As many across the DMV are gathering themselves in preparation for today’s Bounce Beat Teen Awards, Chris Richards of the Washington Post has released an article that focuses on an even further the generation gap that currently exists within the Go-Go culture.
The genre’s distinctive conga-laden rhythms and shout-along vocals never spread far outside the metro area. Instead, go-go has achieved a rare status in Washington. It’s an established art form indigenous to a city that doesn’t produce much indigenous anything. Now go-go is mutating, splintering off a more riotous sound known as “bounce beat” and creating a rift within the very community that nurtured it.
Go-go has a generation gap. On one side are the old-school musicians and their loyal fans, protective of the loping grooves and cool melodies that put a spell on Washington in the ’80s. On the other side are their kids, drawn to the percussive magic of live music but eager to turn go-go’s established rhythms inside out.
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Now… my personal point of view: Well… it’s only natural. Generation gaps have always been and will continue to be. The kids of the 60’s didn’t understand the movement of the 70’s. The kids of the 70’s didn’t understand the movement of the 80’s. The kids of the 80’s didn’t understand the movement of the 90’s. And the kids of the 90’s are not understanding the movements in this new millennium. But noticed that one word that exists in each of the previous sentences… “Movement”, which means, action… a change of position or location. The only way that growth can take place is for that thing to be moving. Therefore, not only is Bounce Beat necessary, it’s currently a must for the continued growth of this culture.
In other words, just because some may not understand it, or that it’s different from the tastes that they are used to, doesn’t mean that it isn’t good. It simply means that the music of Go-Go and it’s culture continues to move regardless.
-Kato Hammond