Nostalgia

Of course if you are a young person and are considering some kind of media or media studies course of action be aware that there has got to be something concrete to it, and that it is not an excuse for doing an easier option just so you can get letters after your name. That is studies into the details of media e.g. jpeg, mpeg specification, software languages and methods to use these objects. There's as much creativity in performing a competent plumbers role (perhaps hairdresser as well!) as there is in singing in a band. It's possible to learn the messages of many of these singers in other ways - by studying history, geography and geology by using your own eyes to observe society (and some of its absurdities). So these rock stars are really quite rare, and often with unusual backgrounds that don't confirm to a standard such as other famous people (e.g. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft), so it wouldn't be a good strategy to try and emulate them - just enjoy them, and learn from what they have to say if anything.

It seems like musicians, particularly popular musicians, singers and lyricists are in quite an influential position. For they can freely articulate on many issues and emotions and are not constrained in the same way as some other, perhaps employed people. The words and the messages and the seductive encapsulation in song is very attractive, often to young people. However there lies the predicament because often such young people do not have the experience or knowledge to evaluate the message or the symbolism in the same way as an older person. They are also preoccupied with other things like forming relationships, paying the rent or mortgage or establishing themselves professionally and acquiring knowledge and techniques. So there's a bias in their appreciation which might not be fully corrected until much later in life.