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The influence of music in a society
The influence of music in a society
Music and society
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Loesser’s music reflects American society including relationship practices as well as the heightened sense of nationalism throughout the Depression and the war. Loesser had just entered into Tin Pan Alley music when the depression hit. While the depression played a role economically it did not hinder the cultural advances because people looked to music as a source of entertainment. Due to the popular dances of the time courtship and romantic relationships were a vital part to maintain moral across the nation. Due to the lack of money flow people looked for cheap entertainment like listening to music, radio shows, playing sports, or dancing. These activities often involved partners and when mean were successful it made them more desirable. Throughout …show more content…
The first major hit that Loesser lyricized in 1934 was titled I wish I were twins. This song romanticizes the relationship between two lovers. One of the two lovers are so madly in love that they wish they could two people so they could love their significant lover more. This song runs a parallel to events taking place in like the Dust Bowl which started in 1934. At the same time the economy started to turn around and the spark for love continued because not only did the economy start to pick up but a social scene had been built around music. The next song that continues to be popular today Heart and Soul continues to reflect the American love scene and how much this man has fallen for this girl not just physically but truly in love. This music enticed American’s in October hitting the top of the music charts just before the World of Wars took over the radio at the end of October throwing the nation into havoc. At this time Dating was the scale of popularity according to a 1938 article in Mademoiselle Magazine. As the United States recovered from The Great Depression music progressed with society and the flare of …show more content…
This song reminisces about the loss of Private Rodger Young and reminds soldiers to push forward through the loss. Since death was something typically seen on the battle field Losser took this sad moment and turned it in to a rally together moment to get the job done. Loesser reflects the idea that America is tired of the war and are ready to keep progressing in life. While this song may not have been the most popular of the time period, Life magazine at the time felt like it was vital to print the music in the worlds for all to
The fall of Tin Pan Alley gave rock and roll and country music a chance to become part of the American popular music industry (pg. 113, Willoughby). This allowed Hillbilly, Bluegrass, and the Nashville sound to take center stage. This is what has allowed the artists Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw and many more to become part of the popular music industry. Not just country, but also the diminishing of Tin Pan Alley gave rise to rock and roll. This impacted our popular music in a huge way. It was rebellious and the teenagers loved it. It wasn’t just popular with people back then, but it also is still hugely popular today with all generations. Many songs from rock and roll are considered standards because so many became popular songs. Even though I wasn’t alive during this era, I love listening to the Beatles and Pink Floyd. Without the fall of Tin Pan Alley none of this would have been possible.
What’s your favorite song? Sweater Weather? Counting Stars? How about Royals? Although it has always had a place in humanity's cultures and hearts, music wasn’t always as bold, flashy, and prominent as it is in this day and age; it took time to gradually evolve into what we consider to be “popular”, and many believe that one street in New York City was the start of such a great American evolution. Tin Pan Alley, one street among hundreds, and a piece of tragically overlooked American History; dating back to the late 1880's to past World War II, Tin Pan Alley played a critical role in peoples lives and attitudes throughout the early part of the 20th century.
When the United States were showing signs of economical growth, the unimaginable happen. When the 1929 stock market crash marked the day that the United States slowly crept into the Great Depression. The Great Depression caused nationwide panic. There was a decrease of production and the sale of goods. Many businesses started to collapse and close. Banks closed down since they took people’s money and invest in stocks. When the stocks crashed, banks went bankrupt and people lost their money and savings. Then there was a rise in unemployment and thousands of workers lost their jobs. Countless amount of people were homeless and they were trying their best to save their money. People were trying to figure out how to deal with their economic difficulties. During that time, people wanted to escape from their problems. They would watch movies and listen to music. At the time Jazz music was very popular. Jazz music had musical freedom and the songs show the way many people felt. It had the power to lift the gloomy spirits of the people affected. Jazz music has a style that appeal to many people, both young and old. One of the earlier Jazz
Music can be traced back into human history to prehistoric eras. To this day archeologists uncover fragments of ancient instruments as well as tablets with carved lyrics buried alongside prominent leaders and highly influential people. This serves as a testament to the importance and power of music, as well as its influence in society. Over its many years of existence, music’s powerful invocation of feelings has allowed it to evolve and serve many purposes, one being inspiring change. American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson once said, “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel.” This fuel is the very things that powers the influence of Rock ‘n’ Roll on American society, that author Glenn C. Altschuler writes about in his book, “All Shook Up – How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America.” Between 1945 and 1965 Rock ‘n’ Roll transformed American society and culture by helping to ease racial integration and launch a sexual revolution while most importantly developing an intergenerational identity.
Women’s sufferage was at it’s peak with the ratification of the United States Nineteenth Amendment. Women recived more independence after the end of the First World War and took a greater part in the work force. In the 1920s, there were many famous women Jazz artists such as Lovie Austin, a piano player and band leader, Lil Hardin Armstrong, a pianist who was originally a member of King Oliver’s band, and Bessie Smith, an African-American blues singer who inspired women like Billie Holiday and Janis Joplin. Although women were also making a difference in the Jazz industry, it wasn’t until the 1930s when they were recongnized as successful artists in the music world.
