The mentality that it is was all right to become different than the average person and the acceptance of diversity are two important factors that are still relevant today. For instance, during the “British Invasion”, “the name given to the period of time in the early to mid-1960's, during which many British rock bands and pop artists found mainstream success in the United States and worldwide,” [1] a famous rock band known as the Beatles came to the United States changing the whole sound of music as a whole in a way that people fell in love with lyrics because they had a special meaning to every one during that time. The 1960’s were a time monumental and emotional events such as, “the assassination of President Kennedy, the escalation of the war in Vietnam and the forward-progress of the Civil Rights Movement”[1]. The way the people during the 1960’s felt during these harsh times reflected through the music. Everyone emotionally moved by the powerful musicians of this time understood that it was acceptable to express themselves as freely as they wanted to without feeling judged.
Popular music genres such as Motown and R&B, which influenced the Civil Rights Movement and integration heavily, Surf Rock and Psychedelic Rock, promoted carefree living and supported the hippie-counterculture with the use of hallucinogenic drugs and Roots Rock and Hard Rock, became associated with rebellious youth and the anti-authority demeanor. Songwriters such as Bob Dylan became one of the most prominent artists affiliated with Protest Music, which was formed in an offspring of social injustice, cultural changes and news events at that time. All of these genres proved to have a special connection with the listeners. They promoted people to do what they felt was acceptable regardless of what the “normal” part of society felt.
The idea of individual freedom and togetherness were heavily practiced whether it was through the use of “drugs such as cannabis, LSD, and magic mushrooms to open up creative pathways for writing and some even used them while performing”[2] or the “anti-war soundtrack filled with “melancholy and touching, enraged and sarcastic, fearful and resigned”[3], everyone became connected and apart of something bigger then themselves. The influential role of music during the 1960’s sparked ideas that are still relevant today such as being different. Mackelmore, an American rapper, explains in his soulful song called, Same Love, that it is acceptable to be bisexual or heterosexual as long as you are loving who you want to love.
The practice of freedom of expression and solitude in the 1960’s are still as relevant as they were back then. The music of that time paved the way for not only for future artist, but also future generations. Movements such as the Civil Rights Movement wouldn’t have been as unified if it weren’t for influence of music during those harsh times. The influences of 1960’s gave birth to things bigger than themselves. The relevance of the 1960’s music is abundant.
Notes
[1] "Music Played in the 1960's Popular Music From the
60s." 1960's Music played in the 60's Bands groups singers memories from
The People History Site. http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/60smusic.html (accessed
).
[2] "World Music." World Music. http://longwood.edu/worldmusicsm/2013/04/29/the-influence-of-drugs-throughout-music-in-the-1960s-the-psychedelic-era/
(accessed ).
[3] "The Sixties and Protest
Music." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/sixties/essays/protest-music-1960s
(accessed ).
References
"Music Played in the 1960's Popular Music From the
60s." 1960's Music played in the 60's Bands groups singers memories from
The People History Site. http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/60smusic.html
(accessed ).
"World Music." World Music.
http://longwood.edu/worldmusicsm/2013/04/29/the-influence-of-drugs-throughout-music-in-the-1960s-the-psychedelic-era/
(accessed ).
"The Sixties and Protest
Music." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/sixties/essays/protest-music-1960s
(accessed ).