[1] What is it about the Sixties that still linger in the minds of the American population forty years later? For many the Sixties was a time of liberation, a time of true freedom, but it was also a time of struggle and oppression. This was a decade that prided itself on overcoming obstacles of race, gender, and even sexuality. The Sixties was an experience that many people wish they could relive, and other survivors of the decade refuse to even remember. Perhaps the one thing that sticks strongly in my own mind are the passings of many great individuals -- the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcom X. The second half of the decade marks itself with the untimely deaths of rock legends Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and the subject of this essay -- Janis Joplin.
The Beatles set the tone for rock music and for the hippie youth culture in the1960s until the band broke up in 1969. They led a generation of rebellious youth from marijuana to acid to “free sex” to eastern religion to revolution and liberal political/social activism. David Noebel observes: “The Beatles set trends, and their fans followed their lead. They were the vanguard of an entire generation who grew long hair, smoked grass, snorted coke, dropped acid, and lived for rock‘n’ roll. They were the ‘cool’ generation”
The sixties and seventies were a time of war, peace and revolution, with “hippies” leading anti-war movements, and protests happening across the nation due to the administration of Richard Nixon and the Vietnam War. John Lennon originally a member of The Beatles, became a star in the anti-war subculture, and a hero to many, not only for his musicianship and the Beatle-mania that was spread across the country but for being a voice of the people. The Beatles were at the time, the voices of their generation and eventually became a product of their generation, with their songs highlighting the issues of the time. Even with the disbanding of The Beatles in 1969, Lennon continued to be a force in the culture, with his wife Yoko Ono and himself taking a prominent role in the media and movement against the war.
The story of the most legendary group in the history of popular music began in 1960, in Liverpool, England. The Beatles, were an English rock band, whose most well-known lineup, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, is considered by many as the most innovative, emulated, and successful music group of the twentieth century. John Lennon was largely responsible for the development of the band, since he, together with Paul McCartney, wrote most of the music for the Beatles. Lennon is largely responsible for the Beatles being considered the first rock performers who were truly considered groundbreaking artists in their own time, and years after the band broke up, with his lyrics, “Beatlemania”, and the controversy that he caused the band.
John Lennon was a performer, musician, composer, and a talker (Spangler). Even though some people liked what he did, and others disagreed, John possessed a talent like no other. Even though the Beatles separated, John still found a way for his talents to be carried on through a career. John Lennon was a good father to his kids and was considered to be a thoughtful husband (John Lennon Biography). He was a great musician who still lives through his rock and roll music today. John’s message of peace, love, and happiness will be remembered forever in the minds of many (Johnson).
John Lennon was well known for mostly his music, both in the Beatles and his solo career, but he was also known for promoting peace and well being. A quote from Lennon and what he believed is “If everybody demanded peace instead of another television set, there’d be peace(johnlennonpwace.com).” He was also a important part of the protest against the war in Vietnam. He believed that the situation in Vietnam was not our problem or concern, and that young men should not be dying because of this. He tried to persuade people of this “Peace Movement” as well. He participated in parades and peaceful protests. The reason John Lennon’s ideas were so powerful because he was extremely famous and well known, and he is one of the few celebrity who used his fame to communicate a positive message to the world(johnlennonpeace.com).
He was an activist who fought peacefully for his ideals, leaving them embodied in his songs, transforming them into the ideals of the masses, taking risks in his career and in his life. Courage was one of his virtues, never tired of the intense search that was his life, facing the constant struggle that existed between his ideals and his human temperament. The gift that he left us is in his lyrics, where he expresses his experiences and thoughts. He was able to transform his personal feeling and belief into something universal, for everyone, and vice versa, with his humor, sagacity and intelligence. He himself did not know whether to categorize himself as a genius, or as a madman. This is how his songs were directed and spoke essentially about the human condition. Also, the life of John Lennon since childhood was not easy, in his adolescence was when he changed his life, to meet Paul McCartney took an unexpected turn because he knew the fame to the extent that he felt that the Beatles were better known than Jesus Christ that phrase was which provoked the anger of Mark Chapman (the murderer of John Lennon) for his
Even dying at the young age of 40, Lennon created a strong legacy for himself throughout those few, short years. From being an original member and founder of the Beatles to the start of his solo career, Lennon was and still is admired by many. 44 years after the Beatles expanded; they are still listened to and dreamed of daily. “If only all of the Beatles were still alive...” or “I wish it was possible for them to just have one reunion concert.” 14 year olds to 72 year olds still listen to Lennon’s voice every day, singing the same songs over once more. John Lennon’s strive and perseverance to achieve what he wanted still inspires people of all ages today.
