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I’m working on a humanities case study and need a sample draft to help me learn.
Select a band or musician that was able to influence American culture on a broad scale through music. Write a short profile explaining who they are and why they were able to impact American culture with their music
MUSIC: The Soundtrack of
America
Intro to Pop Culture – Week 4
?It?s an explosive expression of
humanity. It?s something we are all
touched by. No matter what
culture we?re from, everyone loves
music.?
Billy Joel
Early recording
The Phonograph
Early prototypes date back to 1850s
Fully operating model invented by Thomas
Edison in 1877
Recorded and played back sound
Used wax cylinders which would be imprinted
with grooves
Early recording
Used a cone to
amplify sound caused
by vibrations caused
from needle passing
over indentations
Had to be manually cranked
Could only reproduce very
small portion of sound
spectrum
From 250 Hz to 2,500 Hz
Early recording
The Graphophone
Patented by Emille Berliner in 1884
Were being mass produced in North America
by 1898
Used a wound spring to rotate disc and
maintain a constant speed
First to use imprinted discs to reproduce sound
Early recording
Metal ?masters? were cut into
metal and imprinted onto
shellac discs
Enabled mass production
First discs were 5? in
diameter and could could 2-3
minutes
Birth of ?American? Music
Because of recording limitations, music tended to
use instruments that would reproduce well
Percussion, big brass (Tuba, trombone), pianos
Basic vocals
Improvised instruments like blocks of wood
Ragland
Sometimes referred to as ragtime
Borrowed heavily from African
American folk music
Used harmony progressions and
syncopation
Scott Joplin ? The Entertainer
(1902)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=fPmruHc4S9Q
Technology Changes Music
The electric condenser microphone was
introduced in 1925 by Western Electric
Expanded recordable spectrum up to 60,000
hZ
The polyvinyl record introduced around same time.
More durable
Higher dynamic range
Folk Music vs. Popular Music
African American culture heavily influenced many
genres of popular music
Dixieland Jazz emerged in New Orleans in early
1900s
Incorporated a variety of styles, including blues
and AA spirituals
Characterized by swing and blue notes, call
and response vocals, polyrhythms and
improvisation
The Big Band Era
Period between 1910 and 1945
Name given to a variety of styles, including swing
Big bands included trumpets, trombones,
saxophones, and a rhythm section of guitar, piano,
double bass, and drums
Credited with boosting national morale during
WWII
Notable Band Leaders
King Oliver?s Creole Jazz Band
Count Basie and his Orchestra
Benny Goodman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhyhP_5VfKM
Glenn Miller Band
The Crooner Era
Bands began including singers in the band such as
Al Jolson, Ella Fitzgerald and Gene Austin
Vocalists soon became more popular than the band
leader or conductor
Targeted toward youth culture of the time
Because of this, much of it was deemed
inappropriate and blamed for degrading
American morals
The American Songbook
Rudy Vallee
Considered America?s
first pop music idol
Was particularly popular
among teen girls
I’m Just a Vagabond
Lover
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=eb36JID2jRA
The American Songbook
Bing Crosby
Considered the first US
multimedia star thanks to
radio popularity
Also won an Academy
Award for acting
Pistol Packin? Mama
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=PjgqQcKE3
DY
The American Songbook
The ?Rat Pack?
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin,
Sammy Davis Jr., Peter
Lawford and Joey Bishop
Formed in Las Vegas in early
50?s
Also starred in films together
Sinatra and Davis ? Me &
My Shadow
https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=e5hXtGkzZ9k
The Birth of Rock and
Roll
The Birth of Rock and Roll
The electric guitar was invented by George Beauchamp in
1931
Was quickly adopted by blues guitarists like Lonnie
Johnson, T-Bone Walker and Les Paul
Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats ? Rocket 88
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0mhgyTgxtw
Chuck Berry ? Jonny B Good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFo8-JqzSCM
The Birth of Rock and Roll
Bill Haley and the Comets
Began re-recording blues
hits
First ?rock? song to reach
the Billboard charts
Rock Around the Clock
(1954)
Originally written by
Jimmy DeKnight
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=ZgdufzXvjq
w
The Birth of Rock and Roll
Elvis Presly
Combined elements of
blues, blue grass, country
Heartbreak Hotel (1956)
https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=e9BLw4
W5KU8
First rock song to hit No.
