Reed 1 Jennifer Reed Professor K.

Gay ENC1101 22 November 2011 Rock 'n' Roll: Positive Influences In Society Throughout Time Rock music can change things. I know that it changed our lives. This quote was spoken by Bono, the lead singer of an 80's rock band that is still around today, U2. U2's songs often incorporate both social and political themes. Some songs are affiliated with religion, such as Gloria, while others were more rebellious and angry, such as songs included in their albums Rattle and Hum and War. Rock 'n' roll is overflowing with misconceptions about its intentions. Many people who attempt to decipher rock 'n' roll tend to misinterpret its intentions and state that all it contains is sex, drugs, violence, and for the most part, rebellion. Despite these misconceptions about rock 'n' roll, it has brought about a vast amount of positive significance regarding political/social change and the ability for people to express themselves. Rock 'n' roll artists started movements related to freedom of speech, war, segregation, and many more controversial topics. These movements were able to be brought about due to rock 'n' roll's ability to let both teenagers and adults express themselves through the music. Rock 'n' roll, which did not get its name until the 50's, was the first genre of music to genuinely let people speak about the political and social issues occurring in society. When rock 'n' roll was first introduced, people found it very controversial and many parents did not approve of it. However, rock 'n' roll did help bring about change and was considered by many as their freedom of speech. In Dave Repellent's The Social Influence of Rock and Roll, Repellent

Reed 2 speaks of the variety of both political and social impacts that rock 'n' roll has created, decade by decade. The 50's was when rock 'n' roll first started developing its popularity; it was primarily as a result of its inspiration to rebel (Repellent). Segregation was a very controversial problem in the 50's. In Race, Rock, and Elvis by Michael Bertrand, Bertrand explains how rock 'n' roll was influential during this time of segregation. Many perceived rock 'n' roll as a pathway towards desegregation, due to its ability to promote shared racial experiences (Bertrand 95-96). Blacks and whites protested together, created music together, etc. Once the 60's came to pass, rock 'n' roll became focused more on the political aspects in society (Repellent). As Repellent argues in The Social Influence of Rock and Roll, at this point in time, rebellious rock 'n' roll lyrics were often thought of as a different medium for protesting. Protest music helped unify the youth of the 60's into one voice, a voice denouncing the Vietnam War and racial inequality and oppression (Repellent). Rock 'n' roll began to bring people together to fight for what they thought was right, both in the discontinuation of segregation and of war as well. 70's rock 'n' roll was also very political, but more aggressive and ready-to-protest against specific flaws in the government. Lies regarding the events in Vietnam along with American Imperialistic Greed were rock 'n' roll artists' primary inspiration to protest at this time (Repellent). Throughout these three decades, rock 'n' roll served both as a road towards desegregation and a way to express disapproval of war. The spawn of many new rock 'n' roll artists in the 70's as well as new ones in the 80's continued the many political/social changes that were constituted by earlier rock 'n' roll artists. The British band the Sex Pistols was introduced in the 70's, and the central theme of [their] music was disdain for popular culture and the call for economic and political reform

Reed 3 (Repellent). Although many would agree that in the bigger picture the Sex Pistols were not a very positive influence on society, they did give a significant contribution to the the political/social change occurring within society. On the Sex Pistols Biography, from the website for Rock Hall, it is mentioned that in one of the Sex Pistols most famous songs, God Save the Queen, lead singer Johnny Rotten, concluded the song with a protest saying, no future; a protest that could easily be relatable to Britain's monarchy: unemployed and oppressed. The Sex Pistols' explicit lyrics displayed just how much rock 'n' roll became an outlet to express disapproval of specific characteristics of society. In the 80's, most of the assumptions and misconceptions revolving rock 'n' roll began to form. Many rock 'n' roll artists such as Iron Maiden, for example, were assumed to be satanic. One of their more popular albums, The Number of the Beast, consisted of both a title and cover that led to these conclusions. However, the album was entirely inspired by a nightmare the bassist, Steve Harris, had after watching a scary movie. This is just one of the many assumptions people tend to make about rock 'n' roll. Another assumption that is often made is the assumption that all rebellion is negative. For example, in Bernie Howitt's Focus Study: Rock 'n' Roll, he states that for many females...it was frequently their first opportunity to...rebel against stereotypical expectations of female behavior (Howitt). This is one example of how rebellion is not negative: employing and expressing oneself outside of a stereotype. Many rock 'n' roll artists found themselves able to express themselves through music, whether it be about sex, drugs, racism, nativism, homophobia, or any of the other many controversial topics in society. Just this fact encourages many teenagers and adults to do the same: release their feelings, opinions, and view points through music. Rock 'n' roll from the late 70's to the 80's provided people of all ages

Reed 4 with the idea of being able to express themselves, even about controversial topics, through the medium of music or in general. Rock 'n' roll artists have the ability to make a significant impact on society. As a rock star, I have two instincts, I want to have fun, and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both. This quote, also spoken U2's lead singer, Bono, accurately displays the power that rock 'n' roll artists really have. They get to express themselves enjoyably and make a significant change in society simultaneously. Rock 'n' roll has constituted positive political/social change throughout its six decades of existence, whether it be bringing together blacks and whites during segregation, helping protest war, or indirectly encouraging expression amongst all people. Society today is much more connective, artistic, and expressive due to these effects of rock 'n' roll. Faroghe Azzam in Social Impact of Rock-n-Roll states, Today, rock music is no longer only the music of young Americans. It is the music of the world (Azzam). As long as present rock 'n' roll artists, along with future ones, remain open to expressing their point of views on controversial subjects effecting society and society remains to have problems involving the economy, politics, etc., positive political/change should remain present throughout rock 'n' roll.

Reed 5 Work Cited Azzam, Faroghe. "Social Impact of Rock-n-Roll." Citizen Journalism News Platform Merinews. 20 Apr. 2007. Web. <http://www.merinews.com/article/social-impact-of-rockn-roll/124751.shtml>. Bertrand, Michael T. Race, Rock, and Elvis. Urbana: University of Illinois, 2000. Print. Howitt, Bernie. "Focus Study: Rock 'n' Roll." NSW HSC Online. Web. <http://hsc.csu.edu.au/society_culture/popular_culture/focus_studies/focus_rocknroll/ pcrocknroll.html>. Repellent, Dave. "The Social Influence of Rock and Roll." Musical Family Tree - The Indiana Music Archive and Online Community. 17 Dec. 2010. Web. <http://www.musicalfamilytr ee.net/profiles/blogs/the-social-influence-of-rock?xg_source=activity>. "Sex Pistols Biography." The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Web. <http://rockhall.com/inductees/sex-pistols/bio/>.