OT: Foreign Rock
jerikson40
New York
A recent thread on sports chants got me thinking....
Every notice that some countries produce some incredible rock musicians and rock music, while others produce crap? It's really kind of striking when you think about it.
England has produced some of the greatest rockers and rock music of all time. The list of great English rockers is a couple miles long. Beatles and Stones (who I think suck but the world loves), the Who, Zeppelin...hell we could go on all day.
But on the other hand, look at a country like Germany. IMO, all that comes out of Germany is this weird head banging techo Kraftwerk bullshit. I can't think on ONE great rock group from Germany.
And fucking Japan?? Are you serious? Name one great musician from Japan. They're great at copying everyone else's stuff, but can anyone tell me of ONE Japanese rock group that's worth shit? Or one Japanese music style that anyone will listen to?
Now look at the US. The basis of all rock came from the US. It was the black musicians paying the blues that started it all. And everyone cites the great black blues artists for their inspiration. And US produced some of the greats, like Van Halen and a ton of others.
Strange, huh?
Every notice that some countries produce some incredible rock musicians and rock music, while others produce crap? It's really kind of striking when you think about it.
England has produced some of the greatest rockers and rock music of all time. The list of great English rockers is a couple miles long. Beatles and Stones (who I think suck but the world loves), the Who, Zeppelin...hell we could go on all day.
But on the other hand, look at a country like Germany. IMO, all that comes out of Germany is this weird head banging techo Kraftwerk bullshit. I can't think on ONE great rock group from Germany.
And fucking Japan?? Are you serious? Name one great musician from Japan. They're great at copying everyone else's stuff, but can anyone tell me of ONE Japanese rock group that's worth shit? Or one Japanese music style that anyone will listen to?
Now look at the US. The basis of all rock came from the US. It was the black musicians paying the blues that started it all. And everyone cites the great black blues artists for their inspiration. And US produced some of the greats, like Van Halen and a ton of others.
Strange, huh?
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53 comments
I thought the Scorpions in the 80s were pretty good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmE_l_dN9…
I brought up what I thought was interesting point, no bitching or complaining, and you starting banging on me just because I countered your point with the fact that, outside Germany, they are virtually unknown. Fine, if you think that qualifies them as some of the world's great rock musicians, then we'll all agree with you just to keep you from getting your panties in a bunch. Geez.
Maybe the Germans nurture all of their creativity into brewing beer.
I doubt too many Germans were listening to black music in the 50's.
Canada: Neil Young
Korea: Psy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNg3mcjhq…
Neil Young? Yeah, I suppose he was popular. Personally I thought he had zero talent and a terrible singing voice, but the world disagrees. So chalk one up for Canada.
And thanks for helping prove the "some countries only produce crap music" by mentioning Psy from Korea.
But the point still remains...isn't it almost creepy to look at England and the US compared to other countries, and the absolutely insane imbalance in great rock production? I mean, aren't there a bunch of kids in those countries who hear a Stevie Ray concert on Youtube and say "holy crap, I gotta spend my life playing the blues" ??? Just seems so weird.
By the way, Stevie Ray was an EXAMPLE. You can fill in your own name of a great musician or rock group and the point is the same.
Hold on, cowboy. All Asians aren't created equal. There's Asians and then there's ASIANS !!! Personally, I find Japanese chicks to be, in general, less than attractive. On the other hand, Southeast Asians can be incredibly hot, as well as Pacific Islanders. But Japanese, and even Chinese and Korean and Taiwanese, are, IMO, completely different on the hotness scale. Some exceptions of course.
@Shadowcat - they're good, but I've always preferred Morning Musume
Bitch about what??? Because I pointed out that some countries seem to produce more great rock musicians than others?? Huh? How is that bitching?
Rock and Roll evolved from merging several styles of black music. Mostly Blues, but also jazz, Gospel, and jump swing, it didn't just appear overnight. It was a gradual process from the early 20's thru the early 50's. Ok - lets go slow - this was in the United States. Germans and Japanese were not listening to black music during that time period. Study history if you don't know why.
In England, young guys like Keith Richards, Robert Plant and John Lennon discovered the records of blues artists such as Muddy Waters and early Rock pioneers like Chuck Berry. These black artists influenced their music. Note: outside of the U.S. land England, kids were not listening much to black music.
Let's jump forward to the 60's and 70's. The only access to music one had was what radio stations played. So the supergroups became famous. Those famous groups you mentioned all were influenced by black music.
Now, music is delivered differently. We don't listen to AM radio. Everyone listens to music via the Internet picking the style they like. There will be no more supergroups. Ever. So Germany may produce good Rock, but the group will never achieve the fame of the Beatles.
Listen to the great works of Wagner, Hayden, Beethoven, Verdi, Lizst, Bach, Strauss. Listen to folk songs from the middle ages. Listen to liturgical music from the dark ages. Listen to music from ancient Asia.
Lyrics change. Instruments change. Techniques change.
Human auditory organs change only at the slow pace of evolution. Middle C sounded the same to caveman farmerart as Middle C sounds to 21st Century farmerart.
