UNDERGROUND vs MAINSTREAM: WHICH SIDE ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR?

Which one is really suitable for a Punk Rock band whether stand beneath the flag of underground pride or just blindly put their band future’s with the mainstream instruction? If we make some polls for this question, absolutely a lot of Punk Rock lovers will answer being an underground band is much better for a Punk Rock band because of musically freedom, free from commercialize world, DIY ethics, and resembles the Punk attributes itself.
Nowadays, underground music always being a casualty of misunderstood among the naïve people. When we ask a common man about underground music, supposedly they will answer underground music a set of song that loud, fast, harsh and insult lyric, noise and etc. It is definitely not. Underground is a term to determine the status of a band in term of their management, movement, record distribution and band or artiste promotion. So, we cannot easily claim a specific genre as underground. For instance, a Black Metal can be a mainstream band if the band signs up a contract under the major label even though the music is very heavy instead, a mellow-pop band can be an underground if the band sign up under the independent label. In this case, mainstream band will be managed under major label with mainstream style and underground band will be managed under independent label with underground style. So, think about it carefully.
Another thing relate with this case is the usage of independent word. Independent is the status of underground band which the band is under contract of independent label. The word spoke widely by common people. What makes it confuse? The first confusion is about independent music or in short indie. Indie is a kind of music genre. The word independent in this case is refer to the band that play Indie music where the music root is come from the 60’s UK pop and emerged during the 80’s UK music scene. The band example is Oasis, Blur, The Stone Roses, The Smiths, Ocean Colour Scene and in Malaysia like Hujan, OAG, The Times, Bittersweet etc. So, all of these bands we call as independent band in term of music. Then, another independent case is, a band under contract with an independent label but the band play different music than Indie. So, the band called independent band as well. For instance like a Punk Rock band from America call Rancid plays Punk Rock music but the band is under the management of independent label, so Rancid is an independent band even though they play Punk Rock.
To make underground and mainstream more obvious, let’s compare it along with the example. Firstly, in term of recording company or label, underground band will sign up with independent label and mainstream band will sign up with major label. In this case, underground band is more free to play music because independent label is independently to let their band without put so much condition during recording contract deal. However, mainstream band has lack of musically freedom because of the recording contract conditions from major label. The example of major label is EMI and Sony BMG. Epitaph and Hellcat Record are the instance for independent label. Secondly, in term of promotion. Mainstream band will be promoted in the mainstream media like newspaper, entertainment magazines, television and radio. They have a huge musical scope because the major label’s aim is popularity and profits. Then, underground band will be promoted in the underground scene like fanzines, gig flyers, gig and news letter. So, the musical scope is limited because the aim of independent label is the music produced only for its followers and popularity is not important. Thirdly, in term of record distribution. Mainstream band record is available in music store anywhere because the musical scope is huge. Underground band record is available only in selected music store, jamming studio and gig because the musical scope is limited and the music produced is only for their followers.


By: WAN MOHD FAIEZ BIN WAN ISMAIL(A128476)

hey.....for all members...we wiil discuss about punk....we hope all of you can enjoy with this topics...hehehehehehehehe..

