Did chart music stop evolving in 1995?

[Rik E Boy]

I guess blokes of my age are a bit spoiled. We grew up in a period where popular music was pretty diverse. New age, Punk, Disco, Rock, Country, Ska, Reggae, New Romantic, Novelty, Hard Rock, Jazz and Soul all got a run in the charts during my high school days.

I reckon pretty soon after Kurt died it seemed to get stuck with a severe cause of 'Here's Johnny' or 'M People' disease as hit after hit after hit has just become mindless doof doof drivel churned out pretty much non stop since the mid nineties. Thanks to the American Idolisation of popular music the diversity in musical style and image is dead.

I heard a song that I knew was from this year and it wouldn't have surprised to see the song come out in 1995.....Now...where is my ipod?

regards,

REB

[LMA]

I would rather listen to a dripping tap then the chart music of today, unfortunately my girls love it though
Some flog featuring some flog covering/sampling/butchering a good song of days gone by is where the charts are at. Alot of the young blokes I work with are listening to the music I listened to at their age nearly 20 years ago, so if you don't like the tripe on mainstream today and aren't into a certain genre you definately got to go back in time a bit.

Ipod works for me.

[HH3]

If by chart music you mean pop thats played over and over again on the radio, then I think its been pretty shithouse for a long time.

But if you go by album charts, its actually surprising which albums are up the top. A couple of weeks ago, a post-hardcore band from Gympie in QLD released their 3rd full length album that went to No 1 on the Australian Charts in 3 days. It was ahead of every single pop album at the time. They accomplished that with no radio or tv air time.

A couple of years ago another heavy band Bring Me The Horizon from England topped the Aus album charts with their 2nd album, and Byron Bay metal band Parkway Drive top the charts every time they release a new album.

[Dogwatcher]

I think you make a good point HH3.

I think old blokes have been raging against the way young people borrow and 'rip off' or interpret the music of their idols, or others, for a long time.

The Beatles - Chuck Berry
Rolling Stones and any other blues based band - Muddy Waters.
The Clash - reggae and ska

[southee]

Great topic.

For me personally, music died at the end of 1997.

1995 we still were riding the wave of the Brit Pop scene. Whats the story Morning Glory....by Oasis, Blur, Pulp etc...

We had that for a few years until Oasis released the "self indulgent" Be Here Now (I personally have love for this album!), Princess Di was killed and Grunge had become a "sell out" and we were all still getting over the end of it .

The internet and file sharing became more of a new thing to do. Triple J had an identity crisis.......

That was the year for me when music died - 1997.

[Wedgie]

I reckon it died at the end of the 80s, was crap for the 90s and 00s but is getting good again now. I'm listening to Top 40 for the first time in 20 years!

[MatteeG]

I'm listening to Top 40 for the first time in 20 years!

Must still have the chook mask on....

[zipzap]

Great topic.

For me personally, music died at the end of 1997.

1995 we still were riding the wave of the Brit Pop scene. Whats the story Morning Glory....by Oasis, Blur, Pulp etc...

We had that for a few years until Oasis released the "self indulgent" Be Here Now (I personally have love for this album!), Princess Di was killed and Grunge had become a "sell out" and we were all still getting over the end of it .

The internet and file sharing became more of a new thing to do. Triple J had an identity crisis.......

That was the year for me when music died - 1997.

I don't disagree Southee. The early to mid-90s were interesting due to 'alternative music' for want of a better term, actually making an impact on the charts. Whether it was Kurt and the grunge cadets who followed, JJJ, Britpop, even bloody Ratcat, it seemed for a few years there like indie was going to take over the world. Of course once it became profitable it became bloated and fat (hello Oasis) until it quietly slunk off to its rightful place on the periphery of the charts.

So even though I have a much loved scrapbook somewhere of almost every Countdown chart from the 80s and have fond memories of taping the Top 9 at 9 with Greg Clark and Di-sey on 5AD ("More of the music you like best, 5-A-D!"), except for that brief period of time in the 90s, music in the charts has arguably always been less progressive than that which exists outside them . Normal service has been resumed.

[Dogwatcher]

Great post Zipper.
Now play me in Song Pop!

[zipzap]

Great post Zipper.
Now play me in Song Pop!

You're too good for me mate...always choosing Punk too!

[Dogwatcher]

Disco more to your liking?

[Rik E Boy]

Disco more to your liking?

Yep.

regards,

REB

[Dogwatcher]

You like the nightlife.

[The Sleeping Giant]

I reckon it died at the end of the 80s, was crap for the 90s and 00s but is getting good again now. I'm listening to Top 40 for the first time in 20 years!

Then again, you do have shocking musical taste Wedgie.

[Failed Creation]

Any era that lets 'artists' like Ke$ha and Nicky Minaj (sounds like a vaginal condition) rule the airwaves is surely poorer for it...

[The Sleeping Giant]

Who's that strapping young lad?

[Failed Creation]

Who's that strapping young lad?

Exactly. I see you must have good taste.

[Rik E Boy]

You like the nightlife.

LOL. Didn't think much of that one though.

regards,

REB

[Dogwatcher]

An extension of REB's initial question is this, is rock dead?

I was discussing music with one of my staff today and she made this comment. I replied that it's not dead, just having an enforced sleep on the radio stations she's listening to.

[Q.]

An extension of REB's initial question is this, is rock dead?