Did Nirvana's popularity destroy alternative rock?!
Question: I love them either way, but once the "secret" got out to the whole world it didn't really seem as cool any more. Anyone else feel the same way or hate me for making the implication?
Answers: I love them either way, but once the "secret" got out to the whole world it didn't really seem as cool any more. Anyone else feel the same way or hate me for making the implication?
Depends on which way you look at it. Like the previous posters said, it did give alternative rock a huge boost. Nirvana basically killed the hair metal era (I, for one, could not be happier about that) and opened new doors for many bands on the cusp of making it big. Even more bands who had been playing in obscurity ,despite having critical acclaim, had the opportunity to broadcast their material to a more widespread audience. However, if you look at it from the counter side, it did inspire a bunch of copycats who had less talent and helped to burn out the scene (which happens anytime a new band starts a trend.)
In a way, I'm torn by your question. The music at that time had not become the mainstream and seved as a "special bond" for people in the know. The music was still great, not the majority of the watered-down crap that is portrayed these days as alternative rock or indie. But to keep these bands to oneself and nort want the rest of the world to share is quite a selfish notion. Musicians should have the right to determine if they want their music to be played to the masses or not. If you have a chance to make a living or inspire change through your true passions, then nothing should be there to stop you. It kills me that people call the bands they enjoy "sell-outs" because they become popular. If anything they should congratulate them on making a step in life. If I got a promotion at work that provided a paycheck numerous times compared to my previous salary, I'd be like 'Hell yea I'm a sellout. I'm able to provide my family a better life and ensure that I'm set for the future.' That is, as long as I'm not compromising my views that got me to that point in the first place, which most of the older alternative artists refused to do.
Edit: In no way did I feel as if you implied they sold out, I'm just refering to the majority of the music fans. Hell, I'm guilty of that at one point or another in my life. I think it's just natural to not want to give up something that you feel as if you exclusively knew about and had deep passions for.
I hear you though, I remember listening to Surfer Rosa, Murmur, The Queen Is Dead and Nothing's Shocking when it was not real big, getting into The 'Mats, Sonic Youth and Husker Du........that music will always hold a special place in my heart.
And of course your screenname reminds me of the great one, Mr. Mascis.
I agree with Sabes also, it is about the roots...
I thought actually it was Opposite, even i'm not big fan ot Cobain. This guy just revolutionized music, Nirvana pushed music off their limits.
No, Actually I think It Gave it A Huge! boost.
yes, the "secret" was perfectly fine. until...
No way!
They were Grunge, and they tried to be different from alternative rock.
But Kurt Cobain hated the way they were starting to get famous.
The "secret" getting out doesn't affect the quality of the music. It only affects your perception of the quality of the music.
While a lot of popular music isn't great, just because a song is popular doesn't mean it isn't great.
Of course not. It helped it become what it is today.
i don't think it destroyed alternative rock, but it did bring the genre into the spotlight more, and allowed bands with a similar style and sound to get more airplay and garner more attention...so i think it opened more doors as opposed to destroying the genre
and i have to disagree that a band is no longer alternative if there is mainstream popularity...it's about roots, and if you're not one of those bands whose first album is a massive hit, and you have to work your way up, i think they still deserve to be considered an alternative band
you sound like my mom.
she hates my music selections cause "they are too popular"
yet she loves nirvana
i do to. and i bet to you i'm still a child. haha, i kinda am.
They did help kill the 80s hair metal trend that dominated the airwaves. Their 'arrival' helped usher in the arrival of alternative as a viable genre to the masses.
I don't think they killed alternative, rather the record companies did this by flooding the market with anything with the "Seattle sound" or anything close to it. It brought to the limelight amazing bands like Alice In Chains and Soundgarden. But Nirvana wasn't the only band to help do this either. The market was stale and acts such as Pantera, Nine Inch Nails and REM helped flush the airwaves and bring music to a new era.