What's Happening?
Rolling Stone has released a list of the 250 best songs of the 21st century, featuring only two metal songs. Mastodon's 'Blood and Thunder' from the album Leviathan is ranked at No. 230, while System of a Down's 'Chop Suey!' from Toxicity is at No. 174. This is consistent with Rolling Stone's earlier list of the best albums of the century, which also included these two metal albums. The list highlights the dominance of rock and pop-punk, with tracks like Green Day's 'Jesus of Suburbia' and Evanescence's 'Bring Me to Life' appearing higher up. The Strokes' 'Last Nite' and The White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army' are among the top rock songs.
Why It's Important?
The limited representation of metal in Rolling Stone's list underscores the genre's niche status in mainstream music. Despite its passionate fan base, metal often receives less recognition compared to rock and pop genres. This could impact the visibility and commercial success of metal artists, influencing industry trends and the allocation of resources for promotion and production. The list also reflects broader cultural preferences, potentially guiding future music production and marketing strategies.
