Influence

7 Pages 1720 Words

n and The Jackson 5 were getting more recognition than those of the previous decade (Little Richard's songs were re-recorded by white performers in the fifties). The music of Motown played a major role in opening eyes and minds on issues of racism; while it was not spelled out in the lyrics, the music was performed so uniquely that it was difficult to copy, yet easy to enjoy and appreciate.



In 1964, the Beatles arrived in the U.S. and captured the hearts of teenage girls with their soft rock, relationship-themed songs (129, 133). The Beatles redirected their songs toward adults as the sixties went on, moving away from the simple lyrics and basic chord progressions and rhythm patterns of their earlier material. It is fair to say that when the Beatles first arrived, parents hated them because of their "long" hair and the teen sensation they embodied, but as the band matured, they were an overall respected band.



Folk-rock artists such as Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell became popular in the sixties, conveying their an...