The concept of alternative music can be ambiguous, imprecise. From the outset, it could be said that it is all pop music that is opposed to commercial canons.
It is not a rigid and static genre, they are rather many styles (some similar, others quite different from each other). They range from derivations of the most traditional rock, to electronic rhythms, dance and house. It goes through rap and hip hop.
Many of his lyrics have political, social and even philosophical dissertations, although in general, it is usually associated with sad and depressive stories.
Officially, its origin is located in the 80s in the United States, with the proliferation of the "Movida Undergroud", the one that goes "low", that opposes everything established and that sought to reach customizable audiences in small bars, far from the big stages.
Is alternative music anti-commercial?
Still in the 80s, by staying away from large audiences, the concept of anti-commercial made sense. But with the entry of the last decade of the XNUMXth century and the beginning of the XXI, the paradox of the alternative was present.
Alternative music began to move without the artists proposing it, as a Trademark. Alternativo it became an adjective frequently used by companies to promote various styles. The appearance of Alternative Pop made the commercialization of the concept more latent.
Despite everything, many artists managed to maintain some creative independence. This allowed the reappearance of a closely related term: Indie.
In any case, as we approach the close of the second decade of the XNUMXst century, the concept of Alternative Music continues to have a differential value that places it above the commercial and conventional. Perhaps the alternative is nothing more than an asterisk or a footnote. Something like "this is a commercial product, but made with creativity."
Songs and sub-genres "Alternatives"
Without going into mercantilist evaluations, let's review some of the best exponents of Alternative Music in all its variants:
Smells like teen spirit - Nirvana (1991)
During the 90s, the grunge was synonymous with alternative music, and Nirvana was the band that defined it. Nevermind, the second album by this trio from Aberdeen, near Seattle in the United States, represents a watershed in modern music history. Smells like teen spirit it broke with the Glam sound of the 80s that dominated the entire Rock scene.
Frustration of Kurt Cobain, the band's vocal leader and his superstar status, synthesizes the paradox of the Alternative phenomenon.
losing my religion - REM (1991)
While Cobain and company were establishing themselves as members of the musical "Star System", another band, with more years on the scene (enough to be included among the pioneers of Alternative Music), achieved an unexpected success. It reached number 4 on the Billboard chart, despite the fact that many music executives called it "hard to listen to."
Crime - Belako (2014)
Alternative music has also had wide presence in Spain in the last decades. Belako is one of the last bands to get on the local scene, quickly making a space in the Independent scene. Melodically, Crime It's a tough piece, Punk in its purest form, which at times evokes the sound of Nirvana, balanced with the soft voice of Lore Nekane Billelabeitia.
Don't speak - No Doubt (1995)
Before Gwen Stefani became another trademark, his time in this band, with influences and style of the most varied, would establish another milestone within Alternative Music with this theme, an anthem for the youth of the mid-90s.
Halfway between a pop ballad, rock and some ska; a story of heartbreak that would influence the spirit Emo, another Alternative variant, in which emotions, mostly sad and depressive, have primary value.
I laugh for not crying - Delafe and the Blue Flowers (2011)
Spain also has its Trip Hop variant with this group from Barcelona. Included in the album Of you without me / Of me without you, the song became a refreshing balm both for its melody and lyrics, as well as for the ingenuity and fun of its video clip.
Creep - Radiohead (1992)
Included in Pablo Honey, debut album by this British band, was initially not a commercial success because British radios called it excessively depressing. 25 years later, it is a classic of Alternative Rock, despite the animosity that the members of the band, considering it too commercial.
Because of the humidity - Nacho Vegas (2003)
Included in the second solo work of this Asturian singer-songwriter Hard-to-stop music boxes, this topic is another ode to depression, a very present element in alternative music, whatever its sub genre or the language in which it is sung. Guitar and voice are the only elements of this piece, for many of the best that has been done in Spain, outside of the commercial music circuits.
Second prize - The Planets (1998)
First single from the album A week on a bus engine, one of the best valued jobs within the alternative movement from Spain. This album has also been listed as one of the best Spanish Pop albums in history.
Decode - Paramore (2008)
This theme and this band are the best example of how commercial alternative music can be. With airs of Rock Indie, this song was part of the Soundtrack of Twilight, the first film in the modern vampire saga starring Robert Pattinson and Kristin Stewart.
There where we used to scream - Love of Lesbians (2009)
One of the Top Indie Rock Bands of the Spanish musical scene of the XXI century. Included in work 1999, an album that tells a love story in its different phases, divided into 14 songs.
There are many themes, bands and artists, as well as the different sub-genres that alternative music encompasses that we are leaving out. Just mentioning that several scholars of modern music, set the origins of this categorization in the 60s, with the arrival of Symphonic Rock and Progressive Rock.
Image sources: Youtube / InformaBTL Magazine