FiveThirtyEight:
Led Zeppelin is classic rock. So are Mötley Crüe and Ozzy Osbourne. But what about U2 or Nirvana? As a child of the 1990s, I never doubted that any of these bands were classic rock, even though it may be shocking for many to hear. And then I heard Green Day’s “American Idiot” on a classic rock station a few weeks ago, and I was shocked.
It was my first time hearing a band I grew up with referred to as “classic rock.” Almost anyone who listens to music over a long enough period of time probably experiences this moment — my colleagues related some of their own, like hearing R.E.M. or Guns N’ Roses on a classic rock station — but it made me wonder, what precisely is classic rock?
I remember the first time I heard my favourite band, The Clash, on a “Classic Rock” station and being depressed to think I was now officially old enough to have my favourite band relegated to a classic rock station.
Uh, well. Beethoven and Mozart were not really called classical composers during their lifetimes either, and, as we all know, not even Picasso was commonly called an asshole… not in New York anyway.
“Classical” is whatever remains valid over a significant period of time. A composition needed decades to travel the world when Beethoven was alive, it takes seconds today. Have to get used to it, I guess.
Last year, I attended two concerts where they closed with “Sweet Child ‘O Mine.” One was a show by Herr Metal (a hair metal tribute band, obviously). The other was a show from a high school orchestra; the song was for the parents.
I think of classic rock as a sound— I hear The Black Crowes and that’s acceptable “classic rock”, even if produced the same time as Nirvana.
People are still writing “classical” music today. But it’s “classical”— it’s the sound that defines the genre, not the time written.
The problem is the name— the “classic” in classic rock.
Shawn, thanks for pointing out this FiveThirtyEight article. I wrote about it also, because I think the data set that was compiled ignores Sirius XM, which has a large number of classic-rock-related specialty channels, http://www.operationgadget.com/2014/07/fivethirtyeight_tries_to_defin.html.
I’d also mention to @Sumocat:disqus is that my sons are 8 and 5, and they listen to this music when they are in the car with me. They know 70s, 80s, and 90s music better than many people my age do now.
Hey Shawn, I’ve been “officially old enough” for a lot longer than you, being one of the original “baby boomers”, born in 1950. My favorite bands are Cream, Hendrix, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. I was 19 when they were in their prime.
But I also really enjoy the rockers of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, including Sound Garden, Jane’s Addiction, and Buckcherry.
Staying flexible, is the key. There’s no getting around getting old.
The trick is to stay relaxed and not “pucker up”, the more you “bend over.” 😉
I used to work for a classic rock radio station about 15 years ago. While I was there, I was told by the music director that “classic rock” officially crosses the line at 3 years old. Yes, Foo Fighters’ “Walk” is officially classic rock.
I heard 80s Genesis and some Talking Heads in a grocery store and knew the end was near…
Daniel, did you really just pull out the old person card? Back in my day that was unacceptable. Now get off of my lawn. Sarcasm thing here? I never know, I always assume the tone comes through. Must be my age.
Wait until you hear the Muzak version of Hells Bells, then you’ll know for sure.
I don’t know. Your post seems garbled. Don’t know how to take it.
Anyway, I remember listening to Simon and Garfunkel’s “Old Friends” and feeling along with Paul “how terribly strange to be 70” back then in the ’60s.
Well, that’s six years off now, so we’ll see. But it can’t be much less fun than singing along again to the Beatles’ “When I’m 64” and actually knowing now how it feels.
It actually feels damn good.
Classic Rock is generally more about the STYLE of music than the AGE of it – though you typically don’t hear anything called classic rock until it’s around 5 years old.
Take it in a good way. You saying “Hey Shawn, I’ve been “officially old enough” for a lot longer than you” reminded me of Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino. Which is not a bad thing or an insult at all. Which is why I mentioned the whole sarcasm thing, which is usually /s. I’m not sure how well a slash and a S convey a real feeling.
Or it’s possible that it’s almost midnight and I am drinking Balvenie and listening to Vivaldi. Could be that. : D
OK, James. Thanks. 🙂