Slow and bold
@lopaw: +1 for the Tarantino Popo culture reference
Canada: Neil Young
Korea: Psy"
Japan: Pink Lady
It's 2014 today. Correct? Countries other than the US and England have had access to all kinds of music for many decades, correct? You jumped from the 70's to today. That's over 40 years. People have had access to all kinds of music via internet and satellite and a zillion other media for decades. Especially developed countries in Europe, the Americas (including Canada, Mexico, all of Central and South America) and on and on....
You can't be claiming that people haven't had access to blues and jazz music that they can copy for all those decades, therefore they haven't produced any great rock musicians. That's just looney tunes. Hell, in all those decades, even if they've been stuck in a fucking cave, they can't come up with basic blues progressions that have been used in rock and blues? Geez, dude, get real.
I don't know the reason why great rock musicians have come from only a few countries, but I really doubt that your explanation covers it. I suspect it's far more cultural, and based upon what people hear and learn when they're growing up, and western music or blues/rock isn't something that's natural for them or something they enjoy.
But I can assure you there are a lot of countries where western music is HUGELY popular, but those countries have never produced great rock or blues musicians. That is something I just don't understand.
Now, your point about there will be no more supergroups is something you may be right about, but I haven't figured out why that would be, based on your explanation of the freedom of choice brought about by the internet. That will take some thought, because off the top it doesn't make much sense....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yBzmcoq…
Art, just when I think you've reached the pinnacle of self-serving, pompous pretentiousness, you manage to climb just a little bit higher.
Relax jerikson-dude. We all know that Art is a man of wealth and taste. He wasnt trying to slam you with this.
Seriously though, the large number of good rock bands from English-speaking countries and paucity from non-English speaking countries doesn't surprise me for a genre that included vocals and evolved from the blues in America.
And seriously dude...you headbang to Kraftwerk? That's fucked up.
Though it has inspired me to start a mosh pit at a Gary Numan concert.
In fact, until Northwestern (near Chicago) won in 2005, every single school was from the east coast? How can that be? California is the largest state, certainly they produce good women athletes? How about Texas? Arizona?
Hmmm? Why is that?
From American Graffiti
Shoot, I literally forget to mention Canada's greatest musical megastar - Justin Beiber!
And Mikey....HUH?
Paul Anka
Alanis Morrisette
Gordon Lightfoot
Avril Lavigne
Pierre Bouvier
....and a host of others
Let me give just one fairly extreme example of why I find this all so puzzling. Not long ago I visited SE Asia. And one thing I found that surprised the heck out of me was a phenomenon called Karaoke. Now we all know that that is, but even in some of the very poorest areas in SE Asia, where people live in grass huts, the #1 main source of entertainment is karaoke. People may not even have a TV, but their parties consist of a bunch of friends getting together in their hut, renting a karaoke machine, and everyone takes their turn at singing to an incredible list of hundreds of pre-recorded songs. And what are those songs? A majority are western pop and rock and ballad songs that we'd all recognize. It is HUGELY popular. Music in these countries is incredibly popular.
Now, for someone to propose that people across the world haven't had access to western music for decades, or that rock is solely a US phenomenon, is looney tunes. And this is people who can barely afford food. Imagine the opportunities for people with more money, who can afford internet and satellite and radio.
Anyway, I'm dissing nobody. I'm merely very very surprised at a phenomenon that I really don't understand. If anyone here does understand I'd be very glad to learn. There are hundreds of countries around the world. Why are so few producing the great music that so many of those countries love so much?
I really liked your question. I think about stuff like that too. But we've answered it.
You blew off my sports analogy, but using your own argument -- fgirls in California have had access to watching LAX on ESPN. So why hasn't Stanford or UCLA won a championship? They have the same TV access as girls in the NORTHEAST.
No jerikson can complain about whine people with no rhythm or sonething else. You ever seen an asian dance they make us white guys look like james brown
you are fucking kidding me right? you're a van halen fan-so one might think that you know your rock. but by posting the above one might start to think that you you don't know SHIT.
some one already mentioned the scorpions. ok-how about rammstein, helloween, and imho the best one from Germany-accept. balls to the wall, fast as a shark, London leatherboys, son of a bitch, etc...
these bands might not be considered great or popular in north America but everywhere else (Europe, south America, asia, etc) they have a huge following.
For 95% of the world's population it is American music, including rock, that is foreign.
I am sure most countries produce good music, but if it's not in English, it's not going to sell in America. That perhaps makes Rammstein's "Du Hast" the greatest song of all time, since it's in German (at least the version they play in strip clubs is, the English language version doesn't sound so scary).
And according to ime, "You ever seen an asian dance they make us white guys look like james brown"
And motor is "answering a question" with a sports analogy that does nothing more than ask a similar question about womens' sports.
And art sez: "For 95% of the world's population it is American music, including rock, that is foreign."
And the rest of the crew attempts to dig thru the wikipedia listings to find the most unknown musicians of all time from Canada and Sweden and claim them to be great rockers. Fine, if you find some big name rockers who are from Canada or Sweden, does that answer the point I've been making? No, not at all. Because the world has hundreds of countries, and many of them are big fans of American music, and have been for decades.
And you guys accuse me of dissing other countries? Asians can't dance? That's your fucking argument?