1
Most of early hits were covers of blues songs
Hound Dog (Big Mama Thornton)
Blue Suede Shoes (Carl Perkins)
I Got A Woman (Ray Charles)
Shake, Rattle and Roll (Big Joe Turner)
Used television to reach a mass audience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGZm7EOa
mWk
The Radio Revolution
Expansion of highway system, personal
automobiles and acceptance of car stereos took
music mobile
Post-war baby boomers put emphasis on youth
culture
Music styles tended to reflect
The Radio Revolution
Dick Dale and the Deltones
Originators of ?Surf Rock?
thanks to new guitar design
by Leo Fender
Drew from Afrobeat and
Lebanese staccato
instruments
Let?s Go Trippin?
https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=W1gskj1VQR0
The Radio Revolution
The Beach Boys
Founded in 1961 by
brothers Brian, Dennis and
Carl Wilson and cousin
Mike Love
Surfin? Safari released in
1962
409 ?
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=xKKP_cZuk54
Have sold nearly 400
million albums worldwide
The British Invasion
The rebellious attitude of late 1950 America
inspired a movement in UK
Drew heavily from American surf rock, blues
Spawned the Mod Rocker counter culture
movement in London
Also influenced fashion and other forms of culture
The British Invasion
The Beatles
Formed in Liverpool in
1960
John Lennon, Paul
McCartney, George
Harrison and Ringo Starr
Often called the most
influential band in the world
Love Me Do (1964)
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=1Au_QW5MJNI
The British Invasion
The Rolling Stones
Formed in London 1962
Mick Jagger, Keith
Richards, Brian Jones, Bill
Wyman and Charlie Watts
Edgier and darker than the
Beatles
Satisfaction (1965)
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=OZ8GZ3PFVGM
The British Invasion
The Yardbirds
Formed in London in 1963 by Keith Relf, Jim
McCarty and Chris Dreja
Lineup also included Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton,
Jimmy Page
Dazed and Confused (1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ffBRhtWj
EQ
The Birth of Counter Culture
Popular music tended to
reflect the dominant class of
white, affluent males
Musical genres rejected
social norms and
represented minority classes
Many of these subgenera
would go on to find
mainstream success
MoTown
Tamla Records founded in Detroit in 1959 by Berry Gordie
Later became known as MoTown Records
Produced African American acts such as Smokey
Robinson and the Miracles, the Four Tops, the
Temptations
Marvelettes ? Mr. Postman (1961)
?Hitsville, USA? had 79 records in the Top Ten of the
Billboard Hot 100 record chart between 1960 and 1969
Psychedelic Rock
Emerged from drug culture of mid-60s in San Francisco
Frequently associated with ?hippie movement? of HaightAshbury district
Represented a rejection of societal norms
Eschewed ?bubblegum? lyrics and formulaic progressions
in favor of experimental music construction and social
commentary
Peaked with Woodstock concert in 1969
Psychedelic Rock
Jefferson Airplane
Formed in San Francisco in 1965
First to achieve commercial success
White Rabbit (1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfASumLh
C2U
Psychedelic Rock
Grateful Dead
Formed in Palo Alto in 1965 by
Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron
“Pigpen” McKernan, Phil Lesh
and Bill Kreutzmann
Known for improvisational sonf
structure
Had a massive loyal following
that continues to present day
Uncle John?s Band (1970)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=TSIajKGHZRk
Music for the Masses
Production and distribution costs for music were prohibitive for
many smaller record labels
Acts were chosen that were marketable to mass audience
Lyrics tended to appeal to lowest common denominator by
using basic universal themes
Music structure tended to be simple and formulaic
Radio and concert friendly
Sometimes referred to as Power Pop
Arena Rock
Journey
Formed in 1973
Sold over 75 million albums
including two Gold albums, eight
multi-platinum albums, and two
diamond albums.
Don?t Stop Believin? (1981)
https://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=1k8craCGpgs
Best selling song of all time
on iTunes
Arena Rock
AC/DC
David Bowie
Kiss
Queen
The Eagles
Cheap Trick
Bon Jovi
1970s Counter Culture
Punk Rock
The Ramones
Formed in Queens in 1975
Formed NY punk scene (CBGB)
I Wanna Be Sedated (1976)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBN1CkyRzmE
The Sex Pistols
Formed in London in 1975 by producer Malcolm McLaren
Staged ?Moral Outrage?
