Review of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
by Kaylen H.
Over this past weekend, I was pleased to visit The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the first time in 5 or more years. There wasn’t a real reason why I haven't visited, I just never got around to it. I wasn't expecting that much at first, but I have to say it was way better than expected. One of the parts that made it fun was all the interactivity that the hall offered. My experience at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was not only inspiring but also eye-opening to the world of music.
At first, when I thought about going to the Rock Hall, I didn't expect much. I used to think it would only have older artists and music that I either didn’t know or didn’t like. I also believed it would be boring because I would just be looking at artist memorabilia. After just getting out of the car to walk into the building, I knew I was wrong. I could hear the live music that was playing from the parking lot. That was in itself cool.
During my visit, I saw many different types of exhibits, the first one I looked at was It’s Been Said All Along Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment. This exhibit showed how artists used their music to fight injustices. It not only showcased the past but also showed the present and how artists still use music to stand up for what they believe. The next exhibit showcased the many different origins of Rock and Roll. It was called The Early Influences, and a part that drew me to this exhibit is a place where you can listen to some of the songs from the early influences. It was cool because I got to hear where some of the sounds in music today came from. Through this exhibit, you can see all the different genres that makeup Rock and Roll. Out of all the exhibits I saw, these two stood out because one showed how music influences culture and society and the other showed how all music is in some ways connected.
While I loved learning about and seeing some of the memorabilia from the different artists, my favorite part overall was the interactivity. On the 2nd floor, there was The Garage, which to me was one of the coolest parts of the whole hall. In The Garage, you can play real instruments, and have fun with music. As you can tell, the name of this exhibit is a nod to how some of the greatest bands started in a garage. This exhibit was my favorite because of all the stuff you could do.
The only exhibit that, in my opinion, was better, was the Power of Rock Experience. This experience starts as you wait in front of Connor Theater. On a big screen, they play the acceptance speeches of those who were inducted into the Rock Hall. Then you walk into the theater and a compilation of some of the best rock and roll performances from induction night plays. The part that makes this so cool was how “real” it seemed. The lights and the speakers and also the seat were kind of vibrating. This was my favorite because I not only got to hear the artist but I got to see them in a “concert”.
Overall, my experience at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was amazing, and I would genuinely go again. It was nothing like how I thought it would be at first, in a good way. From the interactivity to the diversity of the artist that was shown, to the history behind it all. If I had to take one thing from this it would be how music can change people. Music gives people hope when they are down and inspires people when they need it. It brings people who might not get along together. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is important because it showcases all the different types of music and how they influence each other, allowing people to come together to enjoy music.
