What was exceptional about the music of the sixties??

Answer 1

Many things:

The days of Tin Pan Alley (where songwriters wrote songs to give to singers) were essentially over--from then on, singer/songwriters would be the norm (people who wrote and performed their own music). The Beatles were particularly important in this transition.

Black music came out of the background--no longer would it simply be the inspiration for white rock n' roll, it would be fused with white pop music to create a new sound. Black performers could be played on "white" stations. Motown was a central player in this transition.

Pop music was electrified (i.e., the electric guitar became the mainstay of the sound).

Music gained a social conscience. Instead of focusing on teen love and heartbreak, lyricists began making social commentary. Music became a galvanizing force for change.

Hope these ideas help!

Answer 2

It all changed with the Beatles. Until their arrival on the music scene in c1963/4 we had Rock n Roll of mostly the American kind plus a few Brit copyists such as Cliff Richard etc.

The Beatles and all that followed changed everything. This lead to the Flower Power generation who started in San Francisco but which were copied here in UK. This was the generation who wanted to put an end not just to the Vietnam War but all wars.

In the modern sense PC = Flower Power, is the best way I can explain their legacy and that of the Beatles and the music of the 1960s which had such an effect upon people. Think also of Revolution.

Answer 3

If your Question is about Rock and role well the music the tunes rhythm and words could be understood and kept your feet and mind moving along with and made most people feel relaxed and good with the world especially the man himself big E/l on one L/P he could change his style and sing different ways that could sound good from young to old not like today's music it seems to be coupled with drugs sex booze and crime there maybe some who say that it was the the same in those days as well if indeed that was the case they did a reasonable job of keeping it hidden it seemed to come more out in the open from the days of the Beetles onwards where drugs and things seemed to come more to the forefront

Answer 4

It was music made by kids for kids.

Old people didn't "understand" the music... it didn't move them. To the younger generation, it spoke volumes to them.

It led them to try and change the world... led to many inovative ways of thinking. It led to rebellion of the war in Vietnam.

Todays relaxed workplace (no ties) is a direct result of these changing values. I was there at the first "Earth Day" in 1970 when my High School marched in protest of environmental problems like DDT usage on farms.

The music of the 60's was the catalyst for change in a generation now getting ready for retirement.

But do you know what? Many of those songs are STILL popular today and being remade by kids all the time.

Cool, huh?


g-day!

Answer 5

So many good answers already, but no one has mentioned that many of the best known sixties songs were protests against the Viet Nam War. "Blowing in the Wind," "Where Have All The Flowers Gone," etc.

Yes, there were other songs about free love, romance, and such, but it was the protest songs that caught the nation's attention.

Answer 6

It was so inventive and varied. And also, unlike now, nearly everyone wrote their own tunes, and played their own instruments.

You had Pop music, Rock n Roll, Psychadelia, Folk, Soul, Motown,Mod, Blues, Hard Rock, Ballads,Bit Pop,Ethnic influenced and Experimental music, and some of all of that got into the charts.

Unlike now, when you have Manufactured Boy and Girl Bands, Production line R & B, Gangsta Rap etc

Answer 7

The Lyrics were more outspoken then ever before. The great
fact was, they did not have to use four letter words to get the message across. Another great fact was the beat and rhythm of the music.

Answer 8

The Moog Synthesizer was invented and used, "Acid Rock" and "Psychedelic Rock" were created as derivatives of the drug scene. Early 60's was the "Motown Sound", Folk music revived, Peter Paul and Mary, Dylan, etc. and of course Woodstock in '69.

Answer 9

Beatles, Rolling Stones, Who, Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Kinks, Doors, Simon & Garfunkel, to name but a few seminal acts.

Answer 10

nothing before or since moved an entire generation to rise up and demand its voice be heard. like the big bang, boomers have affected not just culture, but economics, societal mores, and even politics. not necessarily for good in all cases, but the boomer generation and its preferences and experiences continue to reverberate across this country. it won't stop for another fifty years when we're finally all dead. then, i suppose, the survivors will wonder what all the fuss was about. not to mention, 'who was Jimi Hendrix?'