Music and Literature
Types of Music
In 1960s was a decade which had a lot of influence on music because of all the new jazz, pop, and folk music which attracted many listeners. The 1950s was a heavy rock and roll decade but the 60s in when it divided up into “hard” and “soft” rock giving you the opportunity to listen to more rebellious music, or a softer more pop like style.
Rock and roll music in the 1960s was generally associated with the Beatles which led a musical trend allowing many other groups to become known. This trend became known as the British Invasion. The Rolling Stones, the Animals, and the Who all soon had hits in the United States. Not only was Rock and Roll changed during this decade, so was Rock music. Rock music became divided into many different categories. Some consisted of bands making lighter music with calming or happier lyrics to sell to pop radio stations. In contrast, some bands used rock music to protest or a form of artistic exploration. Instead of calming, or happier songs, this type of rock was more mature, used different instruments and different recording techniques. Folk music became popular from Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and the group known as Peter, Paul and Mary. These dedicated artists hated to see folk music’s popularity decline so they took the initiative to bring this style back. This acoustic style of music contained lyrics addressing the civil rights movement, Vietnam War, and many other political issues which gained a large audience. Throughout the decade the signature fold music transformed into folk rock by adding electrical instruments and using more sophisticated song lyrics.
Music was very important during this decade and many of the most popular came from Motown Records in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit was such a popular place for music stars to originate from due to its ability to merge gospel, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. and his team of songwriters created the bands that had some of the biggest hits of the decade. Some of these stars included: Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder.
Rock and roll music in the 1960s was generally associated with the Beatles which led a musical trend allowing many other groups to become known. This trend became known as the British Invasion. The Rolling Stones, the Animals, and the Who all soon had hits in the United States. Not only was Rock and Roll changed during this decade, so was Rock music. Rock music became divided into many different categories. Some consisted of bands making lighter music with calming or happier lyrics to sell to pop radio stations. In contrast, some bands used rock music to protest or a form of artistic exploration. Instead of calming, or happier songs, this type of rock was more mature, used different instruments and different recording techniques. Folk music became popular from Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and the group known as Peter, Paul and Mary. These dedicated artists hated to see folk music’s popularity decline so they took the initiative to bring this style back. This acoustic style of music contained lyrics addressing the civil rights movement, Vietnam War, and many other political issues which gained a large audience. Throughout the decade the signature fold music transformed into folk rock by adding electrical instruments and using more sophisticated song lyrics.
Music was very important during this decade and many of the most popular came from Motown Records in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit was such a popular place for music stars to originate from due to its ability to merge gospel, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. and his team of songwriters created the bands that had some of the biggest hits of the decade. Some of these stars included: Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder.
Beatles The Beatles were a group in which no other groups have compared due to their impact on music and culture. This band consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. With their rock and roll style, they took the world by storm with their fashion and cultural trends, songwriting, and musicianship.
In 1963, this band developed its own original sound and also wrote their own music which was very favorable to the audience. Also, they impressed the fans with their long hair, identical suits, and short boots. As the fan base started expanded and they became popular around the world, the time became known as “Beatlemania.” After traveling and touring for several years and settled down and focused on recording and went from singing about young love to new themes and sounds. These new sounds and lyrics became successful rapidly. Unfortunately, after years of success, tension starting forming in the group and in 1970, the band broke up after changing rock and roll forever. Top 5 Songs 1. "A Day in the Life" 2. "Strawberry Fields Forever" 3. "Abbey Road Medley" 4. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" 5. "In My Life" 
|
Beach Boys One of the most influential bands during the 60s would be Beach Boys which has had lasting impression on music for decades. Their fun, upbeat, California beach music was favored by teenagers because their lyrics spoke to them as they made the transition into adulthood.This band started with the Wilson Brothers consisting of Brain playing bass and writing songs, Carl on guitar, and Dennis on drums and quickly added their friend Al Jardine who played guitar and their cousin Mike Love on vocals. After Capitol Records signed them on a contract in 1962, their lives began to change forever. Constantly coming out with new hits capturing the fun of being at the beach. After the fun in the sun, they matured and started writing songs confronting the pain of growing up, young love, and trying to hang out to the innocence of youth. With countless memorable lyrics and songs, the Beach Boys were known all around the world and still are.
Top 5 Songs 1. "Surfin' USA" 2. "Good Vibrations" 3. "I Get Around" 4. "Help Me, Rhonda" 5. "California Girls" 
|
Literature
In the 1960s, literature reflected what was happening regarding social and political areas. Many authors centered their writings around gender, race, homosexuality, feminism and war, and they criticized society, similar to the youth of the time.
American literature also began to recognize promising new writers during this decade but many very well known and influential authors died during this time. These authors included Ernest Hemingway who committed suicide in 1961 and also William Faulkner who past away during a fatal heart attack in 1962. Also, several poets also died during the decade including William Carlos Williams, E. E. Cummings, Robert Frost, and Carl Sandburg. In 1962 and american named John Steinbeck, was to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Continuing the many deaths, Steinbeck died before the decade was over.
American fiction entered a new phase as well during this decade. Many new, younger, writers became known such as John Updike and Thomas Pynchon. A new group of experimental writers, such as the metafictionists and the black humorists, whose attitudes toward fiction were cynical and innovative became known as well. Younger readers were often taken with the black humorists, especially figures such as Joseph Heller, Ken Kesey, and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., who expressed their antiwar views and very fun, humors, and entertaining way.
American literature also began to recognize promising new writers during this decade but many very well known and influential authors died during this time. These authors included Ernest Hemingway who committed suicide in 1961 and also William Faulkner who past away during a fatal heart attack in 1962. Also, several poets also died during the decade including William Carlos Williams, E. E. Cummings, Robert Frost, and Carl Sandburg. In 1962 and american named John Steinbeck, was to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Continuing the many deaths, Steinbeck died before the decade was over.
American fiction entered a new phase as well during this decade. Many new, younger, writers became known such as John Updike and Thomas Pynchon. A new group of experimental writers, such as the metafictionists and the black humorists, whose attitudes toward fiction were cynical and innovative became known as well. Younger readers were often taken with the black humorists, especially figures such as Joseph Heller, Ken Kesey, and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., who expressed their antiwar views and very fun, humors, and entertaining way.
