Rock & roll emerged during the fifties as an outlet for young teenagers’ rebellious energies, inspiring young rebellious individuals like Elvis Presley (a white artist using musical elements from African American musicians) to express themselves creatively and successfully express themselves musically.
Traditional pop music remained mired in its past with old standards and covers taking top positions on the charts.
1. “Downtown” by The Beatles
The Beatles’ version of this classic pop tune stands as an outstanding example. A massive hit at the time, its catchy lyrics and vocals remain among some of the most well-known in history.
The 1950’s marked an unprecedented social revolution worldwide and this transition could be found within music as well. Swing and crooning voices gave way to rock n’ roll and new styles of music during this decade, as pop music evolved beyond solo singers with big names on record labels; bands began taking over and artists began experimenting with sounds which later would form the basis for genres such as dance-pop and baroque pop.
Chubby Checker made waves during the early 60’s when he popularized a dance style known as the twist and groups such as The Dave Clark Five and The Archies began introducing rock into pop music, creating a new generation of fans who did not want to be limited by the music that had come before them. British Invasion helped further spread this style, eventually giving birth to numerous subgenres of pop music that began emerging at this time.
Madonna pioneered a genre called dance-pop while Prince popularized R&B into mainstream pop music during the 80’s, both styles becoming highly influential and helping shape modern pop music.
2. “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
1969 was an incredible year for pop music. Richard Nixon campaigned his way into the Oval Office and Neil Armstrong landed on the moon; and many artists released mind-bending musical excursions with elaborate productions; but Creedence Clearwater Revival stood out with their songs that wasted no notes or words while boasting raw soul – taking over charts over their four year run at El Cerrito and producing 14 Top 10 hits and six Platinum albums in just four intense years!
CCR stood out among psychedelic rock acts for their unique blend of blues and New Orleans R&B, mythologizing the American South along the way. Their music was designed for FM radio with verse/chorus formats similar to AM radio’s verse/chorus format; their lyrics often addressed political topics or issues: their song “Proud Mary” was about an underage man waging war against drugs using side-wheelers while “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” served as an anthem for those of the 99%ers among us all.
CCR made their iconic performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1970, unlike most other big-name bands of their day, CCR weren’t an immediate sensation but once they landed that slot they quickly became popular on NBC and variety shows that hosted acts that needed stepping stones into mainstream success. Their compilation album Chronicle was certified Diamond in 2016 after 10 million units had been sold, still featuring timeless singles like this one.
3. “Hey Jude” by The Beatles
Fifty years ago, The Beatles’ poignant tribute to Janis Joplin’s death hit #1 on the charts and marked a turning point in pop music by breaking free of traditional swing and crooning styles that had long dominated it.
Recorded during a time of turmoil for the band, as John Lennon began dating Yoko Ono and separated from Cynthia Powell, McCartney composed this track to comfort his mate as well as Julian who took news of John Lennon’s departure particularly hard.
At seven minutes and eleven seconds, this single was the longest ever released; its success propelled longer songs into mainstream radio playlists. While disc jockeys initially preferred shorter tunes, they soon discovered that listeners preferred to stay tuned through longer tracks.
As well as its effect on pop music, “Weird Al” Yankovic’s classic track has also had a profound effect on movies and TV shows as well as being covered by many artists such as Elvis Presley, Wilson Pickett and others. Notable covers by these musicians include Elvis Presley’s, Wilson Pickett’s and “Weird Al’s” versions.
1969 was an extraordinary year in pop music history, from the politically charged lyrics of Two Tone movement to the experimental sounds heard at Woodstock. Richard Nixon campaigned for president that year while Neil Armstrong made history walking on the moon, And Butch Cassidy and Sundance made their box office mark with successful movies like Tombstone. Additionally, 1969 witnessed the birth of new generations of artists that forever altered popular music genres.
4. “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X
1969 was an incredible year in many ways; Richard Nixon ran for president, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, Butch Cassidy and Sundance became box office hits, and music had its moment in history. Here are some of the biggest hits from that transformative year!
The Temptations’ second single from their 1969 album Puzzle People propelled to the top of the charts and has since been covered by many acts – becoming a classic due to Thelma Houston’s powerful vocals and drum beats.
What makes a song great can be hard to define; tastes change over time, depending on one’s mood and cultural context. But three components stand out as essential: emotion, melody and longevity.
As a single, “Hit the Road Jack” held onto No.1 for over eight weeks in history – marking an important moment in Motown and soul history. But The Jackson 5 truly made their mark in its video version with its choreographed dance moves and signature suits with shiny hair!
“Old Town Road” became the inaugural collaboration album to hit No. 1, becoming an enduring classic with its gorgeous harmonies and whimsical tale of two lovers meeting under mistletoe. Such an effort wouldn’t likely occur today as most pop stars wouldn’t perform with another singer — or rapper for that matter — forming such an unforgettable duo, which helped ensure it reached No. 1. It stayed at No.1 on Billboard’s chart for 17 weeks after release!
5. “Sweet Caroline” by The Beatles
Music tastes evolve over time, yet some songs remain timeless classics even as their popularity declines. What are the ingredients of a great song? Emotion, melody and longevity can all contribute to its timeless quality; here is a look back at some of the greatest hits released 50 years ago that remain so beloved today.
Chanson Francaise dominated French music during this era, featuring vocalists like Edith Piaf and Georges Brassens singing songs influenced by classical structures, musette music and jazz. American artists were beginning to experiment with new forms. Ray Charles and Fats Domino departed from melancholy blues of 1940s for boogie-woogie that greatly influenced Rock and roll; Mitch Miller of Columbia Records made country western and rhythm and blues accessible via recordings done in styles that fit within Pop traditions.
“Sweet Caroline,” written and recorded by Paul McCartney with Wild Cherry four-piece band, quickly became one of the most recognisable rock songs ever created. Its instantly recognisable chord progression and clavinet rhythm line set a template for hard rock from then on; furthermore it marked one of the earliest examples of what would later become heavy metal music genre.