Rock Music

Linkin Park, The Eagles, Disturbed, The Beatles, Evanescence, and Jimi Hendrix all have one thing in common. They are bands that play rock music. The only difference is that they are from different eras. What did these bands consider rock during their time? Is the rock different from then and now? How did rock change through the eras?

Rock music is a genre of popular music that entered the mainstream in the 1960s. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, rhythm and blues. The foundations of rock are in rock “n” roll.

The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. No one since Elvis Presley made a bigger impact on Rock and Roll than the Beatles. They were part of the British Invasion and stayed together for ten years. They had over 30 top-ten songs. Twenty of their songs made it to the number one spot on the charts, even more than Elvis Presley's 17 chart-toppers! They are considered the most important group in Rock and Roll history.

36 years after The Beatles were formed, Linkin Park made their debut. Both Hybrid Theory and Meteora combine the alternative metal, nu metal, and rap rock sound with influences and elements from hip-hop, alternative rock, and electronica, utilizing programming and synthesizers. The era The Beatles were in didn’t even have these types of sounds invented yet.

In those 36 years a lot of things have changed. From rock n roll to just plain rock. Not only the name change but the rhythm of the sound also changed. Rock n Roll was the combination of the popular black rhythm and blues with the sound of rock and roll. As it progressed through time many different sounds came out: The Motown sound, the Surfer sound, and the Folk Rock and Protest Songs became known to America.

Toward the end of the 1950's Rock and Roll lost many of its great artists. Elvis Presley was drafted into the Army; Little Richard quit Rock and Roll; Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper were killed in a plane crash. Rock and Roll lost its edge and became bland and safe.

Short Review- Underworld

Underworld has finally reached their 8th album, Barking. Barking was release on September 2, 2010. The lead single, "Scribble", produced with Welsh drum and bass producer High Contrast, was released on June 28, 2010.

Underworld is freed up to focus on crafting memorable tunes that hark back to their electronica heyday, as well as more personal, coherent lyrics. Resident Advisor reviewer Ian Mathers said the duo "marries a renewed emphasis on the dance floor with unabashedly open-hearted lyrics", and felt that "the songs here are a harmonious marriage of the classic, propulsive Underworld sound and the kind of techniques and textures that postdate most of their career."

"This record can be seen as a work of celebration while residing in the comforting notion that they have already proven all that they have to prove. Or it could be considered a somewhat lazy effort, a work more poppy than anything they have previously produced and one in which they know will sell well."

Listen to Evanescense

Double the Trouble! Baby and School

The struggle between school, looking for a job, and your family was hard enough, so how harder do you think it will get if you add a baby to that. 

According to an analysis of the most recent data collected by federal government and the nation’s leading reproductive health think tank the pregnancy rate among 15 to 19 year old increased 3 percent between 2005 and 2006.

Brisha Gonzales, a teenage mom, had the chance to experience living with a child. She was 16 years old when she had her baby girl. When she had her baby girl it changed her life drastically. She had to stop being a teen and start acting like a mom.

“It changed my life because I had to grow up and be more responsible,” Gonzales said. She says that it is harder coming to school and taking care of a child. 

Desiree Cortes, a friend of Gonzales, said she was surprised when she found out that Gonzales was pregnant, but right away I let her know that I was going to be there for when she needed me to or not.

“I also felt sad because at the time it felt as if I was going to lose my best friend because I knew she was going to be occupied dealing with preparing for the baby,” Cortes said.

A regular day like for her is waking up in the morning getting ready for school and also getting the child ready, taking the baby to a babysitter while I am at school, going home, picking up the baby at the babysitter house, and going home and taking care of the baby for the rest of the day and night. Then this process is repeated all over each and every day.

“Without the help of my family and friends I don’t think I would have been able to do it,” Gonzales says. They help me with the basic needs of the baby. Some of the needs are the diapers, the food, and some clothing.

Every decision made has its consequences. This includes the decisions made in teen pregnancy as to what should be done with a baby. Gonzales pregnancy was unplanned. Having an unplanned pregnancy made her having to make some major life choices. According to Pregnant Teen Help having an unplanned pregnancy while in high school requires major life choices, including whether to drop out of high school. Overall, 1 in 4 teen girls does not complete high school in the allotted 4 years.

So when being a teenage mom, you have to consider whether to drop out of school or not. So why don’t you just switch it around and wait until you are an adult to have kids. When you are an adult you are more prepared to have kids because you will be able to financially support the child. 

Cortes helps her to take care of the baby. 

“I would call and make sure she had everything she needed and if she didn’t have it I would make an attempt to help her get it. I mainly helped her when it came to getting her caught back up in school after being gone for during the time she had the baby,” Cortes said.

Cortes advice for future teen moms is know who you can go to when you need help and don’t be afraid of asking for help, people are always willing to give assistance.

Music Story Idea Post

Topic: The Changes of Rock Music Throughout the Years
Big Picture: What defines rock? What changes has the rock genre gone through? What makes rock, ROCK?

The Before and After Affects of Teen Pregnancy

Topic: Teen Pregnancy and how it affects their life

Primary Sources:
-Teen who has a kid while still in school: Brisha Gonzales, Shaunice Turner
-Teen who doesn't have a kid: Amber White
-Adult who has a kid: Mr. Forquer
-Adult who doesn't have a kid: Mrs. Granger

Quotes and Paraphrasing Exercise

Josh Lofton:
Josh Lofton, a student at Sierra High School had his share of opinion on Listening to music while doing homework. Lofton is for be able to listen to music while doing his homework. He says that before he started to listen music he didn't do so well on tests, but when he did start listening to music his test scores got better.

"I focus better when listening to Metallica," Lofton said.
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Charity Abram:
Charity Abram, a common high school student has her opinion set when it comes to outlawing tobacco. She was once a smoker, but has to quit because someone special to her convinced her that was not a healthy thing to do. When she was a smoker she had just the opposite feeling she does know.

"No that sucks, I am a smoker!" Abram said when asked her opinion of outlawing tobacco

She says that when she smoke it makes her more relaxed and happy and if they got rid of that I wouldn't feel like that no more.
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Sammy Willey
Sammy Willey, a common teenager in a average household has the opposite effect of what most people would think when it comes to curfews.Willey says the parents should at least try giving their son/daughter a chance at what responsibility really is.

"Curfews should be inforced, but not like pushing it to the limit," Willey said.