Music of the Sixties
Purpose Over the course of the 1960s, American culture takes a drastic shift. At his inaugural address, JFK called on Americans to “ask what you can do for your country.” By the end of the sixties, the mood of the youth shifts dramatically. Vietnam, Civil Rights, and the deaths of numerous prominent American leaders seemed to sour young Americans causing them to do something that an entire generation had never done before – question the government and its elected leaders to the point of generational rebellion.The purpose of this lesson is to explore a type of primary source that is often overlooked – the music of the period. Music plays an important part in telling the story of the United States. Examining the music of the sixties will help you understand the turmoil of the time and the role it played in shaping our nation.You can earn up to 25 bonus points for this paper.
Lesson Outcomes
1.Examine the counter-culture movement of the sixties (CLO 1, 2, 4)
2.Interpret primary source music to understand the historical context of events (CLO 2, 4)
3.Analyze the artist’s point of view and their intention (CLO 1, 2, 3, 4) Steps to Complete the Task
Step 1: Background Information we can see the cultural rebellion by examining the music of the 60s. In 1960, “The Twist” by Chubby Checker (lyrics) and “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” by Brian Hyland (lyrics) were #1 singles on the Hot 100. While upbeat songs still tended to dominate the top spot on the charts, music was drastically changing. Sex, drugs, and anti-war emerged as important topics. “American Pie” by Don MacLean (lyrics) dealt with the tragedies of the entire decade in an eight-minute song.The evolution of the Beatles further highlights the change. In the early years of the decade, the Beatles were optimistic with songs like “Roll Over Beethoven” (lyrics) and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (lyrics). By 1970, their music was more melancholy. Songs like “Let It Be” (lyrics) and “Hey Jude” (lyrics) still resonated with fans and soared to the top of the charts but the tone was more somber. Other songs, like “Give Peace a Chance” (lyrics), were more obvious challenges to authority.There can’t be any large-scale revolution until there’s a personal revolution, on an individual level. It’s got to happen inside first. –Jim Morrison
Step 2: Consider Point of View and Bias You are exploring the protest music of the sixties. Not only do you need to be aware of the point of view of the artists, but you also need to be aware of your own point of view and biases. Listen to the music and read the lyrics with an open mind so you can better understand the mindset of the creators and those who thought the same way.
Things to consider…•What is going on in the United States and the world in the sixties?
- How do national and world events shape the music? Who is the creator of the primary source?
- What is their gender, age, ethnicity, social status, religion, intellectual beliefs, etc. and might those influence how they see this moment in history?Who is the intended audience?
- Is there more than one audience? What message is sent to each?Why was the source created?