PUNK FASHION: PUNK IS NOT WHAT YOU WEAR BUT WHO YOU ARE

Punk fashion is the styles of clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, and body modifications of the Punk subculture. The distinct social dress of other subcultures and art movements, including Glam Rock, Skinheads, Rude Boys, and Mods has influenced Punk fashion. Punk fashion has likewise influenced the styles of these groups, as well as those of popular culture. Punk uses clothing as a way of making a statement. The original Punk fashions of the 70’s were intended to appear as confrontational, shocking and rebellious as possible. This style of punk dress was significantly different from what would later be considered the basic Punk look. Many items that were commonly worn by punks in the 70’s became less common later on, and new elements were constantly added to the punk image.
Deliberately offensive T-shirts were popular in the early punk scene. Punk mostly uses T-shirts feature Crucifix and a Nazi Swastika. These T-shirts, like other punk clothing items, were often torn on purpose. Other items in the early British Punk fashion included Anarchy symbols, brightly-colored or white and black dress T-shirts, fake blood, patches, and deliberately controversial images such as the portraits of Marx, Stalin and Mussolini were popular. Leather rocker jackets and customised blazers were early, and are still a common fixture of punk fashion.
For footwear, Punk usually uses military boots, steel-toe boots, motorcycle boots, Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars, and Dr. Martens boots. But nowadays, leather boots is very synonym with Punk subculture especially the black or dark-coloured boots.
For jeans, it is commonly dirty, torn or splattered with bleach. This style is very famous among the Punkers. Punk commonly wears skinny jeans, tight leather pants, pants with leopard patterns, and Tartans pants or skirts were commonly worn or popular choices.
Punk hair style was cropped and deliberately made to look messy, in reaction to the long smooth hairstyles that were common in the 60’s and early 70’s. Hair was often dyed bright unnatural colours. Although provocative, these hairstyles were not as extreme as later punk hairstyles, such as liberty spikes or the Mohawk hairstyle.
Hence, Punk fashion added with some accessories to feature the rebel attitude.
Other accessories worn by some punks included fishnet socks and it sometimes ripped, studded or spiked, safety pins in clothes and as body piercings, silver bracelets and heavy eyeliner worn by both men and women. Many female punks rebelled against the stereotypical image of a woman by combining clothes that were tantalizing or pretty with clothes that were considered masculine, such as combining a Bellet dress-up with boots.

Punk History....

Back in the late 50’s, world political situation was really unstable. It was the time of Cold War period right after the World War 2 finished about 10 years ago. After couples of year the entire world saw a massive clash between world super power during World War 1 and 2, anyone believe that war is not the solution to solve any problems. So young generation bravely and freely to voice out their opinion about anti-war and the usage of nuclear. They do not want to see any wars anymore.
In conjunction of it, youngster’s counter-culture emerged to represent all of their voices. The counter-culture such as Punk, Mods, Hippies and Rocker lead the way. They used music as the medium to scream out their feelings and fashion to depict the reality happened all around them. These counter-culture always being misunderstood by anyone especially the authorities because of their bad attitude and harsh-criticized towards the weak of government to fix internal and external issues. The youngsters did it via music and fashion. The authority claimed them as troublesome.
Previous youth subcultures in term of fashion influenced various aspects of the Punk subculture. The Punk movement rejected the remnants of the Hippies counter-culture of the 60’s while at the same time preserving its distaste for the mainstream. Punk fashion rejected the bright colours, loose clothes, and unkempt appearances of Hippies fashion. The jeans, T-shirts, chains, accessories, eyed-charcoal, ear piercing, leather boots and leather jackets common in Punk fashion and it can be traced back to the Bikers gang and Rockers of earlier decades. The all-black attire and moral laxity of some Beatniks influenced the punk movement. Beatniks mean anti-materialistic lifestyle. Other subcultures that influenced the punk subculture, in terms of fashion, music attitude or other factors include Mods and Glam Rockers. It all was happened back in the late 60’s.

By : Anuar Nordin (A127710)

PUNK DANCE: STREET ART FOR ALL AGES

Punk dance, it is sound so funny, but this is another branch of Punk art along with Punk music. Punk dance commonly performed at punk shows, these dances often appear chaotic or even violent, though they are often not with violent intent, but rather for fun. Unlike Hip Hop dance and breakdancing, punk dances are intended to be performed in crowded place. The dances are such Pogo, Moshing, Stage Diving, Crowd Surfing and Skanking. Let’s we go one by one.

The pogo is a dance where the dancers jump up and down, while remaining in the same location, especially in a common version of the dance, where an individual keeps their chest stiff, their arms rigid, and their legs close together. Although just as often, pogo dancers will wave their arms around wildly while thrashing their bodies about. Occasionally, dancers collide, but this is not necessarily part of pogo dancing. An uninformed bystander might get the impression that the dancers are attacking one another. People sometimes get injured when pogoing, but, more often than not, pogoers who fall to the ground are helped up instead of getting crushed. There is a general understanding that the pogo is fun, not a fight.

