What was it about the American social, political, and musical situations in the early sixties that made the country so ready for invasion by the British bands? Were the Beatles and the Rolling Stones so great that they could have taken over the U.S. charts any time, or was it mostly a case of good timing that they became so popular so quickly?
The Beatles and The Rolling Stones have been two of the most influential bands on American Society. Creating The British Invasion in the 1960’s, this was a period when music From the United Kingdom began to become extremely popular in the United States, beginning with the Beatles. American’s had the first influence on the British—When the U.S. Rock and Roll and Blue bands found their way overseas. Young adults in England then became interested in combining both the United States and British Cultures. As a result of the American social, factors political, and music situations, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles were able to have a “grand entrance” with the introduction of their music into the United States. These social, political, and music situations were crucial when considering both of the bands’ popularity.
Beginning with the American social situations, the 1960’s in America was a decade creating a new era. Before the 60s, America was filled with hatred, violence, and slavery. In the early 1960’s, the Beatles attempted to take over the U.S. charts with songs such as “Please, Please, Me,” “From Me to You,” and “She Loves You,” but quickly failed. The United States was caught in a panic on November 22, 1963, the day that John F. Kennedy was shot. Americans, lost and in a state of mourning, were not sure what to believe, so they turned to music. The Beatles took full advantage of this situation, and the Americans took to their upbeat music; a perfect cure for America’s depression.
The Essay on African American Music
By 1945, nearly everyone in the African American community had heard gospel music (2). At this time, gospel music was a sacred folk music with origins in field hollers, work songs, slave songs, Baptist lining hymns, and Negro spirituals. These songs that influenced gospel music were adapted and reworked into expressions of praise and thanks of the community. Although the harmonies were similar to ...
The Vietnam War, from 1955-1975 was a major focus with music. The idea of “make love, not war” came to light, and the song Revolution, written by John Lennon, was a response to the war. As a result of this movement, many Americans who believed in the Vietnam war began to see it as unjust. During this time period, The Rolling Stones released a song by the name of Street Fighting Man which agreed with the Batle’s and Americans’ poiny of view.
