Genre research for media

1. Alternative RockESTABLISHED 1980

2. H I S T O R Y O F G E N R E
WHERE IT CAME FROM
- Umbrella term for underground music
- Emerged in wake of punk rock in the 1980's
- Was a reflection of social and economic
strains in the US and UK
- Came around when rock bands started
incorporating other genres of music with rock
e.g reggae, punk, folk
WHO STARTED IT
- It started with the band REM in the 1980's
- REM were making a start in alternative rock
and their success rose at the same time
alternative rock started becoming popular
- They started making alternative rock
popular with air time (college radios) which
boosted their commercial success.
MEANING OF ALTERNATIVE
- The world alternative means to differ from.
- In this context it's to be unorthodox or
nonconforming.
- Alternative rock doesn't conform to existing
genres, attitudes, sounds or lyrics
- Often described as 'anti-mainstream' or not
'normal'
- Differs through its social context and
regional roots
ALTERNATIVE OVER TIME
- After the breakthrough of Nirvana it entered
mainstream success in the 1990's
- End of decade its acclaim denounced but grunge
music was still popular
- 1990's and early 2000's several bands emerged
revamping alternative rocks popularity
- 21st century, original bands (Nirvana & Hole) broke
up, replaced by modern indie bands.
- Meaning changed and alternative is now more
mainstream

3. A R T I S T S
PRE 2000'S 2000's
NIRVANA TWENTY ONE PILOTS
­ American rock/grunge band
­ Formed in 1987
­ Considered to be the most influential
rock bands of the 'modern era'
­ Inspire and influence modern rock &
roll culture
­ Denounced commercialism with their
grunge sound
­ Found unexpected success with their
hit 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' (1991)
­ Popularized alternative rock
­ inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame in 2014
­ Sold over 25 million records in US
and 75 million world wide
­ Career ended after death of lead
singer Kurt Cobain
­ American musical duo
­ Formed in 2009
­ Alternative as people find it hard to
apply a genre to them
­ Purpose is to 'make people think'
­ Recognized for their lyrics and
mature and different sounds
­ Breakthrough success with album
Blurryface
­ First alternative artist with two
concurrent top ten singles in US
­ Signed with record label Fueled By
Ramen
­ They have sold out Madison Square
Garden
­ Inspire millions with their lyrics, logo
and motto 'Stay Alive'
­ Tackle modern topics.

4. ANALYSIS OF VIDEOS & LYRICS
TWENTY ONE PILOTS
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
­ The lyrics to kitchen sink are about finding a purpose and
having a purpose.
­ It's all about finding meaning in something that means things
to you.
­ It's a very personal song to the lead singer of the band Tyler
Joseph.
­ Everyone's kitchen sink is different.
­ Everyone has a different purpose and sense of meaning.
­ The only person who can help you is yourself
­ We are all unique and you are the only person who
understands who you are.
­ Doing something that helps you e.g. painting or writing or
creating anything can help find purpose.
KITCHEN SINK
SWEATER WEATHER
­ The video is in black and white reflecting the mood of the
song and the lyrics
­ Includes the usual stereotypes of alternative rock bands, cool
cars, cigarettes and leather jackets.
­ Camera is always panning around or zooming in important
things in the video
­ Rooms are always dark which suggests how their lives are
­ Pacing and frame cuts in sync with tempo of the song
develops excitement of watcher.
­ Has a frame of records implying the idea of new alternative
getting ideas from old alternative

5. RECORD LABELS
­ Founded in 1996.
­ Fueled By Ramen is an American
Record Label.
­ It's a distribution from the label
Atlantic Records.
­ Current artists signed are Fall Out
Boy, Twenty One Pilots and Panic! At
the Disco ­ Founded in 1901
­ American record label
­ Released genres of music such as
R&B, Pop, Rock, Jazz
­ Stands for Radio Corporation of
America
­ Second oldest record label in
America
­ Artists signed include Foo Fighters,
The Strokes and Kings of Leon
­ Founded in 2006
­ British Record Label
­ Distributed by Universal Music
Group
­ Seen as an Independent Label
­ The 1975 were their first act that
reached mainstream success
­ Current artist signed are The
1975 and Wolf Alice

6. KEY LEARNINGS
­ Alternative music could be alternative to any genre but
alternative rock is the most popular.
­ Across time alternative rock has become mainstream and
has lost its meaning
­ Alternative rock lyrics have deep lyrics and their videos are
in sync with the genre of music
­ Alternative rock has been around for longer than I originally
thought.
­ It helps people express their selves more as it is all about
being different
­ Britain gave this genre of music a broader venue
­ Alternative rock music in the modern era (21st century)
takes ideas and influence from 1980's & 90's alternative rock
­ It's the expression of freedom of choice and individualism
­ Talks about major issues in the world
­ It's all about being realistic and that is why it's so authentic