British Invasion Influence

The counterculture during the 60s influenced a lot of music.  The music first started in the UK then eventually made it’s way to the US.  Some of the major cities for this counterculture were London, New York City, and San Francisco.  Because of the many different movements going on in the 60s, many songs had lyrics in them that talked about the movements.  Also during the 60s there were many different types of music formed.  One of the most popular ones was Rock.  Rock had many different types.  People would create these different types of rock by using different instruments, and different types of music.  Country music was also very popular, and still is popular today.  Country music started in the 50s, but it was most popular in the 60s.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the events that took place in the 1960s? Music that were performed or sang in the 1960s were great. Elvis Presley was a great american singer of rock and was mostly referred as “King of Rock and Roll.” Now “The Beatles” were a group of 4 male british talented people that invaded the United States and ended up popular. The best genre of music that were played in the 1960s were mostly rock.

During the sixties, when The Beatles were first introduced to The United States; they were in a depression. Due to the wars, they did not have much to look forward to. However, that was until February 7, 1964 when The Beatles first came to The United States to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. Most people still did not know that much about The Beatles yet, they were a mystery to everyone. Therefore, everyone were in for a surprise two nights later when they performed. That night, over 40% of the United States tuned in to watch The Beatles perform (“The Beatles”): “Some say it was the night the second half of the 20th Century officially began,” (“When the

Another way protest music reached millions across the United States was television. Bands began playing on television shows. They could be seen and heard by households across America.

They were creating things out of the box that no one could imagine. The famous song “Tomorrow Never Knows” stood out from other songs being produced at the time. Using unaccustomed techniques “The song itself sounded like virtually nothing the band had recorded up to that point,” (Dempsey). The Beatles were pushing themselves musically. They were setting an example for other musical groups showing that experimenting with sound and going beyond comfort will pay off in the long run. The Beatles have been revolutionizing music since the time they wrote their first song to the modern sound of the twenty first century. “Through ceaseless inventiveness, The Beatles set musical trends that are still being followed,” (Dempsey). Bands, like Oasis, have credited The Beatles to impacting several of their songs. By being the most successful songwriters of their age, it is no surprise that their style is influencing music to this extent. The Beatles have become one of the most influential bands through their musical innovation.

Rock music in the 1960s was egalitarian, eclectic, and real based on a number of reasons. To explain the 'real' piece of rock music in the 1960s, one would have to know that there was war going on overseas that didn't make sense to Americans as to why it was going on (the Vietnam war). There was also still severe inequality between blacks and whites causing protests to occur via the Civil Rights movement, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. There was inequality between women and mens rights. These issues caused dissatisfaction to occur in the American people. What better way to vent dissatisfaction than through music! Also in addition to the frustrations described above, teen rebellion from the parental obligations was also in full swing. The result of this was 'free love' and experimenting with drugs. This led to creative, and mind you interesting, rock that Americans loved like "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles. Aside from the above,

En Masse, Rock and Roll has influenced various areas of the youth culture amid the 1960’s, dominating many areas of the world. The popularity and international outlook for rock music resulted in a compelling impact on society as Rock and Roll influenced everyday fashions, attitudes, and behaviors. Drawing on many different styles, this genre of music excited a worldwide generation of young listeners, while, at the same time, distressing musical, cultural, and social authorities. Presently, it is tough to fully understand the bitter criticism the new music generated in its entirety. Rock music gave shape to many different counter-cultural movements which engulfed the world. Without Rock and Roll, many genres of music would never have emerged, such as: garage rock, pop rock, blues rock, and psychedelic rock. Although rock no longer rules popular music, the styles of the 1960’s still appeal to the ears of those born long after. The utopian frenzy of rock defined the music of that era, and to this day continues to structure the music we call Rock and Roll

More artists were being recognized for their use it and they will be coming household names just like the Beatles at the time. This was a big part of country history because never before was it this popular.

Now, people didn’t have to wait for the daily paper to look at ads, they wouldn’t have to go any farther than switching the television on and sitting in their living room. There was new music hitting the streets and, although, not everyone appreciated the music it sure made a bang in the 1950’s. A new music era was becoming more and more popular, it was called Rock and Roll. By 1955, Little Richard, was an up and coming Rock and Roller from the south. The progress of music from earlier years to the mid 1950’s was great. Not long after, Little Richard, in 1956, Elvis Presley, made his debut and in 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis. Music attached to those particular names gave people a way to express themselves, the music gave people an idol that “understood” them. Rock and Roll also gave people back in the 1950’s freedom to be who they wanted to

The Beatles and more specifically John Lennon had an immense impact on society throughout the 1960s to the 1980s. The Beatles affected society with their music by bringing about an age where experimentation with drugs, sex and hallucinogens (previously taboo) became the norm. They were also very popular amongst the new hippie counter culture as they too were anti-war and shared continuity with the ideals of the band. They served as examples and leaders not only to the hippies and other youth movements, but also to the youth of society in general. The Beatles and their music redefined the rules of society. They started new and innovative trends of experimentation with sex and started the idea of using drugs for recreation. They promoted peace and opened up capitalist society to the idea of socialism. These are all major themes which have forever altered the course of future societies and are themes that are still massive influences on our societal decisions today!

It all started in Liverpool in 1960 when four men came together to create the iconic band, The Beatles. The English rock band members consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They were able to create timeless music that still continues to influence artists even years after the end of the group’s time. Not only did they surpassed every limit that was reached before them, they left a mark on the music industry that most artist can only hope they achieve. They changed the way music itself was created and the way it was presented to people listening all over the world. There are few artists in the world that have been able to have the success The Beatles did, their musical achievements truly were one of a kind

“Music has always been both a barometer measuring and responding to society's problems and possibilities, and the twentieth century was a period that witnessed the emergence of a diverse range of musical styles and genres, each seemingly in reaction to the dominant sociopolitical concerns of the day” (Morgan). Presley, Dylan, and Joplin had the greatest influence on American culture in the 1960’s.

Music was a way most teenagers found an outlet. Rock n’ roll first arrived on the music scene as race music and it wasn’t until teenagers started requesting radio stations to play it that it started to become more widely popular. By accepting this music, Americans were opening themselves to a whole new culture of things that would soon come to influence the nation.

It has influenced the British Invasion through musical characteristics associated with blues such as the aforementioned 12 bar structure (AAB pattern), and also through styles that have developed from blues such as skiffle. Eventually rock and roll began to dominate which is clearly influenced by artists such as Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. The most surprising occurrence of the British Invasion though, is the re-exposure of blues in America. Middle class Americans were re-introduced to artists such as Muddy waters,

Characteristics of the British invasion influenced ‘Britpop’, a subgenre of rock and pop music that originated in the United Kingdom emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s that created a period of increased pride in the culture of the United Kingdom throughout most of the 1990s nicknamed ‘Cool Britannia’ For instance, the Union Jack once again became a prominent symbol of the movement for fashion, props and for other uses to brand the British origins of these artists. Noel Gallagher of the indie band Oasis would be commonly seen playing a Union Jack painted Epiphone Sheraton for live performances. (...There and