was recently reported in A Times Newspaper article.
It is not only the ‘over 30’s’ who are frustrated by today’s bubble-gum pop, but a portion of today’s youth is also in search of a music genre that they can relate to. However, groups such as ‘Marilyn Manson,’ and ‘Cradle of Filth’ who offer this antidote are stigmatised as being devil worshippers, simply because they are misunderstood and because they are brave enough to paint the harsh realties of life, such as murder. Unlike groups such as ‘S club 7’ and ‘Steps’, which fail to pursue an ideological conviction; maybe through no fault of their own for they are just puppets being manoeuvred by record companies. It is for this reason that British record companies ‘manufacture’ such individuals who are aesthetically pleasing, vulnerable and easily influenced.
A large section of British adolescents tune into Radio1 every Tuesday from midnight till 2.00 a.m. to listen to the rock show because they are desperate for some real music. Alternative rock has come a long way since the days of ‘Judas Priest’ who were considered to be pseudo Satan worshippers. Groups such as ‘Cradle of Filth’ and ‘Pantera’ remain underground because mainstream society is too afraid to acknowledge today’s realties, which consist of drug abuse and murder amongst other matters. Whereas, ‘Steps’ allows society to continue believing in a myth that no longer exists.Perhaps it is best that pre-teens are not exposed to the political spectrum that ‘Marilyn Manson’ offers, but we are not all naïve and vulnerable, and we are certainly not stupid.
I am aware that every generation has a pop fad, ten years ago it was ‘Jason Donavon’ and ‘Salt n Pepper’, today it is ‘Steps’ and ‘S Club 7,’ but to claim that these manufactured groups are truly talented is an insult to the people and artists who are able to differentiate real music and good music.
All I ask is: do not place bands such as ‘Steps’ on a pedestal and acclaim them as the saviours of music, while stigmatising groups such ‘Smashing Pumpkins’ and ‘Marilyn Manson’ as being child corruptors; simply because they are honest and have achieved success through their own efforts.