The Influence Of Rock Music In The 1970s

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Recommended: Watergate scandal/nixon’s resignation

The 1970s were a very influential time in American society and is certainly one that will be remembered for a while to come. Most of the music created during the early 1970s was heavily influenced by the psychedelic rock music from the 1960s. However, towards the end of the decade the psychedelic movement became less popular. Although the 1970s did not provide as much innovation or creativeness as the 1960s had, it was the decade that shifted American music from the hippy lifestyle of the 1960s to the more conservative and preppy lifestyle of the 1980s and despite the numerous musical, social, and political changes that took place during the 1970s, the main focus remained nearly the same throughout most of the decade: lyrics with subtle, underlying messages to stand up and fight for the changing times hidden behind a relaxing leisure sound. The attitude of most of those living in the 1970s was an increasing discontentment towards the United States government and its leaders that began as a result of the Watergate Scandal, which allowed Americans to discover just how corrupt their own leaders could be as well as the fact that there could be actions taking place within their country and government that they were not being told. Making matters worse, the Kent State Massacre, in which the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a crowd of the university’s demonstrators and resulted in the killing of four and injuring of nine, occurred a couple of years before the Watergate Scandal. This incident resulted in numerous protests nationwide on college campuses as well as musicians creating songs with regards to such types of events. (Undercofler 1997) With so much dissatisfaction arising across the nation, teenagers began stepping up, speaking ... ... middle of paper ... ... a little more towards the goals of some of the other genres in the decade. Songs were typically shorter with fast-paced, edgy music with simplified instrumentation and lyrics that returned to the discontentment with the government that earlier genres displayed. The 1970s saw many changes within society. It was a time when teenagers, African Americans, and women were able to find their voice and almost all groupings of persons were beginning to publicly stand up for what they believed in. Likewise, people were beginning to find ways to incorporate more down time into their daily lives and started going out more, indulging in all-night dance clubs and drug use. Growing discontentment with the government was on the rise which allowed nearly every musical genre from the decade to influence the others, building a web of musical characteristics that linked many together.

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