The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

Posted by Lily Brown on July 1st, 2019

Rock and roll is a genre that originated in the United States in 1940 - 1950s. The new genre borrowed a lot from boogie-woogie rhythms, blues and jazz styles, and gospel genres. The genre could therefore be considered a mixture of other styles. Nevertheless, rock bands roll has become a widespread music style which still remains very popular. It could be seen that the genre itself has not sufficiently changed since its appearance in the 1950s. This paper concentrates on the development of rock and roll from its origin to the modern period of time.

Music in the 1950s

Rock and roll music in the 1950s was used by the youth to express their feelings and opinions about their society and the world. Most of the rock and roll songs communicated the themes of love, loss, confusion, being misunderstood, and not being taken seriously. Similarly, the songs expressed the opinions of the youth about sex, race, social problems, politics, and religion, especially after the hippies began converting to the church. The society at first rejected the genre, and radio stations often refused to play rock and roll music with a claim that its lyrics and rocking dancing styles could encourage sex and delinquency. For instance, Elvis Presley was a constant target for censorship by both American and African American moral authorities and was condemned for his sexual references.

Considering that rock music had developed after the World War II, the genre shaped dissenting opinions, counter-cultural and counter-racial movements that became synonymous in that time. In the U.S., rock music became the voice of people expressing the social conditions and political opinions.

Music in the 21st Century

There is an absolute resemblance in rock music of 1950s and that of the 21st century. For example, Stevie Wonder in his live performance on February 10, 2015 in Los Angeles emphasized impartiality in the U.S. as was already expressed in the 1950s. This message was motivated by the death of Michael Brown who was killed in Ferguson, Missouri, as well as by the killing of Eric Garner by a policeman in circumstances that were considered racial-motivated. His rock song is currently used to express the dissenting opinion about racial segregation, which is a cultural problem in the United States. These cases have led to the eruption of protests to demand change in how the African Americans are seen and treated. In his song, Stevie Wonder is surprised with a fact that the mayor is not aware of racial or cultural problems in Ferguson which have led to the killing of Michael Brown. He also asserts that all the citizens are equally responsible for making their life safe and comfortable. Wonders finally claims that everyone should be tolerant and seek the same for their neighbor’s son or daughter they would want for their own children.

Comparing Rock music of the 1950s and that of 21st Century

The messages of rock and roll music have not substantially changed. In the 1950s, the music was used to promote social changes by communicating extensive dissenting opinions against American social conditions that breached national beliefs. Nowadays, rock and roll promotes diversity similar to the 1950s by accommodating disadvantaged groups in the U.S. without changing their identities. As it was in the 1950s, rock and roll is presently used to offer social hopes, provide mobility, support community democracy, and promote racial and social interactions as asserted by Stevie Wonder in his latest album.

Comparison of the rock and roll music of the 1950s and that of 2015 shows no changes. The music still goes against the traditional cultural authority of decency by promoting unrestricted vulgar expressions and dancing considered a threat to cultural decorum, particularly due to overemphasis on sexuality. Despite the change of times, music of this genre still remains the same as it was in the 1950s.

About the author: Lily Brown is a master in English philology and literature at California University. Lily is currently working as one of the best writers at the EssaysProfessor.com She also studies feminine psychology.