Introduction
The history of music has seen several musical styles which gained incredible popularity and even after their almost complete disappearance still managed to retained loyal fans. One of such musical styles was Rock and Roll that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Everybody knows that Rock and Roll in the history of music was something like a bomb that changed the minds of millions of people. Rock and roll have been made up by gifted and intelligent people, who have become renowned for this. Of course, the first names which come to mind when discussing this musical style are Elvis Presley and the real guru of Rock and Roll, “The Rolling Stones”, who continue their rolling even today. For more than forty years they have been getting their fans and admirers who did not stop loving this music even with its becoming unpopular. Since 1992 the Rock and Roll music has undergone certain changes; the greatest contributions to this musical style were made by Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame becoming the place where this music will always be alive.
Discussion
Speaking particularly about the development of Rock and Roll, it is necessary to mention, that Rolling Stones is the music band whose work has been part and parcel throughout the whole period of the development of this musical style. Highlighting the development of Rock and Roll since 1992, it is of paramount importance to state that the whole success of this band lasted till the 1990s as the Rolling Stones ended the 1990s with their album Bridges to Babylon, released in 1997 to mixed reviews. The greatest contribution of the Rolling Stones into the Rock and Roll development in the 1990s was that they sustained the popularity of this musical style. They made Rock and Roll attractive for the listeners despite the emergence of new popular music trends. Rolling Stones keep Rock and Roll alive even today when the youth is mostly focused on minimalism expressed through techno and drum-and-bass. Therefore, the Stones’ Bridges to Babylon is the brightest example of Rock and Roll music since 1992.
Of no less contribution to the development of Rock and Roll after 1992 was Bruce Springsteen’s musical performance. This singer became especially active in releasing new musical compositions in 1993. Springsteen is remarkable not only for his songs, but for contributing them to the Hollywood films, “including “Streets of Philadelphia” for Philadelphia in 1993, “Dead Man Walking” for the movie of the same name in 1995, and in 1996 “Missing” for the Crossing Guard and “Secret Garden” for Jerry MacGuire” (Cavicchi 190). After releasing several albums, Springsteen united with E Street Band in 1999 and continued his Rock and Roll career together with this group. Springsteen had a gift for Rock and Roll music: “Songs sprang out of him by the dozen … and his music was focused in styles that endured, which allowed him to be obvious to fashion in ways that almost no other rock performer could afford” (Marsh 294). This is why Bruce Springsteen can be named a star of Rock and Roll music in the late 1990s.
The year 1995 was especially remarkable for Rock and Roll. This year the concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame took place bringing together the once-famous stars of this style and those who managed to retain their popularity at present. The hall of fame opened “with a downtown parade, fireworks, and an all-star concert with more than 20 acts, including Chuck Berry, James Brown, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, John Fogerty, Little Richard, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Soul Asylum, and Bruce Springsteen” (Danilov 180). The concert was witnessed by 250,000 people. Since then the concerts in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame take place regularly. They gather the fans of this musical style and the rock stars that will always be exemplary of this trend of music. Thus, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame serves as the supporter of this music’s popularity which gave the rock stars a possibility to prove that the music they play is eternal.
Conclusion
Taking into consideration everything mentioned above, it can be concluded that Rock and Roll as a musical style can hardly ever disappear for there will always be people who will value this music. Even though contemporary young people consider it archaic and it does not attract their attention much, it continues developing even today. This music can be duly appreciated by real musical gourmets who can feel the self-expression of the singer in the trade of playing guitar and the unique rhythm and melody. Though Rock and Roll experienced the peak of its development in the 1950s, such performers as Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen will never let this style disappear and will always attract the attention of their fans. This is why the expression “Rock and Roll will never die” and the corresponding song titled like this can be perceived as literal.
Works Cited
Cavicchi, Daniel. Tramps Like Us: Music & Meaning among Springsteen Fans. Oxford: Oxford University Press US, 1998.
Danilov, Victor J. Hall of Fame Museums: A Reference Guide. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1997.
Marsh, Dave. Bruce Springsteen: Two Hearts: The Definitive Biography, 1972-2003. New York: Routledge, 2004.