Friday, April 3, 2015

The Kings of Classic Rock: The Beginning of a Music Revolution

In any club, at most parties, and along numerous city streets, loud techno and 21st century pop music can be heard, blaring from stereos and speakers. Young people across the globe listen passionately to today's hits, download digital music albums, watch their favorite bands on YouTube, and attend concerts. Music is heavily ingrained in our country's culture, beginning notably at the turn of the 20th century. Though today's generation is familiar with less modern styles of music, there is a lack of understanding of its history, which germinated from the seed of new technology and social change. As Blues-inspired Rock 'n Roll phased out, a new genre of music was born from the kings of classic rock: The Beatles. 

Even today, in the midst of a generation in love with erratic beats and computer-generated tunes, The Beatles are one of the most famous bands in the history of music. As the British quartet introduced a new genre to the American music industry, they birthed a new era of music. Media release, records, concerts, and the meanings of songs themselves took a revolutionary turn. Music began to stray from the superficial topics of Rock 'n Roll towards topics of social concern and influence. Since then, artists have taken bigger steps forward in the direction of true self-expression while revolutionizing media and advertising techniques.

These artists’ daring moves left a lasting impression on their fans, giving rise to several music fan “groups”. The hippies and rockers of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s were deeply influenced by the classic rock they enjoyed, inspiring grand-scale events calling for peace and love, such as Woodstock (1969). At the turn of the seventh decade in the last century, disco became the pop of the ‘70s, with many classic rock enthusiasts swearing by “Death Before Disco,” a slogan used to express loyalty toward classic rock and distaste for the more upbeat dance music. Nonetheless, American culture adopted a new meaning of music.

Moreover, with the recent introduction of television, hosted shows such as "The Ed Sullivan Show" featured emerging bands. When the Beatles participated in the so-called "British invasion," they too were featured on The Ed Sullivan Show, thus kick-starting their career in America. Numerous bands and artists before then also gave rise to their careers through this show, beginning with the age of Rock 'n Roll in the '50s; thus began the revolution of the music industry. 

Take a stroll down Abbey Road to discover the impact and influence of various classic rock artists. Delve into the recent history of music, the lives and secrets of the artists, and the meanings of their creations. Enjoy the fun facts and videos included in the blog... "Dream On"!


 
Left to Right: Ringo Starr (drummer), Paul McCartney (vocalist), John Lennon (vocalist), George Harrison (lead guitar)
The Beatles at their first recording session at Abbey Road Studio (1962)

"Blackbird"(1968) calls for social justice in America concerning civil rights:
"Blackbird singing in the dead of night / Take these broken wings and learn to fly / All your life / You were only waiting for this moment to arise"
 "Let It Be" (1970), among the most popular of the Beatles' songs, expresses a desire for world peace:
"And when the brokenhearted people / Living in the world agree / There will be an answer / Let it be"

2 comments:

  1. I love the beatles! This post had alot of information which is great. Keep up the great work.

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    1. Thank you! I love them as well.... not to brag (hehe) but I actually saw Sir Paul McCartney in concert this past October in Jacksonville (yes, I begged my dad to drive us to Jacksonville for Paul), and he was amazing. It's amazing to me that his voice is in such great condition still, at 73 years old, and that he had as much energy as he did. He was bouncing all over the stage! I'm thrilled that you have an appreciation for rock. :)

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