America was still changing rapidly as African Americans were allowed more and more rights and social justices. During this time in America’s history, racism was still largely found across the nation. It was almost customary for average white people to hold their black counterparts and lower regards. It was very rare for people of mixed races partaking in activities together, let alone creating music. Swing resolved some of these issues, and connected the races. The audience of Swing was also different in the sense that “college-age and high-school-age youth” built up a large majority of the common listeners (Edsford 1). The inclusion of younger aged consumers of Swing music is monumentally important contrasted with swing’s predecessors, where people of this age had no outlet of listening to music of any kind. The later part of the Swing revolution occurred during the first consumer era of America, allowing people of all ages to spend more time doing things they enjoyed, compared to just trying to survive. This brought a new flair to the world and transformed the bleak and monotone life of working all day into a luxuriant
For many Americans, country isn’t just a type of music. It’s a lifestyle. From sippin’ sweet tea on the porch, drinking beer at a tailgate or driving a pick up down the backroads, country music has made its way into the hearts and minds of many Americans. It is one of the only truly home grown American art forms. Its relatability and wide appeal has made country music one of the most commercially successful and popular genres in the United States. Using the work of scholars Tichi, Pecknold, and Ellison, I will show how country music grew from its rural southern roots into an integral part of American culture.
Thesis Statement: Originating in the 1920s, country music developed four distinct generations and it reflected American’s lives and values.
In the late 1930’s, as war clouds gathered, jazz reached the pinnacle of popularity. Musicians’ skills and promoters’ efforts had made possible the success of “swing” . In the two years after the war began in September 1939, government spending for war production and defense reinvigorated the American economy and ended the great depression. Although the swing music that helped keep American spirits up during the Depression years still existed, there was an increasing amount of racial tension about bands formed by white men vs. bands formed by black men. White bands like Tommy Dorsey’s, which could play a broad spectrum of music, were hailed for their versatility. The black counterparts who sought to do the same were often indirectly accused of trying to get above themselves . This is important because many black musicians where losing work due to venues only hiring bands that were led by white men. Out work, or underpaid black musicians where often bought-out by white bandleaders who could offer them higher pay, and where looking for the best musicians they could find. This type of integration went both ways, as black bands would hire young, adolescent white musicians in an effort to get more
There were many differences between both the American 1920’s and 1930’s. Many refer to these years with certain names -- they called the 1920’s the “boom” and the 1930’s the “bust.” The 1920’s was considered to be America’s adolescence, while the 1930’s was considered to be the fall, or the America’s crash. The adolescent years were considered as such due to the frivolity and liveliness of the people. Americans were now discovering and inventing some major inventions and such at the time, and meanwhile both entertainment and music definitely became a big part of American day to day life. The 1930’s was considered the fall due to many major obstacles and hindrances to America’s development, including the Great Depression.
In this song The Fray takes great effort to convey the point of talking with the youth of today about making the correct decisions that will have a large affect upon one's life. Although the song in no way forces the narrators thoughts and ideas upon the youth they still firmly instill the knowledge of his choices impact on his future. Ideally this would be a guideline, an alarm of hope, a script on how to one day "save a life."
Prior to the Great Depression the United States was flourishing with technology and consumer spending. The Roaring Twenties brought much cheer and prosperity to the economy. The invention of the automobile, radio and motion picture brought higher wages and more jobs. When families wanted to forget about their troubles for a little while, they would usually go see a movie. Some films were The Wizard of Oz, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Gone with the Wind. Music was also an entertaining way to distract you from everyday life problems. Women were dressing differently and trying to gain a better place for themselves in the work force. Their views and mannerism were also changing.
The 1920s were a pivotal period in American history because the nation established many of the structures that it required to promote a lifestyle that is enjoyed by many diverse people across the country today. In the United States, the 1920s were a distinct decade because a majority of its citizens enjoyed immense wealth, and this period marked an expansion in the country’s establishment of infrastructure and the people who lived during this time contributed significantly to music and the arts. For the first time in history, more Americans moved to the cities and the surrounding suburbs, which created a cultural shift to emphasis on the middle class working individual, rather than on the rural farmer. It is important to understand the implications of the 1920s on modern American culture, because this was an essential decade that had a significant influence on the American way of thinking in addition to the American way of life.
The 1920s marked the start of the Jazz Age, also known as the Roaring Twenties, as World War I came to a closure. It was a period of significant economic boom, cultural shifts and social changes. Prominent progress in technology brought about rapid modernization and urbanization after the war. This then resulted in many changes in people’s lifestyles. A bigger part of the population was able to enjoy higher standards of living due to higher affordability. Cultural wise, war affected the way both men and women viewed themselves and hence there was a major shift in mindsets and what was socially deemed acceptable.
Music is an outlet to all aspects of life and culture is a significant way of forming people and the way they live. Although not always seen directly culture has an overbearing influence on the music that is produced and made popular. The political Climate of the early seventies was full of fire with issues such as Vietnam and constant protest throughout the county. Later in the 70’s the end of the Vietnamese conflict brought the rise of the Watergate scandal and Iran Contra. These issues swept headlines and ingrained people’s thoughts. Social issues also played a big role in the developing culture of the seventies. Protests and constant outbreaks about gay rights and women’s rights seemed to overtake the country in storm. Later in the Decade the social climate changed to a celebration of the Past and a can-do attitude. Political and Social climates had an overbearing influence on the attitude that was being developed throughout the seventies. This climate was also transparent in the music world of this decade. In the early 70’s music lyrics were being created that were representative of the popular method of protest and social change. Music is a common way of expression and during this time artist and groups took the most of their popular music by expressing viewpoints on present issues. In the mid to late seventies the birth of new styles that broke from the old seemed to dominate the music industry. These new types of music ranged from disco to television pop. The music of the decade represented the culture and was greatly influenced by events and beliefs of the 70’s. At this time in American history, music and life became closely nit. In the late 1970’s, national issues settl...