During the last half of the 20th century rock music became an inseparable part of the vast popular culture in the English speaking world. Lyrics like " I hope I die before I get old" from Pete Townshend's: My Generation, "Then you better start swimmin or you'll sink like a stone" from Bob Dylan's: The Times They are a Changin" and "Old man take a look at yourself I'm a lot like you were" from Neil Young's classic: Old Man, became part of the reservoir of popular culture that flowed through the minds of a large number of people both young and old.
But if we look to the origin of this pop music we find that it's beginning was characterized by a rebellious sentiment that has permeated the musical genre since it first began. In fact a cursory review of the history of the term rock n' roll reveals that it was first used by American musicians during the early part of the 20th century. It was quite frankly an unabashed reference to the act of sexual intercourse. This term no doubt raised more than just a few eyebrows.
Elvis Presley for example, the infamous American icon, was certainly the focus of considerable controversy.
In the late 1950's American television networks refused to film the singer from below the waist. It was argued that his tendency to sway his seductive hips in rhythm to the tune made him more than just a little risque. This story became an integral part of Americana, things typical of American culture or civilization.
Ironically at the dawn of the 21st century we find that the rock phenomenon is, for better or worse, in the guise of different names, playing itself out in different lands and various cultures across the globe. And in many respects the risks and dangers are even greater. In the wide open spaces of Mongolia for example, seemingly far removed from the trappings of western culture, the rock n' roll controversy continues. The quintessential Mongolian rock band Hurd was banned from performing in Inner Mongolia, China. The reason however is not sexual but political.
Hurd, the Mongolian wonder-band, has among it's many talents the phenomenal ability to integrate Mongolian contemporary culture into a brief four minute song. And the youth of Mongolia love it. They are provided with a new opportunity to celebrate their own way of life that is suitable perhaps only for them. For this they should be commended. And perhaps this phenomenon is not so difficult to understand, as the Mongolian people are a proud hardworking resilient bunch. And they are situated between two major world powers, Russia and China.
This surely exacerbates their acute awareness of history. For Mongolian's about eight hundred years ago controlled a vast territory that stretched from Southeast Asia to Europe covering 13.8 million square miles or 35 million square kilometers. But today it is perhaps reasonable to conclude that young Mongolian's are just attempting to make their modest mark on an ever changing modern world. Perhaps the whole rock n' roll thing is merely an exercise in Mongolian self assertion.
However the significance of this self assertion may not be fully understood for years. And surely more than a few American social critics have argued against the evils of rock n' roll for several decades. They have held it responsible for everything from an escalating divorce rate, truancy, and teenage masturbation the most heinous crimes.
With this in mind it is more than a little ironic and slightly comic that the notorious Rolling Stones, the British rock band were granted permission to play in China. With just a few restrictions they were given the green light by the government, provided they would omit a few songs from their play-list. Just a few years ago this would have been unheard of. But today the Chinese government may see these gray-haired weather-beaten old men just as a small means to improve their ever growing economy. They are no longer examples of spiritual pollution and must no longer be purged from the minds of the great proletarian youth.
So we must ask ourselves why is the communist government afraid of Hurd. Speculators have indicated that the Chinese government is perhaps worried about age-old ethnic tensions between Mongolians and Chinese. And as Mongolia is molding itself into a very impressive young democracy perhaps the risk of a pan-Mongolian united front from across the border and into China's Inner Mongolia is more than it can take.
But if we sweep politics aside and focus upon the merits of the music, it is quite difficult not to admire this young group of musicians. With a unique ability to ply their way into the hearts of Mongolia's youth, we can only hope that they will continue to find a creative outlet for their music. If anything, the international attention spurred by their latest round of publicity may be a sign of good things to come. We can therefore at least in all sincerity wish them the best of luck. In the spirit of rock n' roll' "C' mon baby let the good times roll".
