What is 'rock'?

[Loony BoB]

Please Define "rock"
My thoughts exactly, when reading the thread which asks what you listen to - for rock bands only...

What you define as 'rock' is probably up to you, but last I checked, rock pretty much is a broad genre covering almost all 'modern' music based around an acoustic or electric guitar and a set of drums.

dictionary.com says... "rock is a generic term for the range of styles that evolved out of rock'n'roll." To me, that includes metal, pop, indy/emo/whatever and some other forms of music such as a single acoustic guitar.

Also, I define 'rock' as what is produced by the instruments used - it has little (if anything) to do with vocals. If someone is singing a ballad, rapping, talking or whatever, so long as it's rock music they're providing vocals to, it's still rock music. Rapping is a vocal thing, not an instrumental thing. The two should not be confused, and rap and rock should not be considered mutually exclusive.

[Neco Arc]

rock1 ( P ) Pronunciation Key (rk)
n.
1)Relatively hard, naturally formed mineral or petrified matter; stone.
2)
a. A relatively small piece or fragment of such material.
b. A relatively large body of such material, as a cliff or peak.
3) A naturally formed aggregate of mineral matter constituting a significant part of the earth's crust.
4) One that is similar to or suggestive of a mass of stone in stability, firmness, or dependability: The family has been his rock during this difficult time.
5) rocks Slang. Money.
6) Slang. A large gem, especially a diamond.
7) Slang. Crack cocaine.
8)
a. A varicolored stick candy.
b. Rock candy.


The only definition of rock you need... nah just kidding... my definition of rock is based on instrumental and types of vocals...

[Loony BoB]

If I had a penny for every time I predicted a post... :p

[Chris]

Personally, I've always thought of "rock" as an edgier, harder version of pop.

[Loony BoB]

I've noticed that trend in a lot of people, and it can be kind of amusing, seeing as the creator of rock'n'roll would fit well into the 'pop' genre of today's music.

[Neco Arc]

I heard someone say that rock is about the attitude and i have to agree... no attitude, no rock band....

[Shoden]

I think Rock music as Metal genres.

[jrgen]

I heard someone say that rock is about the attitude and i have to agree... no attitude, no rock band....
That's a stupid definition.

[fire_of_avalon]

What do you mean "creator"? RocknRoll evolved just like all music did.

[edczxcvbnm]

Rock music is any form of music where Guitars and Drums are the main focus of the song. Done and done.

[Drift]

<img src="http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/subcommittees/emr/usgsweb/photogallery/images/Rock%20Salt_jpg.jpg">
thats rock

[Venom]

A pet rock. That pee's wherever it feels like:mad2:

[Loony BoB]

Rock music is any form of music where Guitars and Drums are the main focus of the song. Done and done.
Hey, someone agrees with my definition! Now we just need to make it go global and get it in the Oxford.

[XxSephirothxX]

I'm horrible at defining what genre a piece of music belongs to, but ed's definition is a pretty good one. There are exceptions to any rule, but I think most rock songs could fit under that fairly well.

[Venom]

I think to define "rock" You need to look at bands like AC/DC and Aerosmith Ashlee simpson is NOT rock, and is most certainly NOT punk either

So rock is a loud form of music, that is straight forward and in your face.

Rock also has sub genres, you know like metal does, just without the flaming:D

[Loony BoB]

To me, punk is just another kind of rock, for the most part.

[Venom]

Well, yeah I dont know why Punk gets its own genre, but it does.

[Loony BoB]

Also, instead of just saying that someone is not rock, can you tell us why you think they are not rock?

[Venom]

Ashlee simpson is definetely NOT rock because

1.Its actually pop music your hearing, the only reason people call her rock is because after the 1980's rock wasnt as hard and because Ashlee simpson supposedly uses guitar players

2.Do i really need to say why?

[Loony BoB]

Considering we're trying to define rock? Yes. :)

I don't think pop and rock are two different things. I think pop is just another form of rock. I'll say it again that most of Elvis' stuff would be classed as pop if it was released today, and he is highly regarded as the "King" of rock'n'roll.

[Sephex]

The Polo Ponys are rock! YEEEEEEEAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

[Venom]

Hard to define rock, cause many people deifne rock as in hard rock.

[Kirobaito]

Considering we're trying to define rock? Yes. :)

I don't think pop and rock are two different things. I think pop is just another form of rock. I'll say it again that most of Elvis' stuff would be classed as pop if it was released today, and he is highly regarded as the "King" of rock'n'roll.
Don't forget guys like Buddy Holly, either, who, if you go listen to his music ("Everyday" is one of my favorites) one would define as 'pop' in modern-day terms, even though he was considered one of the first 'rockers'. Elvis not so much, but Elvis had a lot more country themes in his music.

Pop and rock are all a part of the same rebellious attitude. I kind of agree with the poster who mentioned attitude, though probably not in the same way. Not the tongue-lashing, leather-jacketed rock attitude, but the new, liberal, young rock attitude that started with songs of girls and fast cars in the 50's, and today are, well... I won't get into that, because I won't be able to restrain myself.

I'm not really a fan of rock music, but I understand that it has in many ways shaped society and I respect it in that way.

[edczxcvbnm]

If we are to include personality into rock music...I would say rock has always been rebel-ish for the most part. The 50s it was devil music and same with the 60s when it was devil and transformed into anti-war kind of stuff. Then in the 70s it became harder and was moving towards the hard rock you saw in the 80s and then a new form of pop started to come along that was more than just the music and became kind of corporate in approach. That was different from what had previously been done. The 90s brought in a wave of being against the corparate form and being the 'alternative' to it.

That is my bull<img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"> rebel personality thingy and I am sticking to it :D

[Zell's Fists of Fury]

I rock. That's all you need to know. *guitar solo*

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

If you can rock out to it, it's rock. C'mon.

[Dolentrean]

Rock is possibly the largest genre of music you can find, it is a general genre with many sub-genres within it, from inspirational rock, soft rock, pop rock, pop, grunge, hard rock, metal. Then you get into metal witch is also rock, this particular sub-genre has it own sub-genres as in scream-o metal, black metal, death metal, love metal If you have heard of Nightwish you know there is even Opera metal.

Rock has been more translated to generalization of a part of the music industry that doesn’t have anything to do with other parts of the same genre like scream-o to pop.

[crashNUMBERS]

<IMG SRC="http://www.jayzonline.com/media/pictures/18.jpg">
This is the Roc-A-Fella symbol which Jay-Z nick's it the "Roc".

<IMG SRC="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39135000/jpg/_39135475_crack203.jpg">
And this is Crack; Cocaine. In ghetto life you will find many people nick naming it "Rock".

<B>EX</B>ample: You got rock?