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The History of Rock and Roll 3621 Views


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Description:

In the 1950s and 60s, people weren't just expressing their feelings toward the government—they were singing them, too. (Think Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, not High School Musical 3 .) Gotta love rock and roll.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:07

Rock 'N Roll, a la Shmoop.

00:12

Wait a second!

00:13

What's a genre of music doing in a Shmoop history video?

00:15

What's next? Hip-hop during the Renaissance? The use of Jazz during the Spanish Inquisition?

00:22

The fact is that music isn't just something you upload onto your iPod and use to make

00:25

your workout bearable. Music can inspire change, alter popular opinion,

00:30

and lead a revolution. Rock 'N Roll was the music of rebellion.

00:35

Rock gave a voice to those passionate about civil rights or outraged at the growing divide

00:40

between the haves and the have-nots.

00:42

But it also gave teeth to a rebellion against the status quo.

00:45

The 60's and 70's were a time of experimentation...

00:48

...and Rock was about kicking the old established norms and forging a new path in all aspects of life.

00:54

Before Rock came along, the lyrics of popular

00:56

American music dealt with "feel-good" subjects, like patriotism or wholesome puppy love.

01:03

But suddenly there was this new flavor of music.

01:06

The lyrics weren't so kid-friendly anymore.

01:08

They dealt with real-life, and sex was a part of that.

01:12

At the forefront of this new wave...

01:14

...was the "King" of Rock 'N Roll.

01:16

Elvis Presley.

01:20

Until this time, our television shows featured

01:23

couples sleeping in separate beds. It was no longer considered scandalous for

01:27

a woman to show a little calf, but it was still a little risqué.

01:30

We didn't start tackling serious taboos until Rock and Roll put sex front and center.

01:35

Rock N Roll celebrated being different...

01:37

...and going against the establishment. It aided in the Civil Rights movement.

01:41

White kids and black kids began embracing the same music...

01:45

...realizing they weren't so different after all.

01:48

Rock N Roll was the first music to voice anti-government sentiments.

01:51

Artists like Bob Dylan began speaking out against the Vietnam War through their songs.

01:57

Clearly, Rock N Roll has been an important part of U.S. history.

02:00

Do you think Rock and other popular music today make the same impact?

02:04

Or has music lost its political influence? Rock out, and Shmoop amongst yourselves.

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