I can name multiple times that I've danced in my living room blasting "The Downward Spiral" by Nine Inch Nails while no one was home. I’d let the music take over me and scream the lyrics as loud as I wanted, and this might even be the highlight of my day. However, I’d catch myself feeling almost embarrassed to play this music during a long car ride with my mom, often stopping before she could fully catch onto the rhythm of whatever song I'd attempted to play.
I doubt she’d judge me, considering she introduced me to Panic At The Disco. Neither of them are necessarily artists you'd hear every day on the radio. But this only led me into doing a deeper analysis of the vast rock genre as a whole. Why aren't they mainstream? Why do rock bands tend to disband so quickly and somehow still remain influential in other genres? And finally, who originated the concept? And why is music that originated in the black community now considered "white girl music"?
I doubt she’d judge me, considering she introduced me to Panic At The Disco. Neither of them are necessarily artists you'd hear every day on the radio. But this only led me into doing a deeper analysis of the vast rock genre as a whole. Why aren't they mainstream? Why do rock bands tend to disband so quickly and somehow still remain influential in other genres? And finally, who originated the concept? And why is music that originated in the black community now considered "white girl music"?
Many doors for rock and roll artists of the 20th century were opened by a black woman by the name of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Sister Rosetta Tharpe originally gained traction in her career during the 1930s due to her intricate mix of gospel and electric guitar. Many people were taken aback at how well she could put together lyrics about her spiritual experiences with strong instrumental distortion to back it up. She certainly made her stamp on music. Isn’t it ironic how rock music is seen as meaningless and devilish when its inspiration was the exact opposite? She is said to have inspired many accomplished artists such as Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley. Yet somehow, she wasn't considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame until 2018.
Of course, I can’t talk about this wonderful woman without mentioning Tina Bell, also known as “the queen of grunge”. Tina Bell was a part of the band “Bam Bam,” which formed in 1983. Bell was the first Black woman to be a part of a grunge band, and she is also seen as one of the originators of that grunge music. Kurt Cobain was a roadie for the group and became a superstar of the well-known band “Nirvana" in 1987. There is little to no information on what awards she has been given, despite inspiring many artists of the late '80s. I find it interesting to see how these women have led us to greatness, even in modern day--yet if you asked someone on the street about them, I'm sure they'd scrunch up their noses in confusion.
Of course, I can’t talk about this wonderful woman without mentioning Tina Bell, also known as “the queen of grunge”. Tina Bell was a part of the band “Bam Bam,” which formed in 1983. Bell was the first Black woman to be a part of a grunge band, and she is also seen as one of the originators of that grunge music. Kurt Cobain was a roadie for the group and became a superstar of the well-known band “Nirvana" in 1987. There is little to no information on what awards she has been given, despite inspiring many artists of the late '80s. I find it interesting to see how these women have led us to greatness, even in modern day--yet if you asked someone on the street about them, I'm sure they'd scrunch up their noses in confusion.
Now, if we were to fast forward to the present day, it's quite easy to see the difference between rock and roll originators as opposed to the influences. This is in no way negative, as it is important to create different genres of music, but it does make one think of how we got to this point. We started off with bands like Bam Bam, Alice in Chains, and Guns N’ Roses: music full of hard-hitting bass, distortion, and strong vocals. This led to artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Paramore, and Willow: more mellowed-out tunes, but nonetheless, headbangers that could move you to tears. Though I love all of these musicians with my heart and soul, sometimes it hurts to observe as the lines get blurred and the alternative community forgets how black people and many POC have contributed to its mastery and popularity.
Sometimes, it feels as though we’ve lost that intensity that was so loved because teens and young adults have been surrounded by people who see this kind of music as "niche" as opposed to a form of unfettered empowerment. Why do so many black teens get pushed away from any concepts musically that aren't inherently R&B or hip hop when alternative music holds so much soul, not only through its deafening voice, but the meaning of its creations? Why is my community so okay with the term “white girl music” when that was neither the point of alternative circles or how any of the music truly came about? We have begun referring to anything slightly less mainstream as “too much” because the youth have started to subconsciously follow the crowd--even though we're supposed to be the most progressive demographic by far.
Sometimes, it feels as though we’ve lost that intensity that was so loved because teens and young adults have been surrounded by people who see this kind of music as "niche" as opposed to a form of unfettered empowerment. Why do so many black teens get pushed away from any concepts musically that aren't inherently R&B or hip hop when alternative music holds so much soul, not only through its deafening voice, but the meaning of its creations? Why is my community so okay with the term “white girl music” when that was neither the point of alternative circles or how any of the music truly came about? We have begun referring to anything slightly less mainstream as “too much” because the youth have started to subconsciously follow the crowd--even though we're supposed to be the most progressive demographic by far.
