Artist: Evanescence
Song: My Heart Is Broken
Album: Evanescence
Mood: Disappointed
I can’t honestly say I’ve ever had much hope in award shows, whether it be the Grammys or the Academy Awards. And I think most musicians today have come to terms with the fact that it’s all one big popularity contest that has no real bearing on how good or bad one’s music is. I’m not here to bitch about Adele winning nearly half a dozen awards, because I know she deserved them and I’m actually a huge fan. Instead, I’m here to bitch about a lack of representation in rock music.
Like pop music, rock has always been here and will always continue to be here. Just like I’m sure country and rap aren’t disappearing anytime soon. Yet it’s amazing how even the Grammy categories have changed over the years. I went to do a little research back into the early 90s when alternative and grunge ruled the airwaves. And I found there used to be Best Rock Vocal Solo, Best Rock Duo/Group, Best Rock Instrumental, and even Best Rock Male and Female Performance. What is there today for the rock world? Hard rock and metal have merged into one for starters, rounded out with Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song and Album, and Best Alternative Album.
Apparently the Foo Fighters are what the music industry views as the face of rock. I like and respect the Foo Fighters very much, but if they’re considered the face of today’s hard rock scene, I’m scared. I don’t even understand how one band can be nominated in both Rock and Hard Rock/Metal categories. Hard rock they are not. Likewise, the face and very definition of alternative has changed as well. In the mid 90s, alternative meant you liked Jane’s Addiction and Alice in Chains. Today it apparently means you enjoy the mellow folk sounds of Bon Iver.
Granted rock music has changed and evolved, as it should, and we’re stuck on an indie kick, but it’s still a form of rock music that deserves to have recognition. I understand hard rock and metal are not as popular as they used to be, but it’s still there and artists are still making amazing albums and people are still listening. Just like people are still listening to R&B and rap and country and jazz. I don’t see their categories being slashed.
I don’t know why I work myself up over something so petty and meaningless, but I do. Maynard James Keenan of Tool insulted the awards pretty well, “I think the Grammys are nothing more than some gigantic promotional machine for the music industry. They cater to a low intellect and they feed the masses. They don’t honor the arts or the artist for what he created. It’s the music business celebrating itself. That’s basically what it’s all about.” Ironically enough, they’ve won 3 Grammys.
To gather up all these feelings of disappointment, slight anger, and a general disregard, I felt it best to pick a song from a band that gained popularity at the tail end of the nu-metal scene in the early 2000s, a band who took a 5 year hiatus, came back during a time when indie is all people listen to, and still managed to have their new album debut at #1, Evanescence (who also won 2 Grammy Awards in 2004). “My Heart Is Broken” was inspired by the victims of sex-trafficking, but plays to the souls of anyone who’s had their hearts stomped on. I find it fitting today because the Grammys have crushed the hearts of many over the years and I mourn the disappearance of hard rock. Musical is cyclical though, I know it will return eventually. Until then, I’ll shed some tears with a band who continues to fight for rock.
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