The music scene has been overwhelmingly dominated by pop in the 21st Century but, under the surface, there have been changes in the trends. Recently there has been a surge of younger classic rock listeners, with around 30 percent of 20-24-year-olds considering rock’n’roll to be their favorite genre.
Let’s explore how and why classic rock has experienced somewhat of a resurgence throughout the past few years.
“Old guitar [Explored 2015-06-14]” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Maria Eklind
Young People are Frustrated
It doesn’t need to be said that the past couple of years have been turbulent. Many young adults feel disconnected by politics and the economy, and are even wondering if they have any future at all; a sentiment shared by many of the figureheads of classic rock during the Vietnam War and other significant events of the 20th century.
It was this anger at the system that inspired many of the greatest hits of classic rock such as The Who’s My Generation, or War Pigs by Black Sabbath. In a world that’s increasingly affected by censorship, classic rock serves as an uncut criticism of the powers that be – and that is undoubtedly refreshing for disillusioned young people.
Pop Music is Going Back to its Roots
Pop music is still by far the most popular genre in 2021; however, if we compare today’s charts to those from ten years ago there is a distinct homage to classic rock in many chart-toppers.
More and more frequently, pop artists are collaborating with classic rock icons to put a new refreshing spin on the old hits. A few examples include:
- Miley Cyrus’ remix of the Fleetwood Mac hit Midnight Sky features Stevie Nicks herself.
- Dua Lipa and Elton John have recently collaborated to release Cold Heart, which samples three of the rock icon’s popular hits including
It would be unrealistic to expect classic rock in its purest form to have a resurgence in popularity, but it’s certainly possible to revive it in a way that will encourage young people to listen to the inspiration behind their favorite songs.
Classic Rock is Being Played in Nightclubs
It’s almost a guarantee that you’ll hear Bohemian Rhapsody on a night out, no matter the venue. Indeed, nightclubs have had a significant role in bringing classic rock to the younger generations. In fact, many venues even host dedicated rock nights each week.
“Circa nightclub” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by divya_
It’s not just nightclubs though; for example, Bada Bingo puts a twist on the classic bingo game by including music and other entertainment, encouraging lots of dancing along the way. Considering the game originally became popular in the 1950s and 60s, blasting some of the classic rock hits in between rounds is the best way to bring the past to the present.
The truth is that many of the classic rock hits are essential listens for young people – they just don’t know that it’s classic rock they’re listening to. If bars play Livin on a Prayer or Don’t Stop Believin they are guaranteed floor fillers. In this sense, classic rock has never really died; it has just adapted and moved with the times.
Overall, it would be silly to suggest that classic rock will ever experience the popularity that it had in the 1960s and 70s. However, that is not to say that the genre is totally dead and forgotten.
In fact, in 2021 more and more young people are choosing to listen to classic rock, and the reasons for this resurgence are clear.
