Rediscovering the Golden Era

Rock music has had a rich history but having been born in the 90s, the pop culture has dwarfed out the glorious past from my view for long! Musically, western music, at least in my view, seems to have stagnated, much like music around the world has undergone a transformation with the growing preference of keyboard sounds and beats or recording effects over blissful melody. True rock died seems to have died a slow and tragic death. Vocals appear to be the main thrust of new bands, yet their lead vocalists could never be spoken of as in the same league as a Steven Tyler or a Freddie Mercury.

I've been a fan of rock bands for several years, Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams being among my favourites among the 90s era artists . Post 2000, not a single band has come across as in the same league as Pink Floyd,Metallica, or my personal favourite, Aerosmith. A couple of good songs apart, they fail to rise above anything other than mediocre and forgettable. Linkin Park is perhaps the only band that has managed to produce anything that can be termed an "anthem", Numb. It's an exciting period, as I finally have the time to begin turning back the clock and listening to some true classics. Eric Clapton's "Layla", "Tears in Heaven" and "Wonderful Tonight" are truly outstanding. Immersing myself in music for the next couple of months should be an awesome experience. Though my wild and unrealistic dreams of joining a band might have faded to dust, the passion for music will always live on, perhaps long enough to see a child of mine fulfill the fantasy I had once dreamed for myself!

Music of the olden days had soul, exemplified by the standard of lyrics in the greatest hits of past generations! They were deep, heartfelt, meaningful, and easy for a listener to connect with and understand. They spoke to you on several levels, and spoke of messages that seemed more crystal clear than ever when conveyed through the magic of song. Music came first, and vocals last, and yet some of the greatest vocalists in rock history hailed from the pre-90s era. I shall share more in my posts once I've spent some more time listening to the treasure-trove of music of my pre-birth era.....until then, my recommendations on Eric Clapton are must-listens! The guitar riffs in "Layla", in particular, will blow you away. Though I don't love the vocals in the original, in which Clapton never himself sings, Eric Clapton's vocal rendition of "Layla" on an episode of MTV Unplugged is truly divine!