The Story of Rock and Roll: 1980s to Present

The Story of Rock and Roll: 1980s to the Present

Discover and enjoy the wide range of musical styles from the 1980s through to the 21^st century, with lecturer Keith McCuaig. The social and historical context of this music, its major figures, and descriptions of musical characteristics and sounds will be explored. The focus of this series is on various rock-related styles, but many other popular music forms will be examined as well. We’ll discuss most of the major figures from this 45-year period, including 80s legends Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson and Madonna; 90s rockers Nirvana, the Tragically Hip and Alanis Morissette; and 2000s retro icons Amy Winehouse, Adele, and the White Stripes. From major pop and rock stars, to more obscure underground styles, get ready to listen and learn about a vast array of music!

This series picks up where “Rock in the Late 1960s and Beyond” left off. There’s no prerequisite for this series, but if you enjoyed Keith’s first two rock courses, you’ll enjoy completing the journey!

Schedule of Topics:

 

Week 1  - May 4

This course start off with the “rock traditionalists” of the 1980s, including Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. The music video came to prominence in this decade, and some aspects of this visual medium with be discussed (and several video clips will be viewed throughout the course). We’ll also cover a selection of mainstream acts such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, U2, and Bryan Adams. Finally, a small selection of harder edged groups and styles will be explored including Guns n’ Roses, Van Halen, AC/DC, and Joan Jett.

 

Week 2 - May 11

This week starts with the giants of 1980s pop: Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince. Some 1980s indie rock is next, with groups like R.E.M. and The Smiths. Moving into the 1990s, we’ll look at the umbrella term alternative rock, and explore several bands and styles including Nirvana (grunge), Nine Inch Nails (industrial rock), and Green Day (pop punk).

 

Week 3 - May 25

Continuing with 1990s alternative rock: the rise of Britpop (Oasis and Blur); the difficult-to-categorize Radiohead; and feminist punk Riot Grrl movement; and a variety of other sounds including Alanis Morisette, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Beck.

 

Week 4 - June 1

The 1990s saw a boom in Canadian rock, including The Tragically Hip, and The Tea Party. We’ll look at some major soft rock artists like Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews Band, and Sarah McLaughlan, and the women-dominated Lilith Fair music festival. Rounding out the range of styles this week are the stars of 90s pop including Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls; the rise of rap rock (Rage Against the Machine); and post-rock (Sigur Rós).

 

Week 5 - June 8

Moving into the 2000s, this week we’ll cover the garage rock revival (The White Stripes and The Black Keys); Indie rock (Wilco, Vampire Weekend, and Arcade Fire); indie folk (Jack Johnson and Mumford and Sons); and soft rock (John Mayer and Coldplay).

 

Week 6 - June 15

Continuing in the 2000s, we’ll explore a range of strong women artists (Avril Lavigne, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé), math rock (Tool), and mainstream rock sounds. Two major technological changes this era are music streaming and AI music creation, both of which will be examined. The course will finish up with some retro stars: Amy Winehouse, Adele, Bruno Mars, and Outkast.