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Introduction
Today we will talk about one of the most popular music genres, which is rock music. It is enjoyed by millions of people across the world, irrespective of their ages. In next paragraphs, we try to explain its evolution, characteristics, instrumentation, important singers, bands, etc.
Fundamentals of rock music
It originated from "Rock and Roll" in the 1940s and 1950s, combining various genres such as blues, rhythm & blues, and country. For instrumentation, amplified electric guitars are almost always used, usually with sound distortion. But instruments like drums, bass, and keyboards are also common.
In 1955, Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" became the first rock and roll song to top the Billboard magazine charts. Early masterpieces include "My Generation" by The Who (1965) and "Satisfaction" (1965) by The Rolling Stones.
The 1960s is considered to be the golden age of rock music, with influential bands such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. However, very influential bands emerged during the 1980s and 1990s, such as U2, Guns and Roses, and Nirvana.
Since this music can express anti-system or protest themes, it has also played an important role in the framework of social and political movements. In the mid-1980s, Spanish-language rock band Soda Stereo was the first Latin-American band to gain widespread popularity. In this category we can also mention other important bands like Enanitos Verdes (Argentina), Hombres G (Spain), or Los Prisioneros (Chili) which continue to be relevant, despite three decades have now passed.
Conclusion
It is possible to state that rock music remains relevant in today’s world, despite the competition from other genres like hip-hop or reggaeton. Bands like The Beatles, or more recently Green Day, to name a few, created their own style. Currently, Queen is the most popular band in Spotify, with Bohemian Rhapsody as the most successful song, followed by Believer, Imagine Dragons. This last band has the Youtube channel with most subscribers, followed by channels like Coldplay or Linkin Park.
Today it is possible to identify many sub-genres, such as hard rock or alternative rock, and we will probably see new ones in future. As an example, with the accessibility of digital technologies and advances in music software, we could expect the development of synthesized rock music.
