FREE ESSAY ON ROCK AND ROLL

ROCK AND ROLL

It is common belief that "rock" music fosters bad behavior. This statement has no basis;
there are no facts whatsoever to support such an accusation. The word "rock" is a very
general term, a wide variety bands fall under the label of "rock", bands that range from
The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac to Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. To really make an
accusation you must first specify the one you are accusing. And I am not just speaking
blindly; I spent a whole year rooming with a Satan worshiper. I listened to Marilyn
Manson literally every day and my behavior did not change one bit. When listening to him
I felt no sudden urges to go get into a fight or go vandalize the school. I have
experienced first hand the affects of rock and roll, none. "Rock" does not foster bad
behavior; it is the people who have tendencies to break the rules who are attracted to
it. And since we never like to blame ourselves it is "rock" that gets the bad rap.
Rock'n'roll (rok'en rol'), n., a kind of popular music with a simple repetitious melody.
90% of the music listened to by adolescents throughout the world would fall under the
term "rock" as defined in the World Book Dictionary. With this in mind, how could you
accuse "rock" of causing bad behavior? "Rock" has been broken down into many sub
categories as it music has progressed from its roots in the Goldie Oldies in the 1950s.
Some of the most well known are Classic Rock, Eighties Rock, Pop, Heavy Metal, Grunge
Rock, Rap Rock, etc.... So accusing "rock" as a whole of anything would be ridiculous and
stereotypical.
Personal experiences have developed this theory in my head. Last year I was at boarding
school, and my roommate, Nick House, was a self proclaimed "Demonolotrist" but by all
Christian standards he was a Satan worshiper. He listened to extremist bands such as Nine
Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. I listened to this music all year, every day. And at first
it worried me, I was afraid that the music would somehow effect me, but not so much to my
surprise, it didn't. While listening to it I felt no strange desire to go commit a crime
or kill someone. In fact my being exposed to this music only broadened my horizons and
expanded my knowledge.
Accusing rock of causing bad behavior is the equivalent of me accusing Christian music of
causing Christianity. Christianity existed long before Christian music. In the same way,
bad behavior existed long before "rock". Christians are attracted to Christian music
because it is Christian. In just the same way people with tendencies toward bad behavior
are attracted to rock because it is revolutionary.