Anarchy (1977) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbmWs6Jf5dc
1970s Counter Culture
Disco
Emerged from New York dance club scene
Popularity started in minority and LGB community
Heavily relied on synthesizers and electronic drum
beats
Popular groups included ABBA, Gloria Gaynor, Village
People, The BeeGees, Donna Summer
Glam Rock and Hair Metal
Blended formulaic nature of Arena Rock and
combined with hedonistic attitudes of the 1980s
Sex, drugs, and rock and roll
Influenced by styles of Van Halen and Alice
Cooper
Known for elaborate and spectacular stage shows
Glam Rock and Hair Metal
Def Leppard
Bringing on the
Heartbreak (1981)
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=TiR71VvCYks
2nd song played on MTV
Glam Rock and Hair Metal
Motley Crue
Founded in 1981 by Nikki
Sixx, Tommy Lee, Vince
Neil and Mick Mars
Girls, Girls, Girls (1987)
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=d2XdmyBtCRQ
The Rise of the Pop
Icon
The 1980s
The Pop Icons of the 1980s
Digital recording made process more accessible
Songs were manufactured in studios
Most songs were written and produced by third
parties
Artists were chosen on marketability and looks
Emergence of true popular music
Spawned the phenomenon of the ?one-hit wonder?
The Pop Icons of the 1980s
Michael Jackson
The King of Pop
Embraced the concept of
the music video
Billie Jean (1985)
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Zi_XLOBDo_Y
All-time best selling artist
The Pop Icons of the 1980s
Madonna
The Queen of Pop
Recognized as the bestselling female recording
artist of all time
Like a Virgin (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=s__rX_WL100
The 1990s and
Rejection of the
Mainstream
1990s Rejectionism
Counter cultures were created in response to
mainstream music tastes
Grunge was a response to hair band
Gangster rap replaced hip hop
Popularity helped turn counter culture into
mainstream success
Rise of ?pop? sub-culture like pop-punk and popcountry
Grunge
Defined by muddled guitars,
darker lyrical content and
minimalist fashion
Originated in Seattle,
Washington in early 90s with
bands like Nirvana, Pearl
Jam and Soundgarden
Smells Like Teen Spirit
(1991)
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=hTWKbfoikeg
Gangster Rap
Genre formed in mid 1980s
with Ice-T, NWA and KRSOne
Dealt with violence and dark
subject matter
Found an audience in white
suburbia in mid-90s thanks
to popularity of rappers like
Dr. Dre, Tupac and Wu Tang
Clan
Gangster Rap
Snoop Dogg
Released Doggystyle in
1994 on Death Row
Records
Sold 1 million copies in
first week and would go
platinum 4x
Gin and Juice (1994)
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=DI3yXg-sX5c
The Rebirth of Pop Groups
Boy bands first appeared in mid 1970s with groups
like the Osmonds and the Jackson 5
Continued in 1980s with Menudo, New Kids on the
Block and Boyz II Men
Found new popularity in mid 1990s with bands like
Backstreet Boys, NSync and 98 degrees
Producer Ron Perlman credited for creation of
NKOTB, BB, NSync, LFO, an 98D
The Rebirth of Pop Groups
NSync
Formed in Orlando in 1995 with
Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez,
Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone,
and Lance Bass
Disney affiliation helped propel
them to instant fame
I Want You Back (1996)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=EYSArdS0uSg
Sold 2 million albums in first
week
The Rebirth of Pop Groups
Spice Girls
Formed in England in 1984
Melanie Brown (“Scary
Spice”), Melanie Chisholm
(“Sporty Spice”), Emma
Bunton (“Baby Spice”), Geri
Halliwell (“Ginger Spice”),
and Victoria Beckham, n?e
Adams (“Posh Spice?)
Wannabe (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ
The Rebirth of Pop Groups
Girl Power Movement
Britney Spears ?Princess of Pop?
Christina Aguilera
Reflection:
What is ?Pop? music
Pop music
Tends to be formulaic in structure
Most rely on I?V?vi?IV chord progression
First used in Pachebel?s Canon in D (1680)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOA2hl1Vbc
Axis of Awesome ? 4 chord songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pidokakU
4I
Pop music
Tends to use simple lyrics with universal themes
Love, wanting, desire, power
Instantly recognizable and relatable
Has to be ubiquitous and accessible to large parts
of society
Creates a shared narrative
Top ?Pop? songs of all-time
According to Billboard
1. Chubby Checker ? The Twist
2. Santana ? Smooth
3. Bobby Darin ? Mack the Knife
4. LeAnn Rimes ? How Do I Live?
5. LMFAO ? Party Rock
6. Black Eyed Peas ? I gotta? feeling
7. Los Del Rio ? Macarena
8. Olivia Newton John ? Physical
9. Debby Boone ? Light Up My Life
10. The Beatles ? Hey Jude
Pop music continues to evolve with
tastes?
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