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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.
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
Full Transcript
- 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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