I feel that the lyrics in music represent the genre more than the styling, the image or the way the genre is perceived. The main lyrical themes that run through the songs the genre presents are the true themes of the genre as they are what it is based upon! The themes that are presented in rock music can usually be split into two categories.
Category 1
-Loss
-Love
-Lust
-Depression
-Suicide
-Death
-Heartbreak
-Inflicting pain on others or ones self
This is the darker side to rock music, the side that stereotypes 'emos' and brings the negative, saddening side of rock. Although the themes aren't uplifting, they are incredibly beautiful, focusing on things a lot of others genres don't dare to. The bands and artists that focus on this side of rock music usually have the image to go with it, the 'black hair, black eyes, white face' kind of styling. The lyrics that are brought from themes as deep as these are heart wrenching, showing such intense and pure emotion that a lot of people can relate too.
"We all carry these things inside that no one else can see. They hold us like anchors. They drown us out at sea" - 'Chelsea Smile' Bring Me The Horizon
"I may look happy, but honestly dear, the only way I'll smile is if you cut me ear to ear" - 'Chelsea Smile' Bring Me The Horizon
"If I had it my way I'd slit your throat with the knife you left in my back" - 'Sleep With One Eye Open' Bring Me The Horizon
"How stubborn are the scars when they wont fade away?" - 'A Phophecy' Asking Alexandria
"Excuses are useless when your mouth is stapled shut" - 'Nobody Don't Dance No More' Asking Alexandria
"Pretty little lady with the swollen eyes would you show them to me?" - When You Can't Sleep At Night' Of Mice And Men
"I was all for you, you fell over my love, now I'm left with thoughts of suicide" - 'Let Live' Of Mice And Men
"I kissed the scars on her skin, I still think you're beautiful and I don't ever want to lose my best friend" - 'A Match Into Water' Pierce The Veil
"What if I can't forget you? I'll burn your name into my throat, I'll be the fire that will catch you.. Whats so good about picking up the pieces?" - 'Caraphernelia' Pierce The Veil
"Oh what a waste of a perfectly good, clean wrist" - 'Disasterology' Pierce The Veil
"Dare me to jump off this Jersey bridge?" - 'King For A Day' Pierce The Veil
"Red for the cancer, red for the wealthy, red for the drink that's mixed with suicide" - 'King For A Day' Pierce The Veil
"Cos you re such a pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty face, but you turned into a pretty big waste of my time" - 'If You Can't Hang' Sleeping With Sirens
"They said it gets easier but they lied" - 'Miles Away' Memphis May Fire
"One day I'll heal but I'll be covered in scars" - 'Red In Tooth And Claw' Memphis May Fire
"Have you ever took a blade to your wrists? Have you been skipping meals?" - 'Hospital For Souls' Bring Me The Horizon
"I've said it once, I've said it twice, I've said it a thousand f*cking times, that I'm OK, that I'm fine, that its all just in my mind, but this has got the best of me and I just can't seem to sleep" - 'It Never Ends' Bring Me The Horizon
Category 2
-Partying
-Alcohol
-Drugs
-Sex
-Being in love
-Having fun
This is the brighter side to rock, the side that focuses on the good things in life and usually pushes the boundaries while doing so. Its when the relationships going good, when they're so drunk you don't even know where you are and when that girl they've wanted for ages, finally agrees to go to bed. Its the positives, and the sound is unreal, the instrumentation sounding unbelievably uplifting and loud.
"Oh resistance is useless, just two kids stupid and fearless" - 'Time Bomb' All Time Low
"Maybe it's not my weekend, but it's gonna be my year!" - 'Weightless' All Time Low
"You're only happy when I'm wasted, I point my finger but I just can't place it, feels like I'm falling in love when I'm falling to the bathroom floor.. I remember how you tasted, I've had you so many times lets face it" - 'Stella' All Time Low
"2am, I'm on the blackout binge again, you know I don't need sleep and I've lost my keys but I've got so many friends" - 'Stella' All Time Low
"You were fake, I was great; nothing personal" - 'Break Your Little Heart' All Time Low
"Party queen, cause a scene, so ridiculous; little dress, maybe less, so conspicuous.." - 'Break Your Little Heart' All Time Low
"Everybody knows there's a party at the end of the world" - 'Hello Brooklyn' All Time Low
"Tattoos and a switchblade attitude, snakebite heart with a bubblegum smile, sex in stereo, don't turn the radio down" - 'Lost In Stereo' All Time Low
"Somethings telling me to leave but I wont cos I'm damned if I do ya, damned if I don't!" - 'Damned if I do ya' All Time Low
"You say you're winning cos you're laughing, while I'm crying crocodile tears" - 'The Irony Of Choking On A Lifesaver' All Time Low
"Don't hold your breath I am not losing sleep over you, I'm Mr Reckless with a capital R!" - 'Reckless' You Me At Six
"You're pretty from afar but far from pretty" - 'Takes One To Know One' You Me At Six
"Well I'm your friend, friend with benefits" - 'Loverboy' You Me At Six
"You're not on my list of things to do, cos I've already done you" - 'Playing The Blame Game' You Me At Six
"If one drink can make tonight slip your mind then you should drink up so you can convince yourself that I'm cute" - 'Liquid Confidence' You Me At Six
I think looking at the lyrical themes that are portrayed give a much deeper insight into what kind of themes I should present when looking at my music magazine.
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