English Conversation: Rock, Metal, K-Pop, and Our Traditional Music

Teacher   : What is your favorite music?

Student 1 : I like rock music. My sister likes K-pop... it's embarassing.

Teacher   : No, I don't think so. Listening to the music is very personal. Every one is free to choose any music they want to hear.

Student 2 : That's right, sir. As for me, I like metal music. I like something aggressive and expressive... yeaaah!

Teacher   : Take it easy. I like metal music too. But, I don't do screaming like that... hahaha. 

Student 1 : I wonder why some metal fans act strangely like that? Anyway, what music does your sister like? K-pop too?

Student 2 : No, she likes Indonesian pop music. But, sometimes she also listens to K-pop.

Teacher   : What is the difference between rock and metal music, anyway?

Student 1 : Unlike metal music, the lyric and the melody in rock music are still smooth and clear. 

Student 2 : In addition, there's almost no love song in metal music. So, the real macho men listen to metal music... yeaaah!

Teacher   : Hahaha... you just embarrased metal fans, you know that, Student 2? Stop doing screaming like that... hahaha.

Student 2 : That's an effect of metal music, I guess, sir. I feel energized and powerful... hahaha!

Student 1 : And suicidal too. Many metal songs are about hatred, killing, and suicide missions. It should be banned every where.

Student 2 : No... that's not true. There're many metal songs about social critics too. Isn't that right, sir?

Teacher   : Yes. But, to be honest, there're also many songs with dark and scary topics in metal music.

Student 1 : Aha! I know it. Let's consider metal music as a "mental disease" so that it needs to be banned.

Teacher   : Okay... stop right there. How about our traditional music? Who do you think still like it?

Student 2 : Our grandpa and grandma... hahaha! Sorry, it's a bad joke. Well, some young people still like it, I guess.

Teacher   : How come our traditional music cannot compete the popularity of rock, metal, or K-pop music?

Student 1 : Good question. Well... maybe our traditional music is very sacred so that no musician dare enough to develop it.

Student 2 : That's right, sir. I feel the same way too. There're too many "don't" from elderly when we try to develop it. 

Teacher   : Really? Are you sure it's not because young people are just afraid of being labeled "old" or "out of date"?

Student 1 : Well... there might be another reason. Traditional music is less-marketable than popular music. 

Student 2 : That's too... music producers don't want to lose their money by selling traditional music. It's just too risky. 

Teacher   : Wow... Don't you think it's very tragic? Our traditional music will be extinct, then.

Student 1 : Don't worry, sir. Some Indonesian modern musicians make collaboration with traditional music.

Student 2 : But, it's only temporary. They just performed on special stage and on special occasions too... not all the time.

Student 1 : At least they tried to respect our traditional music.

Teacher   : Okay, that's good. But, we wonder why our traditional music cannot perform in the world like... Bon Jovi, for example?

Student 2 : I don't know, sir. I'm not a musician or a producer.

Teacher   : Student 1... do you have any idea why?

Student 1 : Just like I said above, traditional music seems to be less-marketable, sir.

Teacher   : Okay. Do you both have any "brilliant idea" how to make traditional music become as famous as Metallica or K-pop?

Student 1 : Wow... that's a very good vision. Well... I think we need more modern musicians to make collaboration with it.

Student 2 : I agree. So, in other words, traditional music should be combined with the modern one. It won't survive by itself.

Teacher   : Well... I used to have a dream that we had modern rock band who always play music with traditional instruments.

Student 1 : What would it be called, then? Traditional rock? Ethnic rock?

Teacher   : Don't bother with the term or genre. The most important thing is we dare to play something unique and different.

Student 2 : That's a good idea, sir. Let's hope some rock bands hear our discussion here... hahaha.

Teacher   : Hahaha... that's a "mission impossible". Only the three of us here who know this English club... no one else.

Student 1 : Some observers said that globalization might kill some local cultures. I'm afraid it really happens.

Student 2 : So... who should take the blame, then? Government? Musician? All of us?

Teacher   : God? No... I'm just kidding. Well, that's all for today. See you next time. Don't get bored in studying English. Bye...