Most trends and genres in popular music getting to be shaped in the 1960s were seen as part of a countercultural movement, and as rebels against traditional forms of musical entertainment both in terms of melody and lyrics. Heavy metal, hard rock, punk, and post-punk bands are typically labelled as angry young men, and the songs they compose and perform almost always convey ideas of nonconformism and they reject the mainstream mores of Western civilisation. Looking at a few examples we will identify and describe the issues, social and personal problems most frequently discussed in the song lyrics of the above mentioned dark music genres.
Recommended for secondary students and adults.