Overview:
The passing of rock icon Ozzy Osbourne may have reminded people of the crazy antics that surrounded the singer both on and off stage. However, Ozzy’s musical contributions should be fully recognized. Along with Black Sabbath and, as a solo singer, Ozzy Osbourne connected with many people and influenced many musicians.
Obituary Ozzy Osbourne
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne passed away yesterday, stunning the world. Coincidentally, the date was just a few weeks after his final musical performance with Black Sabbath. Osbourne was with his family when he passed away at the age of 76. Ozzy’s musical career spanned nearly seven decades. From the late 1960s until the late 1970s, Ozzy served as the frontman for the aforementioned Black Sabbath. In the 1980s, he had a resurgence with an illustrious solo career. Osbourne alternated between his solo band and reunions with Black Sabbath from the 1990s until his death.
Known as a shock rocker, Ozzy gained notoriety for his wild behavior both on and off stage. He also lived hard behind the scenes. The unfortunate thing, though, is that Ozzy’s past lifestyle and onstage antics began to define his persona over time. This overshadowed his musical talents. This is a shame!
I’m here to pay respect to Ozzy Osbourne by giving him the credit he so richly deserves. There’s no doubt that his voice has been cited as being very distinct among rock singers. However, it’s essential to explore how Ozzy’s music resonated with people.
The following is a list of the ways that Ozzy Osbourne’s music was able to reach the masses and help them.
The Music of Black Sabbath
The lyrics that Ozzy sang with Black Sabbath in the 1960s and 1970s appealed to those who were suffering through difficult times. People were sick of the ‘peace and love’ message of hippie music, which only contrasted with the lives they were living. Black Sabbath sang about the darker side of life, which many people in those decades could identify with.
Ozzy and his Sabbath bandmates were from Birmingham, England. This well-known steel mill town was known for its inhabitants growing up in poverty and dealing with hard times. The weather didn’t make things better. It certainly contrasted with sunny California. This approach helped Black Sabbath’s music resonate with residents not only in Birmingham but all across England, for that matter.
Additionally, it could be argued that it helped them appeal to countries worldwide that were struggling with poverty and harsh living conditions. It also helped them resonate with those in North America.
60s & 70s
The late 1960s and early 1970s were considered a confusing time for many. The United States was dealing with the Vietnam War, social changes, and the political climate surrounding Watergate. Gas shortages were also a problem, along with a host of other issues.
The things that Ozzy sang about in those early Black Sabbath songs provided people with an escape. Although the original Black Sabbath’s best-selling records were put out in the early 70s, their music still connected with rock fans in the late 70s. Americans moved past the effects of Vietnam and Watergate.
However, there was a second period of gas shortages, high inflation, unemployment, and the fallout from the Iranian Hostage Crisis. People could turn to Black Sabbath to ignore the real world around them. The lyrics themselves, although impactful in their composition, could only be effective if they were sung by someone who had a vocal range like Ozzy Osbourne.
Ozzy Osbourne, as a Solo Artist
Helped People Both Escape and Have Fun
Beginning in the early 1980s, Ozzy’s solo career marked a slight departure from the lyrics written in Black Sabbath. Although the songs he released as a solo artist still retained a dark, edgy mystique, they had more high energy mixed in. Even in the early 1980s, the United States was still in a recession, and the world was still grappling with the Cold War. As the decade progressed, Ozzy’s more energetic style became more evident in his later solo records. This resonated with a generation that sought to have a good time. Throughout the 1980s, as in the 1960s and 1970s, American society and the broader global community underwent significant changes. Censorship was becoming a massive issue in the rock world. Ozzy rallied his fan base against this.
Compatibility with Musicians: Past and Future
Many people consider Black Sabbath to be the pioneers of heavy metal. Whether you think it’s Cream, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, or even Judas Priest that deserves that title, you can’t deny that Black Sabbath strongly influenced the heavy metal genre of rock. They also influenced many musicians who followed.
A hodge-podge of bands opened for or toured with Black Sabbath and Ozzy’s solo band. In some cases, they were on the same bill as them or played the same festival. You could argue that many of them advanced their careers because of this.
Mentioning the various musicians who were on the same bill as Ozzy’s solo group or Sabbath shows how broad both their musical styles were under the umbrella of ‘hard rock.’ They could share the bill with classic hard rock acts like Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, and AC/DC just as much as they could with southern rock titans Lynyrd Skynyrd. Even punk rockers, the Ramones, came along for the ride. Whether it was hair metal kings Motley Crue, thrash icons Metallica, or grunge pioneers Alice in Chains, every hard rock subgenre could blend in with Ozzy. Ozzfest lasted for years and showcased various styles of hard rock. From rap-metal groups like Limp Bizkit to nu-metal kings Slipknot, everyone is there.
Musicians
Non-hard rock musicians like Elton John have even acknowledged Ozzy Osbourne’s musical contributions. At Osbourne’s final concert with Black Sabbath a few weeks ago, there were musicians ranging from Steven Tyler of Aerosmith to Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins.
Ozzy Osbourne had a unique singing voice like no other. He connected with audiences through his lyrics and vocal delivery. He spoke to multiple generations and had a genuine connection with his fans. Before you think of Ozzy Osbourne as a wild shock rocker who did crazy things on and off stage, remember his contributions to the musical world, too.
Ozzy Osbourne’s voice will live on through his music. His lyrics will continue to influence succeeding generations for some time to come!
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