Introduction: Often when people think of punk music they still think of the eighties down with government beat the hell out of your neighbor get wasted stereotype. It ones without saying that punk music has earned its reputation for being high impact, loud, energetic and intense. However people often associate the message of all punk music as containing nothing more then violent anti-government statements and messages of alienation. Many people share the view that it has nothing to say and has offered nothing but a continued sentiment of hostility towards its fans. This is an unfair judgement of a genre of music whose fans are as variable as the messages of the music itself. Punk music has indeed offered a messages of abstinence rather then promiscuity, faith rather then hopelessness, understanding rather then hate, and love rather then hate.
My argument isnt that punk music is the savior of humanity and that if we all listen to punk music we will be suddenly endowed with knowledge and understanding far exceeding our predecessors. My argument is simply that punk music is not always destructive and that it has indeed done something to improve the world we live in rather then destroy it. Body: 1).
Punk music is often cheifly known for its political statements.
The messages are often perceived by the public in general negative, angry and mostly childish. Often overlooked are the positive attempts has made to better the world in which we live rather then beat the hell out of it for not being the way we want. 2).
The Essay on Sumthn Called Music Punk Band Bands
Punk Music in North America: November 7 th From Yesteryear to Here Punk music is a unique form of music which incorporates heavy, raw and distorted guitars; intricate, deep sounding bass lines; high paced, pounding drum beats; and vocals that catapult ideologies of a world run by anarchy. Punk is a form of underground music which appeals to people who are either bored or dissatisfied with the way ...
Many bands have strong political feelings on nearly every subject that the politicians of our country speak of. Using their music as a way to raise awareness of their fans on topics such as racism, tolerance of same sex couples, and sexually transmitted diseases 3).
One of the most outirght examples of this found in a monologue at the beginning of the less then jake song All my best freinds are meta heads in which the voice over politician states I promise I will not juge any person only as a teenager if you will constantly remind yourself that members of my generation judges people by their race or belief or the color of their skin and that this is no more right then saying all teenagers are drunken dope addicts and glue sniffers.
4).
The efforts to benefit society that are made by punk music extend beyond lyrics. If you go to your local cd store and visit the punk section odds are you will be able to find a number of compilation albums of which the profits of are used to benefit causes that range from anti-racist groups and saving the rain forest to research for the HIV virus. 5).
another myth that is associated with punk music is that all punk music denounces organized government and religion. This si crap. Punk bands that promote religion. On for every religion and many barns have patriotic songs praising there country. 6).
probably the most prominent and exemplary example of the positive impact of punk music is that of a term whose meaning has become a way of life for many.
7).
In the nineteen eighties the lead singer of the punk band Minor threat Ian Mckay e coined the term straight edge. Denouncing the nihilistic tendencies of punk rock and instead promoting the simple philosophy of dont drink, dont smoke, dont censored . 8).
In the years since the origination of the term millions of teens around the world have adopted the straight edge philosophy as a doctrine for living. They find strength in its message and use it as a way to better themselves.
The Essay on Rock And Roll Punk Band
History of Rock and Roll Punk rock developed in the United States out of the raw and energetic music adored and played by garage bands of the mid-sixties. Many of these garage bands were started by kids in their teens who hardly knew how to play simple chords on a guitar or bang away at drums or cymbals in their own garages. The music was often played at a high volume as well. The MC 5 epitomized ...
9).
While the original definition only included the rejection of mind altering substances and promiscuous sex, modern interpretation have included a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle as the result of increasing awareness of environmental and political issues. 10).
While some straight edgers may choose to push there beliefs on others often believing that their way of life is the only way of most will follow the principle of understanding and choose not to push their beleifs on feeling that everyone has a right to choose how they wish to live.
Closing: IN closing Id like to leave you this thought. How can a genere of music whose bands have raised money for charities and developed strong political beleifs as well passionate feelings on the way we live in their fabs really be the evil maliscous demonic bastards weve grown to believe they are. The answer its not. That doesnt mean that punk musics perfect or that it always carry’s a message of peaceful tolerance. Sometimes I cant even find a message myself. It simply means that there are as many varying degrees to punk music as there are varying views on punk music.
It probably wont be the savior of humanity and it doesnt pretend to be. Its music. And most importantly its music that some people gather strenght from. It conveys messages of strength, faith and differing view points and to some people its made a word of difference. Perhaps Howard Benson summed it up best when he said whether or not it will ever be recognized for its positive impact on society its had one. Thats the best thing about it..
