Robert Waldo Emerson once said, “The biggest challenge in life is to be yourself in a world that is trying to make you like everyone else” (Emerson). This quote accurately depicts the intention of creating music for others. In the 90s, the grunge and rap communities would express annoyance towards how society functioned during this chaotic decade. The United States was undergoing an economic boom which affected the music world. In terms of political change, the government and society had disagreements over the scandals and controversial issues being discussed throughout communities around the country. The 1990s revolutionized the grunge and rap music genre and its society during that time by creating a sense of rebellion, self-expression, a …show more content…
The country didn’t encounter any major economical turbulence during this time following the events of the economic boom. For example, the health of the economy was refined as it grew by an average of 4 percent per year between 1992 and 1999 (Pethokoukis, Economic Boom). Based on these statistics, the United States was improving its economy and stock markets to its all time best since The Great Depression. This created some breathing room for the music industry as customers were capable of buying music from their favorite retailers since they were more efficient with their funds. As a result of jobs being added to the American workforce, the unemployment rate was cut in half from 8 percent to 4 percent in 1992 (Pethokoukis, Economic Boom). Since the economy was improving, this allowed music to be able to grow and develop during this …show more content…
The term grunge itself means “dirt” or “filth.” The term was seen as appropriate because of the “dirty” sound from the guitar, and the messy, unkempt appearance of most grunge musicians (“Grunge Music”). Grunge musicians were actually able to create a fashion trend, not because they meant to, but because they were just simply lazy. Music journalist Charles R. Cross even said “Kurt Cobain was just too lazy to shampoo,” (“Grunge Music”). Typically, grunge artists wore oversized flannels with other various thrift store items. They also normally had long, messy hairstyles. Another reason that the word grunge is seen as appropriate is because of the punk and heavy metal influences within its music. Grunge bands had more of a punk attitude within its lyrics, and the instruments used in songs had more heavy metal influences; however, some bands emphasized one of these influences in their music more than the other. Grunge song lyrics tended to have similar themes and ideas such as social alienation, apathy, anger, frustration, depression, drug addiction, and a desire for freedom (“Grunge Music”). These bands also “seemed to send a message about the status quo of society and the helplessness that was felt among the teens and early adults of the era. Songs like Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” spoke about a teen revolution in a seemingly meaningless world,” (Pearson). Overall, grunge music influenced