I am a huge classic rock fan. From Def Leppard to Styx to Billy Squier, I'm all about my classic rock. I didn't start to listen to it because I wanna be 'edgy' or seem like a badass, I started listening to it because it's the music my dad played for me when I was younger. I loved classic rock for the sake of nostalgia, but as I've thought about it, I've grown to love classic rock for deeper reasons.
It's more authentic.
The voices are absolutely pure. During the era of classic rock, there was no autotune. If you listen to an REO Speedwagon song that was recorded and is now streaming on Spotify, Pandora, or something, then see them in concert, they sound exactly the same. They don't need any touch up in the studio because the amazing talent that they have been blessed with is authentic.
They had to have talent to become famous.
Their careers were not about their looks, because music was mostly over the radio. News flash: Steven Tyler has never been an attractive man, he didn't just wake up one morning fugly. He may not be a good looking dude, but Steven Tyler has an amazing voice accompanied with nice range. Today, a singer could have the voice of an angel and still wouldn't make it into the music industry just because they don't have the right look. Or vice-versa, where they're not that talented, but they're extremely attractive and that somehow makes up for their lack of talent.
They were less raunchy.
Somehow I get frowned upon when I blast Warrant's "Cherry Pie", but when the 12-year-old girl that lives across from my apartment plays Ariana Grandes' "Side to Side" featuring Nicki Minaj, nobody bats an eye. Yes, "Cherry Pie" was a dirty song for its time, but it never explicitly said anything dirty, it was all implied. HOWEVER, "Side to Side" has a very dirty meaning, and actually uses the phrase, excuse my language (mom, look away), "ride d*ck bicycle." I'm not making this up.
And yet, somehow, my song is dirty and is the go-to stripper song.
Women were respected more.
This may seem like a stretch but here me out. Very seldom is a woman referred to as a hoe or a b*tch in a classic rock song. This doesn't make sense because it shouldn't. One would think that after about 30 to 40 years, especially since feminism has come a long way since then, women would be more respected in music. You'd think that since there are more women in the music industry now that they'd be depicted in songs in a much nicer way. Guess not.
Going beyond just the sound, which is kick-ass might I add, classic rock is really the best genre of music.