Final Essay Preparation

The progression of alternative music and the emergence of Grunge: Nirvana and the overnight global sound

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My argument:

What was it about Nirvana and the local Seattle Grunge scene that made it such an instant worldwide phenomena?

- authenticity

- simplicity

- performance- dress, mentality, taking the piss, freedom, rocked hard

- musical brilliance- the hook of the song

- intimacy

- he sang for you, understood you- understood youths confusion and related

- popular music- like a mirror – you see yourself

- he made the songs sound like they were about you

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- relate to DIY mentality, new media, radio and MTV, internet, global maintenance

- the future of youth culture- 90s and onwards

The progression of alternative music and the history of punk and following trends in music

What was it about Nirvana that transformed them into a global sound overnight?

Why was Nirvana received so well… and why was everyone waiting for their sound?

How did they change the face of music? Focus on the global scale and maintenance of the grunge global network?

Focus on the authenticity of Nirvana. They were all about simplicity, and the ‘hook’ of the song. Relate to original rock and punk- authenticity and meaning.

AND OR

The local Seattle scene and how this served the beginning of all of those early 90s bands and how they became global.

AND

Media – the importance of radio and MTV

Significance of the charts and knocking off Michael Jackson from the no #1 spot.

How did the global sound spread? New forms of media such as MTV allowed everyone to see the band and know who they were instantly; hence everyone knew who they were overnight.

Issues with the cover sleeve of Nevermind.

Grunge on the internet and fan sites today.