Transgenerational Appeal, Cultural Groups

“The Greatest Discovery,” in contrast, was a piano lullaby describing one of life’s most emotional experiences, the birth of a baby.

Other songs spoke of the cultural gaps associated with poverty (”No Shoestrings on Louise”) in a country melody, similar to what the Rolling Stones were recording at the time. Race relations and the consequences of bigotry were encompassed in “Border Song,” with soul themes so profound that Aretha Franklin recorded a cover of the song the next year-the first major star to do so. The final song, “The King Must Die,” was interpreted in the culture of the time to be about the death of Martin Luther King, although Taupin actually wrote it about assassination plots through the ages.

A Transgenerational Appeal This album, and subsequent others, connected at the deepest level with people of all ages, genders, and cultural groups. It laid the foundation for Elton John’s transgenerational marketing strategy- creating a product that may be designed for a specific segment but whose appeal transcends a variety of age groups rather than just teens or just boomers. Other artists have had success with a similar approach, although few are really able to create a music product that appeals to multigenerational audiences. The fact that the classic rock bands highlighted in this article have been around for so long helps to explain why they are more likely to attract varied audiences today, but it isn’t often that new artists can attract the same mix.

One breakout example of late is Norah Jones, whose fairytale success story began with the release of her album Come Away With Me in February 2002, culminating in eight Grammy awards, ranging from Best New Artist to Album of the Year. But this Cinderella’s night at the ball was not the result of an invitation by the prince, rather because the townspeople drove her to the palace and pushed her inside. Her voice is sultry, her look exotic, her sound lush, her talent enormous and genuine. With low expectations for the commercial success of the album, critics and fans alike were surprised by the runaway acceptance of her style of music, and no one was more stunned than Jones herself.