We've had Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Madonna and Kurt Cobain. Who next?
Since the inception of rock'n'roll over half a century ago it's been reasonably easy to identify the key figures who have dominated each decade, squeezing out all the other contenders not only in terms of their lasting musical influence (not to be confused with huge commercial appeal) but also making a significant social and cultural impact.
Setting aside all matters of personal musical taste and taking a tilt - for once - at objectivity, this list reads:
1950s Elvis Presley: Not the first. Not necessarily the best. But the most.
1960s Bob Dylan: Rewrote the rule book. Revolutionised the language of the pop lyric, and invented not only a behavioural template for the modern rock star but - with the Band behind him - rock music itself.
1970s David Bowie: Recognised - and, crucially, popularised - the almost limitless range of possibilities of what popular music could do, say, be, sound and look like.
1980s Madonna: The perfect pop construction. An almost indestructible marriage of ambition, sex, media manipulation, the ability to change faces - and a fistful of brilliant tunes. Everyone from Kylie and Robbie to Britney and Christina have watched and learned.
1990s Kurt Cobain: Yes, he died in 1994, but he brought the electric guitar and the intensely introspective "bedwetter" mentality back into the heart of pop music - where, for good or ill, they have remained ever since.
Some of you will no doubt have a problem with the list, but I'd argue that the enduring credentials of that rather motley crew are clear: in terms of sheer global impact, when it comes to a battle between Madonna and, say, Morrissey, there can only ever be one winner.
The real problem is finding the next influential name on the list: who on Earth is going to be in the frame come the end of the noughties? I've racked my brains and can only come up with a shortlist of Thom Yorke, Tupac (yes, he died in 1996 but his "afterlife" has been far more influential than his actual one) and, and ...
In fact, it's probably Simon Cowell. Tell me I'm wrong.
2007/11/14 http://blogs.guardian.co.uk / www.epgold.com
I'm shocked that someone writing on the Guardian blog picked Elvis for the 50s, lol. Pleasantly shocked.
I think I'd pick the Beatles over Dylan for the 60s, though. But then I'm one of the people who loves Dylan's lyrics, but simply can't listen to his voice.
And I'd probably pick Springsteen over Madonna for the 80s. She's pop, not rock, to me.
I've always liked the unusual so I would pick Adam Ant and Meatloaf....after them, no one interested me.
Diane
Mmm I'm justing reading Suzi Quatro's bio she was huge in Europe and here in Australia. I think she'd be in the 70's for me over Bowie.
Oh dear god not Simon Cowell, someone please tell her not Simon Cowell. Maybe Pink for 2000 she's really good and has a global impact.
Beatles/Dylan/Stone for 60s.
Bowie/Ramones or Sex Pistols for 70s
Enimen for 2000s???
hey, I like Simon Cowell....lol. I listen to country music other than Elvis.....so I'd pick a country star: Johnny Cash/Waylong Jennings/Conway Twitty/George Jones
what about freddie mercury from Queen ?
he was outstanding !
And was a big Elvis fan. I have to tell people that Crazy Little Thing Called Love wasn't an Elvis song.what about freddie mercury from Queen ?
he was outstanding !
If you're talking true domination of an entire decade I would go with The Beatles for the 60's and Elton John for the 70's. At least chart wise.
The 60's, for me was the Beatles, John Lennon & Paul McCartney were both great writers & performers. Neither had the looks of Elvis, tho, but they did have talent.
The 70's, Paul Simon. A good performer, not outstanding, but good. Nowhere near as handsome as Elvis, nor did he have the charm of Elvis, but I love his music. A good musician.
The 80's - sorry, I was a newlywed and having babies, the only ones who come to mind are Queen, Michael Jackson, and (kill me now) disco. Michael is not one of my favorite people, (did he write any of his own music?) I did enjoy his music and his stage performance. Madonna, sure, she went out of her way to shock, she's pretty, charismatic? Okay, sure. Trendsetter? Well, lots of girls invested time & money in looking like her. I can rattle off a list of her music, for someone my age (50), that should be a good sign of recognition value, eh?
Bob Dylan, imo, is one of the great writers in any decade. The man has a real talent for turning a phrase. Not very attractive, not a good singer, although he does manage to stay in key. But he does have staying power as a writer.
"I can't see my reflection in the water
I can't speak the sounds that show no pain
I can't hear the echo of my footsteps
I can't remember the sound of my own name"
And noone could ever sing this song like Elvis!Thankyou Presley31. This is a good topic!
