The Kids Are Alright: rock’s legacy in a new age

Back in the 50’s – 90’s, rock filled the charts but when taking a look at the Billboard charts today, it’s hip hop and pop music is at the top while rock is typically found at the bottom, if at all.

8forty spoke with five teenage rock fans to learn what it means to love rock in 2025. In a world that’s moved on to new sounds, they say it’s the connections to their lives and people that keep the genre alive.

Since its arrival in 1950s, rock music has maintained a deep-rooted relation with youth culture. Journalist, David Halberstram describes in the book The Fifties, how parent-teen conflict was part of rock’s original appeal. “Parents might disapprove of the beat and of their children listening to what they knew was black music,” he writes. “But their disapproval only added to [Elvis] Presley’s popularity and made him more of a hero among the young .”

While today’s teen’s may be rebelling in different ways, rock is still in the mix. Statista found in early 2023, that rock is still the favourite genre for 33 percent of Gen Z in US.

Pop music is most associated with teenagers today.

So, if rock isn’t simply the music that all their friends are listening to, how are young people discovering it? According to those who spoke to 8forty for this article, the majority of young rock fans seem to discover the genre the old-fashioned way: through family, friends, and physical media.

“I discovered or started listening to the genre because my dad played David Bowie in his car so I kind of was automatically exposed to it.” says 18-year-old Morgan, who is a fan of Glam Rock.  

Other fans have also highlighted connections with family members as the beginning of their rock music interest.

“My mom always plays 80s radio all day long,” 17-year-old Chris says. “She also plays lot of Journey on CDs.”

Chris has since become a big fan of the 80s rockers.  “Journey has the sound of true rock and roll, the keyboard make the 80s pop vibe and the kind of emotional sounds. Steve Perry’s voice was powerful.”

Sometimes, discovery happens in more unexpected and modern ways.

“My friend Jim, I had the same class with him a year ago, and he asked me to join a Spotify Jam with him. I had some rock music in my playlist but never really got into it,” says 16-year-old Bobby, a fan of Bruce Springsteen. Spotify Jam allows users on Spotify to have real-time listening sessions between users. “In the jam, he played a lot of classic rock songs like ‘Born to Run.’ So he introduced me to Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Bobby told 8forty.

“I remember him introducing me Billy Joel. The piano based rock songs were most of my favourite. After he introduced them to me, I looked up some popular Springsteen, Billy Joel, Bryan Adams, or any class rock artists.”

Rock music is widely known for the strong emotional connections with youth experience. That is still valid today.

Morgan says rock music has become the anthem for his major life events. “The song called ‘Fallen Angel’ by Poison motivated me when I was moving out for college,” he told 8forty. The song is about moving out and trying everything by yourself. “I feel a tied connection with this song.” For him, this personal reflection is what keeps rock meaningful across the generations.

Bobby, says rock and roll had connected with him emotionally when leaving his friends behind, and moving to Canada. “When I was leaving Paraguay, in the farewell party, my friend played Have You Ever Seen the Rain? by Creedence Clearwater Revival. The song which, according to vocalist John Fogerty, was inspired by CCR’s impending break up helped Bobby feel connected to his friends back home.

In an era when pop and hip hop dominate, discovering someone who shares same taste for a lesser-known rock song creates a rare and genuine connection.

Cameron says it makes sense of his belonging. “If I meet someone else who knows the song too, that ‘You know it too?’ moment is special.”

Rock may not be trending on TikTok every day, but its present in stadiums, playlists, and parties proves that it still holds cultural weight. It remains to be soundtrack for energy, excitement, and nostalgia.

“I go to football games every weekend, but I hear lot of Guns ‘N Roses playing.” Chris says, “Bon Jovi and AC/DC are on my friend’s playlist who mainly listen to rap.”

With the genre being blended with another genre such as country music, rock is shifting to new forms while staying true to its roots. This creates a fresh and new sound that is popular within the youth across the world. Young artists such as Morgan Wallen are often considered to be Country-Rock artists, with the blend of amplified drums and guitar. In this way, the genre can find new audiences and staying relevant to today’s musical landscape. It is not a loss of identity; it is a part of evolution.

Luke, a 19-year-old Def Leppard fan says, “rock’s future is bright. It’s getting more diverse. Country rock is popular. When you see the charts, Morgan Wallen is up there too.”

Morgan says being a rock fan today is kind of freeing feeling “You’re not chasing trends, you’re not listening because it’s on a playlist with 100 million saves,” he says.

“You’re listening because it feels right. You found it, or it found you, and it makes it even more meaningful for me.”

Image Credit:  Raph_PH / Wikipedia commons