Pop Culture: The Romance of England Rock

Why Study Pop Culture to Understand a Culture

 

American cultural scholar John Fiske notes in Understanding Popular Culture (Fiske, J. ) that pop culture is a cultural form created and consumed by the public in daily life. Like a mirror, it reflects the lifestyle, value orientations, and aesthetic choices of specific groups in a given era. This cultural system, composed of elements such as music, film, television, and fashion, is far more than a simple entertainment product; it serves as "cultural codes" carrying societal collective memory. When Wendy Hui emphasizes that "seeing oneself in pop culture is a bond that connects individuals with broader communities," she reveals pop culture’s deeper social function—it builds an emotional bridge between individuals and groups, allowing people to affirm their sense of identity through shared cultural symbols (Hsu, N.d.).

 

As a core carrier of pop culture, music stands out for its accessibility in dissemination and the directness of its emotional expression, making it the most penetrating cultural form. Marshall McLuhan’s assertion that "the medium is the message" (McLuhan, M.) is vividly illustrated in the realm of music: from vinyl records to digital streaming, the evolution of media forms continuously expands the boundaries of music’s reach, while shifts in genres like rock, jazz, and electronic music directly reflect changes in the spirit of the times.

 

For adolescents, as Christensen and Roberts observe, pop music acts as "cultural heavy equipment" in their growth process. Its influence surpasses that of film, television, and the internet, making it a core force in shaping youth subculture. When individuals perceive the artistic representation of their own experiences through lyrics and melodies, music becomes an extension of their self-identity—a trait particularly pronounced in England rock.

 

 

Queen: A Landmark of English Popular Culture 

 

In the glittering firmament of England rock, Queen stands as an ever-bright star. Founded in 1970, this band, with its innovative spirit of blending rock, opera, classical and other diverse styles, has created timeless classics such as "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Will Rock You". The lead singer, Freddie Mercury, with his highly recognizable voice and dramatic stage presence, has become a legendary icon in rock history. His compositions combine grand narratives with delicate emotions, capable of depicting personal inner turmoil through the complex arrangement of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and uniting collective emotions with the rousing melody of "We Are the Champions". (Blake, M.) Queen's music not only achieved great commercial success but also served as an auditory footnote to the social trends of the 1970s and 1980s on a cultural level. Their live performances, such as the stunning show at Live Aid in 1985, are still regarded as the pinnacle of rock spirit to this day (Journal of Popular Music Studies.).

 

 

 

What kind of England do we see in Queen

 

1. The Era's Declaration in Rhythm: The Collective Awakening of "We Will Rock You"

When the stomping rhythm of "We Will Rock You" resounds in sports stadiums, behind its minimalist melody lies a tribute to collective power. This 1977 creation, inspired by the rhythm of workers' labor, with lyrics like "Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise" (Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise), became a cultural slogan for the youth to break the silence and declare their existence. In Thatcherite Britain, this dual emphasis on individual strength and collective identity echoed the society's reflection and reconstruction of traditional order. Rock music was no longer merely a music genre but became a cultural weapon for a generation to express their rebellious spirit and idealism. The rhythm pulsating within it was an eternal pursuit of equality and freedom (Popoff, M.) .

 

 

 

2. The Dual Life on and off the Stage: The Image Paradox of Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury was a shining rock god in public but faced controversy in private due to his sexual orientation and extravagant lifestyle. This image dichotomy was artistically presented in "Bohemian Rhapsody" — the operatic monologue in the first half of the song was like a mirror to his inner world, and the complex arrangement structure reflected the multiplicity of his identity. When he sang "Nothing really matters" on stage, it was both a disdain for worldly prejudice and a commitment to his true self. This contradiction precisely constitutes the essence of the charm of idols in popular culture: they are both perfect cultural symbols and real human beings, and their life trajectories provide the English public with a mirror to examine the complexity of human nature, allowing individuals to deepen their self-awareness through admiration and reflection.

 

3. The Imprint of Growth in Melody: The Intergenerational Inheritance of Rock Spirit

Queen's music has long influenced teenagers beyond music itself. When young people release their youthful vitality to the carnival rhythm of "Don't Stop Me Now" and ponder the meaning of life to the lyrical melody of "Who Wants to Live Forever", rock becomes the cognitive framework for English youth to understand the world. This influence is not only reflected in musical aesthetics but also shapes their value orientation — the assertion of individuality, the embrace of diversity, and the persistence of ideals. As Christensen put it, the "heavy equipment" role of popular music in adolescence has made Queen's works a cultural birthmark of a generation in England, and the spirit of freedom and creativity they convey continue to inspire new generations to find their own spiritual coordinates in popular culture. 

 

The romance of England rock lies in its constant resonance with the pulse of the times, weaving a map of individual and collective emotions within its melodies. When the songs of Queen traverse time and space, what we see is not only a musical legend but also the powerful force of popular culture as a social mirror - it enables every soul to find resonance in collective memory, to affirm itself in artistic expression, and ultimately to hear the heartbeat of an era in England within the rhythm of rock.

 

 

Reference

[1].Fiske, J. (1989). Understanding Popular Culture. Routledge.

[2].Hsu, W. (n.d.). Insights on the Significance of Self - Representation in Popular Culture. [Online platforms where Wendy Hsu's ideas are presented].

[3].McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. New York: McGraw-Hill.

[4]. Blake, M. (2002)：Queen: The Definitive Biography. 

[5].Journal of Popular Music Studies.(1988): Bohemian Rhapsody: The Making of the Queen Classic. 

[6].Journal of Popular Music Studies.(1988): The Impact of Queen's Music on 20th - Century Rock Culture. 

[7].Popoff, M. (2018). Queen : Album by album. Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota,

Voyageur Press.