Just pretend, I'm holding you, and whispering things soft and low.
And think of me, how it's gonna be and just pretend I didn't go
Some name seem a bit weird...Where are Bruce Springsteen, Queen,the Beatles, the Rolling Stones?
but this list brings us back to another discussion, about Elvis being the first rock star ever
I like Simon tooOriginally Posted by ksimms2
50's - Elvis all the way
60's - Beatles (Sgt Peppers - White Album)
- The Rolling Stones (Let It Bleed)
- Elvis (From Elvis In Memphis)
70's - The Rolling Stones (Sticky Fingers)
- Led Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin IV)
- Pink Floyd (The Dark Side of the Moon)
- David Bowie (The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars)
- The Sex pistols (Never Mind The Bollocks)
80's - Michael Jackson - (Thriller)
- U2 - (Boy, October, Under a Blood Red Sky, possibly the Joshua Tree?) lost there way after this
- Bruce Springsteen (Born in the U.S.A)
- Duran Duran (Rio - bubble gum pop I know, but how big were they!)
When you get down to it there are several artists out there who were influential throughout the decades and it feels wrong to miss some of them outhowever, I might have to come back to this list
I reserve the right to come back to the 90's and naughties
Dominated in which sense?
The 5 most influential to me, as they defined rock/pop music for the next decade:
(This is not about how many records they sold or how many hits they had.)
50's
1. Elvis Presley.
2. Chuck Berry.
3. Buddy Holly.
4. Bo Diddley.
5. Jerry Lee Lewis.
(And how can we forget Little Richard and Carl Perkins?)
60's
1. The Beatles.
2. Bob Dylan.
3. Jimi Hendrix.
4. The Doors.
5. The Rolling Stones.
Of course all the Motown acts. And how can we left out The Beach Boys: "Pet SOunds"! and The Greatful Dead long improvisational gigs!
70's
1. Led Zeppelin.
2. Pink Floyd.
3. Queen.
4. David Bowie.
5. The Sex Pistols.
Maybe Bob Marley deserves to be on the list.
80's
1. Michael Jackson
2. Beastie Boys
3. Madonna
4. The Cure
5. Metallica
90's
1. Nirvana
2. Beck
3. Björk
4. Radiohead
5. Smashing Pumpkins
And better late than never: The Flaming Lips.
As for the 00's (That´s the decade we are living and its almost gonne!!! were '08 now!)
Still hard to tell. "The White Stripes" proved that a guitar and drums is still all you need to Rock ann Roll, "The Black Keys" showed you that the 40's Muddy Waters blues duo format can still be current, and the "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah´s" remember us a bit of how Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D.J. Fontana shocked up the world in '56. As Dylan told recently: Times are changing backwards.
But of course it is not all backwards, as people like Thom Yorke is taking the world of pop music to radical new directions, as if what he did in the 90'd wasn´t enough for him.
nope youre all wrong
50's elvis
60's lonnie donagan
70's the wombles
80's roland rat ( GMTV )
90.s mr blobby
HAPPY CHRIMBO
LETS BE FRIENDS!
sorry but the only ones that come to mind that really made a lasting impact that changed the our image and views of Rock n Roll, they are,
Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Kiss, Modonna, Micheal Jackson, Motley Crue, Nirvana and no one from 2000 and on, sorry, we still have some time left before the 1st decade is over.
All others like The Doors, Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, David Bowie are only the root of some changes but didn't inspire the world to change their out look on music.
The Doors were just ahead of their time and no understood it at the time. I saw an interview with Linda McCartney and she said she took some pictures of them and stated that they weren't that popular in the 60s. They really got noticed after Jim Died.
Bob Dylan and David Bowie didn't inspire the world to change their outlook on music?
Please.
Getlo - cute'n'cuddly
I'm sorry but they didn't inspire the "rock world", they only worked in the background. John Lennon copied Bod Dylan and made it his own style, Bob was more underground back then but the Beatles the world looked after for inspiration, fashion and how to think.Bob Dylan and David Bowie didn't inspire the world to change their outlook on music?
Please.
David Bowie was probably one of the 1st Shock Rockers, that's it.
I have no words to respond to this. I am speechless.
Getlo - cute'n'cuddly
You are wrong about David Bowie.
He sure inspired many artists and started a new style(with few other artists and bands like Iggi Pop and T.Rex) - glam rock
He deserves his place on that list
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