Rock is one of the oldest and most widely appreciated genres in the music industry. While it has evolved into numerous different sub-genres, its base meaning is still literally “to rock the world”. Many bands have made their names universally known by sticking to rock’s proven form and style. This seems to have changed in 2010, however, as last year was the worst year in the charts for rock in the last four decades.
Many people think that rock is vanishing from the chart after seeing only a handful of rock songs in 2010’s UK Top 100 singles. Only three entered the chart, a significantly lower number as compared to 13 rock songs in 2009 and 27 in 2008. Though the three-year trend showed a significant decrease, nobody anticipated it being this low. The highest rank achieved was 25th, taken by Journey with their song “Don’t Stop Believin”, a 1981 song that saw a rebound in popularity due to Glee’s remake of the classic hit.
Another track “Hey Soul Sister” from US band Train, which was also popularized by Glee, hit the chart at 83rd rank while Florence and the Machine’s “Dog Days are Over” sits at 93rd. Florence and the Machine’s “You’ve Got The Love” was also ranked 59th, but it fell under the dance genre rather than rock. From the Top 100 Albums of the Year, similar to the singles chart, only 27 discs were categorized under the rock genre.
Guy Garvey, a singer belonging to a band (Elbow) that has had six Top 40 singles in the last decade, said that rock music lives on as always. He added that the fans are grabbing albums and going to the web to download many track at one time. On final note, he said that the singles chart doesn’t really reflect the popularity of guitar music.
Based on reports, R&B and hip-hop registered almost 50% of the Top 100’s biggest hits in 2010 while pop registered a 40% share, leaving dance records at 1%.
No doubt you feel a twinge of envy after hearing the story of the couple Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl, considering that Sean is the only child of the late 
They just don’t make music executives like they used to. The music executives from the “old days” had an ear for music and were often songwriters themselves. They also had the knack of recognizing talent, and many a music career owes it to the keen ears and eyes of dedicated music executives. Don Kirshner was one of the greatest music producers of the old guard, an exclusive group of people that is dwindling every year. He died in January 2011, leaving behind a family, a legacy of great music and a life’s worth of tremendously successful careers. He was recognized all over the world as a man who knew his music inside out.
Have you ever wondered why most people are inclined to listen to music? Just think about it…who isn’t into music? Whatever type of person you are, regardless of your origin, music will reach you. There’s just something in music that captures our imaginations and makes us feel good.
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As you probably know by now, it’s a boy for Sir Elton John and partner David Furnish.