Moshing is another Punk art of dance. Moshing or slamming refer to the activity in which audience members at live music performances aggressively push or slam into each other. It is typically done in an area in front of the stage which is referred as the mosh pit or simply pit. While Moshing is seen as a form of positive feedback or reflection of enjoyment from live performances, it has also drawn some controversy over its dangerous nature. However, it is generally agreed that moshers are not trying to harm one another and follow an unwritten "moshing etiquette", or pit hospitality, which promotes safety through behaviours such as immediately helping fallen audience members back to their feet to avoid their being crushed.

On the other hand, Stage Diving is the act of leaping from a concert stage onto the crowd below. Initially seen as confrontational and extreme, stage diving has become common at Punk and rock performances. Many musicians have made stage diving a part of their stage act. Stage diving can cause serious injuries, as the stage diver can fail to be caught by the audience below and hit the floor with some force, sometimes head land first. Stage divers can also injure the people on whom they land, or knock them over to be crushed by the dancing crowd.

Crowd surfing can easily be describes the process in which a person is passed overhead from person to person during a concert, transferring the person from one part of the venue to another. The surfer is passed above everyone's heads, with everyone's hands supporting the surfer. At most concerts and festivals, the crowd surfer will be passed towards a barrier in front of the stage by the crowd, where they will be pulled off and put onto their feet by the security. Then, they will be sent back to the side or rear of the crowd at the end of the barrier or they may be ejected from the venue.

The last dance called Skanking. The dance style originated in the 50’s or 60’s at Jamaican dance halls, where ska music was played. The British Mods and Skinheads of the 60’s adopted these types of dances and introduced it. But, the Punk version features a sharp striking out look with the arms and is sometimes used in moshing to knock around others doing the same. For punk version, it can be seen during Ska Punk band performance.

BY : MIMI FARIZA (A123874)

WHAT IS PUNK???

Young hood is a phase of human life where we are in the stage of looking for our own identity. Identity is such an entity of a man that will mould up someone characteristic for time to come. So, internal influence from family just like a primary and external influence from friend just like a secondary. In this case, parent as a primary influence needs to play with such a massive role to be an icon for their children. Otherwise, children will choose to copy their secondary influence to lead their way. As an instance for secondary influence, it is absolutely an artiste as the influential public figures. Then, ask ourselves who one is pretty good, primary or secondary? For those who on the right track to follow their parent to lead their way, a bright future is waiting ahead, instead those who let themselves fly away with their public figures fabrication, perhaps they will go astray.
Punk identity is pretty synonym with youngster. This movement is formed for youngsters who love to be different. Differ in term of identity, fashion, ideology, music and art of dance. The crucial is, this is not a political movement or in the other words, Youngster who Punk is free from any political jerk. Rebellious, anti-establishment and anarchy are three words for to resemble Punk. These ideology shapes up what Punk is all about. These attribute live in the heart of every Punk follower and common people as well. Here obviously, do not judge a man by its cover. Do not just look at the way a man dress up without understand their heart and mind. Punk attribute always be with a man who loves to rebel, show anti-establishment manner and believe in anarchy. Punk first stand begins with these attributes. Is your life consists these three attribute? So, you are a Punk.
But, we cannot relate punk with any problems, demonstrations or vandalisms occur in our residence. In conjunction of these, Punk always is being misunderstood by public, media and authority. Punk is not a troublesome. Punk is made to reform the injustice and voice out the working class messages, the truth about Punk is not to create the problem, not to lead the demonstration and not to encourage the vandalism. Punk existence is to unveil the reality about political corruption, authority’s double-standard towards Punk culture, the massive recording company’s swindle towards independent band, reveal the media’s off-record and show to others about the equality of life. Punk would not emerge if all of these problems did not occur and if all of human life treated equally.
On the other hand, music is another reason for Punk subculture survival. Punk music contributes with such a huge impact for Punk movement. Punk music existence divided into three major periods, Pre-Punk, Proto-Punk and Post-Punk. It was such a great time where we can see that Punk music emerge gradually as time goes by. In conjunction of it, the freedom to write music for any bands relate with the status of the bands themselves whether independent or mainstream. Absolutely all of the bands love to remain independent. So, the role of bands to maintain the momentum of Punk spirit is very important. Good performance, intelligent stage control and skilful to communicate with crowd needed for a band.