One of the accepted “traditions” of Rock music is that both performers and audiences consider Rock music to be about rebellion – in varying degrees. As the Jack Black character exclaims in the movie “School of Rock” – “It’s about sticking it to the man!”
But one of the paradoxes of rock is that many of its most outrageous rebels have had vast commercial success and reaped the benefits of financial gain. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s some of the most successful and popular records of the time were the result of very astute composers and producers creating music specifically for the teen/youth market – the Brill Building template was considered a kind of “hit factory”. Within ten years, rock and roll goes from the shock of white kids embracing “race” music and Elvis – to the establishment of popular music as both rebellion – and successful business model!
Question #1: Is it possible for rock to be both anti-conformist and popular? (Minimum of four sentences).
Question #2: Being labeled a sell-out is usually considered quite an insult. What does it mean to be a sell-out? Is there even such a thing? If so what artist/group do you consider a sell-out and why? Is there an artist/group that you do not consider a “sell-out and why? (Minimum of five sentences – keeping in mind the sub-questions within this question!).
**Please do not rely on a Google search about these questions – most of these sites express non-vetted opinions and will lead you astray. (For example, The Beatles switching from wearing leather jackets and jeans to matching suits early in their career is not an example of “selling out”. We are going for something a bit more substantial here!)
