The influence of music in society can be quantified by examining the changes that happen after the adaptation of the musical styles in a group of people. To understand the impact of music in society and culture, this paper will examine the rock and roll genre from its roots in the 1950s and especially the impact that it had in popular culture in the 1960s. The lives of people of the United States in the 1960s was impacted greatly by music, chiefly rock and roll and it contributed to the trends and the politics of that time. Major rock bands and music acts contributed to the impact of this music and it was through these acts, such as the Beatles, that the influence of music was conducted.
Music is a major part of a society based on the way it influences the emotions and actions of people. On top of that, there is a major connection between the sentiments of people and their views of religion, politics and social relations. This creates a bridge between music and these facets of society ( Kramer , 2013). A major elaboration of this point can be sourced from the impact of rock and roll music in the American culture in the 20 th century. The genre developed in the early 1950s in the US and spread to other parts of the world including the United Kingdom. The musical style involved the use of instruments especially the electric guitars that were accompanied by a beat ( Weinstein , 2000). The development of this type of music was majorly from black people, with Chuck Berry being the noteworthy contributor ( Weinstein , 2000). The music had a large white and black market, and this is one of the ways through which it influenced societal norms.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Having had a majorly black origin, rock and roll was adopted by other races. Elvis Presley promoted the music and made it a global phenomenon as the adoration by the young people grew. The consumption of the music outweighed the social prejudices at the time, a factor which resulted in the development of major changes in society and the development of civil rights movements. Essentially, the genre promoted a situation in which the followers developed a spirit of abandon which meant that the people shifted from the established thoughts on social matters (Rogers, 2016). Rock and roll ensured that there was an interaction of black people issues with a larger audience, and therefore there was an impact on social rights ( Weinstein , 2000). On top of that, there was a development of a cult following from the teenagers of these times owing to the content of the songs which was majorly issues affecting the teenagers. This impact spilled into the fashion of the teenagers of this time as it shifted to rock and roll oriented themes.
The greatest impact in culture, though, was experienced in the 1960s, an era that oversaw the rise of The Beatles. The Beatles were from Liverpool, and they had dominated British charts before they penetrated the American market (Reising, 2017). When they were introduced into the American market in 1964, they became a cultural juggernaut that influenced the music scene forever. Elvis Presley had influenced the Beatles, and they became the biggest musical act the world had ever witnessed ( Friedlander, 2018). The impact of the Beatles was more cultural rather than political as they influenced the music scene and the fashion as opposed to being socially conscious (Reising, 2017). A Beatles admirer, Bob Dylan, dominated the political side of rock and roll. The musical content of Bob Dylan during this period covered the political corruption and social consciousness that was rampant in American society (Reising, 2017). Bob Dylan also had a big impact on popular music and youth culture, and it goes a long way to show the impact that music could have on culture and social politics.
The Beatles had conquered the British charts with unprecedented success in 1963, and they decided to continue their influence in the American Scene. The translation of their success to the American market was also unprecedented, and thus there is a need to examine the reasons for the American embrace of the British Beatles. There are several reasons for this, chief among them being the gap that had been left in American rock and roll scene (Reising, 2017). The British invasion, as the Beatles popularity in America was referred to, began with the historical appearance of the Beatles in Sullivan show. Shortly afterward, there was the assassination of President J.F. Kennedy, and the Beatles served as the distraction from the sad state of the country (Reising, 2017). The Beatles also offered something different with their personalities in media, and this appealed to the American people. Finally, their success in the UK captured the imagination of Americans, and this led to the replication of the success in the American scene too.
The relationship between rock music and global demographic trends is peculiar. It is important to notice that the growth of rock music coincided with the post-war baby boom that happened in the 1950s ( Friedlander, 2018). Therefore, the popularity of rock music was aided by this. Earlier periods of rock music saw the development of rebelliousness that annoyed many parents, and in later cases, there was an increase in the fashion trend that was associated with rock and roll. At the peak of the popularity of rock and roll, the music was highly influential in the popular culture, and this affected the societal trends.
Conclusion
The impact of music in society can be either political, cultural or social. Sometimes, it can encompass all these aspects. In the early 1950s when rock and roll emerged, it joined audiences and thus ensured that matters such as social prejudice were examined. Social justice spread due to the impact of rock and roll. In the 1960s, the artists who were impacted by the pioneers proceeded to have a lasting impact in the music culture as observed today. These artists, including the Beatles and Bob Dylan, were highly influential on how music is made today.
References
Friedlander, P. (2018). Rock and roll: A social history . Routledge .
Kramer, M. J. (2013). The Republic of Rock: Music and citizenship in the sixties counterculture . Oxford University Press.
Reising, R. (2017). 'Every Sound There Is': The Beatles' Revolver and the Transformation of Rock and Roll . Routledge.
Rogers, D. (2016). Rock'n'roll . Routledge.
Weinstein, D. (2000). Heavy metal: The music and its culture . Da Capo Press.
