Information and Technology is the New Rock 'n' Roll
Rock n Roll has a new relevancy and it’s in the spirit more than the music.
Its 1955 and Rock n Roll emerges. Energizing and electrifying the good times post War America. Now it’s 2020, and the world is having a nervous breakdown. Same Country, different eras. Maybe its the time we’re in, but the opportunity is to do in information and technology what Rock n Roll did to Music. That is what’s in sync with the modern culture. It’s all been happening for awhile now. From a brainpower and innovation viewpoint, Rock n Roll looks backwards. There are new emerging music styles, but the big forward vision is on information and technology. And it’s probable that Rock n Roll’s inventive/world changing mass appeal days are behind. NOW—That doesn’t mean its dead—in fact it’s very much alive, but I think the magic of Rock n Roll in the 21st century is all about immersing ourselves in its deep and unbelievably rich history. People in the music business are usually hopeful that it’s all about “new music”…but there’s also a new magic now in mining the history, which only a thin layer of it has been touched. Mining can mean DISCOVERING what’s out there, or seeing amazing bands perform their history at the well honed level of today, not to mention sister genres. Music will impact people forever and there’ll be other forms of it that engage the world, but my point is that that “Rock n Roll thing” is focused on the past (and that’s fine and can be/is EXTREMELY lucrative) than the future…a pretty good time for the miners.
BUT—- information and technology is the new Rock n Roll in terms of what’s driving mainstream culture. Rock n roll is a timeless attitude that resonates around the World–-its more than a sound—-it’s an M.O. and can be and IS being applied to non musical initiatives.
In its purest sense Rock n Roll arguably means:
INNOVATION
ATTITUDE
SWAGGER
NEWNESS
BIG—MASS APPEAL
RE-INVENTION
CREATES FANS NOT USERS
POWERFUL
CHANGING
ARTFUL
REBELLIOUS
INTELLIGENT…IN A MASS APPEAL WAY
LADEN IN MONEY, INFLUENCE AND POWER
Done right it’s like:
DYLAN
STONES
HENDRIX
CHUCK BERRY
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
BEATLES
etc…..
(Lasting … integrity …quality …in touch with the soul of the Nation)
Those above mentioned points and the respective artists are the same points that will and are defining the NEW “Rock n Roll”–INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY
Today’s information merchants can and often do also go Cheesy, manufactured, short lived, soul-less….say—that sounds like a lot of today’s non inventive and disposable pop music! ( there’s a lot of amazing pop music too of course)
In many ways Information delivery is where music was in the 50’s. POISED for something new. And something new IS happening before our eyes. Just the fact that you are reading this blog is Relatively new.
And where music was once the Cultural definer, now it’s often an add-on…something that makes technology a richer experience…kinda like a video game …with amazing music. Or a movie that’s elevated by sound. Or an environment to chill in. An experience enhancer.
Some on the Music Business ate themselves. A lot of why music ate itself is because those controlling it, forgot they were in the ROCK N ROLL business and got absorbed by the bullshit and forgot:
INNOVATION
ATTITUDE’
SWAGGER
NEWNESS
BIG—MASS APPEAL
RE-INVENTION
CREATES FANS NOT USERS
POWERFUL
CHANGING
ARTFUL
REBELLIOUS
INTELLIGENT…IN A MASS APPEAL WAY
LADEN IN MONEY, INFLUENCE AND POWER
,,,I don’t blame the music business…it was all inevitable as it evolved from the streets to the board room
INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY IS THE NEW ROCK N ROLL!
I love music and am as passionate as ever (!) as most people, but the pulse of the Nation is information and technology based. THAT’S the buzz. That’s where the excitement and blank canvas is…where the action is. It’s more about your screen than your stereo….arguments more about politics than songs….
Looking back is great and enjoyable and a rich business on its own—There’s SO much there. But looking forward—the excitement will more likely be information and technology based discovery than a hot new artist that has the lasting impact of a Dylan, Beatles, Pink Floyd or Zeppelin. Oh–and for those who say that they were special cases—Yes they were, but imagine the state of music without the driving influence they had on other artists. Without Elvis and The Beatles, Patty Page would be voted the most important artist of the 20th Century.
Rock n roll music is rich and deep and historic. Rock n roll thinking is potent and timeless and what will power the future
ROCK N ROLL WILL NEVER DIE…The history is too rich and the thinking too powerful. May it join hands with the news and information era. Passionate about the past and excited about the future!