The conventional themes that appear in the music genre of alternative include conventional themes that relate to social concern such as:
- Environmentalism
- Depression
- Drug use etc.
The music genre of alternative rock has been used as a term to describe the music genre of underground music that emerged from the music genre of punk rock from the mid 1980's. The genre of alternative rock has been defined as the rejection of commercialism of mainstream culture. The sound of the music genre range from, dirty guitars of grunge to ominous sounds capes of Gothic rock to guitar revivalism of Brit-pop to the chaotic piece style of twee pop. Also the lyrics used in the music genre of alternative rock has improved as a indication of the social and economic strains in the united States and the United Kingdom of the 1980's and early 1990's.
Musical and Lyrical Conventions:
Some of the conventions of alternative rock video's include some kind of inner thinking even if the meaning of the video isn't clear at all. The musicians of alternative rock differed from traditional rock predecessors such as diversity and experimentation in music and in part of critique of mainstream society and of major music labels in favor of small independent music labels. Alternative rockers produced appealing music for mass consumption. There music also has emphasis on distorted guitars and ambiguous lyrics, which wasn't suited to conventional tastes. Alternative rock music often have skeptical or conventional values. Although alternative rock was mainly influenced by Punk which helped influence alternative rock with its critical interpretation of society and the destruction of mainstream musical sensibilities. Alternative rock did however have punk attitudes and antagonism with rock melodies and song structure. Bands such as Police and U2 etc became popular during the 80's with appealing and attractive songs, which had a influence on the genre. Ideally the alternative rock bands aimed to reach a new generation of youth with higher energy, melodic music which communicated to audiences certain social issues. Alternative rock also dealt with non conformity and questioning conventional values. There is also a repeat of certain parts of lyrics (The Killers: Mr Brightside) and the genre is grateful to a white vocalist shouting about his betrayed entitlements over an deftly coated squall of guitars, bass and drums.
Iconography:
The musicians and fans of alternative rock tended to dress in a certain way that was influenced by punk and conventional attire. The clothing use to be less extreme than punk and not to shock people but was messy and promoted the image of indifference towards conventional dress styles. Alternative dress was less radical, which allowed the wearer larger approval in mainstream customs such as family, school etc.
Oasis-Stop Crying Your Heart Out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QyVil0dwhk
In this music video of Stop Crying Your Heart Out by the band Oasis are wearing casual clothes such as jackets and sunglasses etc. Also the actors from the video is usually aiming to reject the conventional or conformist lifestyle, which is of white ethnicity.
Themes:
Themes included within the music genre of alternative rock include themes such as the rejection of the commercialism lifestyle, environmentalism and social and economic strains with the US and UK such as depression, drug use, environmentalism, political issues from history or political systems that effect other countries which is shown in the music video of Linkin Park-What I've Done. The video also explores the ironies of humanity and its ill effects on the earth and environment.The video shows pieces of footage such as a man eating fast food, a woman measuring her waist and man who is malnourished. It also portrays other footage of nuclear explosions, the world trade centers collapsing, children waving American flags etc. The video also includes themes such as nuclear warfare, pollution, obesity etc and other social and environmental issues such as Nazism, abortion, racism and many more. The video also includes historical figures such as Benito Mussolini, Mother Teresa, Joseph Stalin, Robert Kennedy, Fidel Castro and many more.
Here is the link to the music video of Linkin Park-What I've Done:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sgycukafqQ&ob=av2e
Here are 3 other examples of Alternative Rock by 3 other bands:
The Killers-When You Where Young:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff0oWESdmH0&ob=av3e
Keane-Nothing In My Way-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5l-GSDo72c
Oasis-Go Let It Out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls7ov-iPsUw
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