Many black music lovers say they get tired of repetitiveness, but it's not hard to see the lack of openness towards artists, especially women, to push their boundaries. After about a year or so of silence due to mental health struggles, Megan Thee Stallion came back into the industry to tell her story on her commanding track "Cobra." I have a love for Megan’s catalog, but I can’t deny that this was one of her most vulnerable songs yet. She dove deep into her struggles with suicidal thoughts, losing her family, and the slander she experienced that could have led to her demise. However, the reviews were mixed. Many listeners dismissed her until she shook up the industry again with "Hiss": a direct shot to those that attempted to play with her talent. But "Hiss" was more hip-hop-based.
I found it quite ironic that so many people looked at "Cobra" sideways after begging Megan for versatility. People were too concerned with her metaphors of sex to take the song seriously, even though that's a well known tactic used by many rock artists to express serious struggles. She even took it upon herself to collaborate with “SpiritBox” on its remix, which I didn't find out of character since she's always been vocal about her love for rock. Sadly, many took it as pandering.
I appreciate she has continued staying true to herself, though: she has released another rock track called "TYG" with Spirit Box on her recent album as well. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it was lovely to see the amount of motivation it generated in the female community. It's also highly possible that she brought in an entirely new demographic of fans. In short, I wouldn't recommend “testing the gangsta” of someone who continues to resiliently stand their ground in a field that was initially stacked against them. Maybe you’ll understand that joke if you tune in. It pays to be yourself.
I found it quite ironic that so many people looked at "Cobra" sideways after begging Megan for versatility. People were too concerned with her metaphors of sex to take the song seriously, even though that's a well known tactic used by many rock artists to express serious struggles. She even took it upon herself to collaborate with “SpiritBox” on its remix, which I didn't find out of character since she's always been vocal about her love for rock. Sadly, many took it as pandering.
I appreciate she has continued staying true to herself, though: she has released another rock track called "TYG" with Spirit Box on her recent album as well. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it was lovely to see the amount of motivation it generated in the female community. It's also highly possible that she brought in an entirely new demographic of fans. In short, I wouldn't recommend “testing the gangsta” of someone who continues to resiliently stand their ground in a field that was initially stacked against them. Maybe you’ll understand that joke if you tune in. It pays to be yourself.
It hurts my heart to know that so many black kids may hold back on their talents without taking into consideration that the most influential people in their fields of interest could have been people that looked like them. This isn't just about music anymore. What are we going to say when teens are throwing away notebooks full of art out of fear that could have been someone else’s inspiration? Allowing white people to become the face of creativity is an insane take to me, considering art has always been about diversity and a message. One community can’t share the struggles of another. People tend to have issues differentiating themselves from stereotypes when that's the only thing they've been seen as. The women I've mentioned today aren't the first ones you think of when you hear a song from O My Heart, but now that you know them, it won't be hard to identify what led to the album. Yeah, I'll let you jam to whatever Elvis song you want; just make sure you don't leave Chuck Berry out of that conversation. My history should never be lost.
Something I write in these love letters to my people could light a fire within a girl like me without me knowing. I shared the fact that I was scared to play my favorite rock songs in front of my mother earlier. She recently asked to hear the discography I tend to play in silence, and as I saw her head bobbing out of the corner of my eye, I couldn't help but smile. All of that nervousness seemed irrelevant now.
Fear of oneself is a concept that should be taken as seriously as a fear of walking. It requires a lot of falling to understand it in the beginning, but it's fun knowing you can take any path you want in life once you get the hang of it. I'll take all the judgment in the world in order for that to be a possibility. The leaders of the past were not always agreed with, but we still see aspects of them in the current day.
Fear of oneself is a concept that should be taken as seriously as a fear of walking. It requires a lot of falling to understand it in the beginning, but it's fun knowing you can take any path you want in life once you get the hang of it. I'll take all the judgment in the world in order for that to be a possibility. The leaders of the past were not always agreed with, but we still see aspects of them in the current day.
I'm sure this would be considered a lengthy read for the majority, but if anything, I think this is a perfect example of how allowing room for creative freedom can lead to passionate or informative media. A lot of older black women roll their eyes at opinionated young girls. I've caught some strays in the past due to that, but look at where it led me. Sharing all my minor opinions with someone behind a desk might change how they see the world.
Alexandrea Suggs
She/Her
Creative Writer
Creative Writer