A major person that the Beatles has influenced was an artist named Kurt Cobain (widely known as the singer of Nirvana). Another short example of someone that was influenced by the Beatles was Gene Simmons (singer and bassist of KISS). Not only Artists but people were influenced by the words in the Beatles music to start fighting for rights of people. During the Vietnam war John Lennon would talk about how the world should come together and fight for peace. This came up to the song (Imagine) sung by John Lennon. The Beatles had a popular hairstyle that young teen boys got called “Mop-top”. Usually young teens wore this style of hair and it was highly mocked by adults. Clothing they wore eventually became popular to both male and female listeners. An example where the highly known glasses that John Lennon would wear called teashade glasses but are known now from people as “John Lennon glasses”, these glasses were round shaped shades. The influence of The Beatles on the people may seem small but it created a huge effect on fashion now, and on how people view the
To conclude, the sixties had their way to write, hear and enjoy music, and I think that influenced a lot in our society, let's think for a moment: If the movements of the sixties never existed, what would have happened to the music of today? Seriously, I don't know.
The years 1960-1969 were very impressionable years. With events that changed America , turning the innocence and hope of American people into violence and anger. The young nation of the 60s were the most influential of all ,with rioting about war or turning music into culture. This was a completely different america than it was years before . In a Music standpoint artists such as The Beatles , Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix were changing the way music was made . They were changing music into an artform , a way for people to express their feelings , beliefs and ideas. The Music of the 1960s evolved into an artform which lead the path for American music of today.
The clash of swords; the twang of bowstrings. The whistle of bullets. Bodies span the ages and litter the lands of the nations. Their blood cries from the ground upon which they fell, calling for vengeance on the governments and societies that so wronged them. This was the pattern that existed since the beginning of time, until the world met one man. With one mission. Now, there are generations upon generations that will never forget him. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” (“Mahatma Gandhi Quotes”). He admirably exemplified this in his own life and showed the world that peace is possible. Mahatma Gandhi rose from a world of intense social boundaries and taught the world that every person is equal.
...s, it was a time of great turbulence from start to finish. Protests, assassinations, war, pacifists; they all played a major role in the United States during this time. Something substantial had to happen to help relieve some of the on going woes. It was the British music. Not once, but twice, within a span of ten years were the British the influence that helped get us over those times. It may have been in a more positive way in the first wave, and maybe in a more negative way in the second, introducing an entire drug culture, but either way it made an impact. I have always viewed the 60’s as one of the most intriguing decades to live in, because of its culture shock that occurred during this time. It was the decade of peace, love and drugs; it would have been great to be there to experience these things. Nevertheless, in the research I have done, I have realized the importance of not only the British music on this decade, but all of the feelings behind the music, all of the meanings and emotions and social change which it encouraged. It was the decade with the highest highs and the lowest lows in the last half-century. It was the time when British music saved America from itself.
John Lennon was born on October 9th 1940 in Liverpool, England 1. His father left the family to sail the seas before Lennon’s earliest childhood memory and his mother was taken away by a car accident when he was 18 2. A year after his mother’s death, the Vietnam War took place, which is The United State’s longest military dispute ever. The world famous band, The Beatles, debut on 1961 not long after the start of the war and through this band, Lennon was able to demonstrate his feelings to the people across the world. "Revolution," performed by The Beatles, was created in 1968, when the anti-war demonstration was on the move. After the separation of The Beatles in 1969, Lennon composed the song "Imagine" (1971) 3. This song proves that Lennon is a Peace-Loving-Atheist and a "Voluntarist" 4 that believes in the scheme that people’s ideas can change social reality; however simultaneously admits that there are constantly wars going on in the world. As a result, he could be a mixture of all four, Realist, Liberal, Marxist and Constructivist. On December 8th 1980, approximately five years after the end of the Vietnam War, Lennon was assassinated by Mark Chapman 5. It is not for certain that the word assassination could be used on a singer, song writer who also published books. However there is no doubt about the fact that Lennon touched many people’s hearts around the world and maybe was even praised as an almighty figure.
John Lennon, singer and songwriter, was born on October 9, 1940 and was assassinated on December 9, 1980. Although he passed away very young, Lennon was known as a legend. His music had left an impact on the whole world. People from different countries knew and loved Lennon’s music especially his song Imagine. Written in 1971, the song became a big success. Imagine was known to have a strong political message. It was a song that was heard and interpreted throughout the whole world. Many people to this day believe this song is a cry out to communism. However, the song is a simpler than the interpretation of communism. Throughout Lennon’s lyrics, the audience receives a message of peace and happiness.