8/3/2019 P4Final

1/5

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

8/3/2019 P4Final

2/5

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

8/3/2019 P4Final

3/5

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

8/3/2019 P4Final

4/5

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.

8/3/2019 P4Final

5/5

Reed 5

Work Cited

Azzam, Faroghe. "Social Impact of Rock-n-Roll." Citizen Journalism News Platform -

Merinews. 20 Apr. 2007. Web. .

Bertrand, Michael T.Race, Rock, and Elvis. Urbana: University of Illinois, 2000. Print.

Howitt, Bernie. "Focus Study: Rock 'n' Roll."NSW HSC Online. Web.

.

Repellent, Dave. "The Social Influence of Rock and Roll." Musical Family Tree - The Indiana

Music Archive and Online Community. 17 Dec. 2010. Web. .

"Sex Pistols Biography." The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Web.

.

http://www.merinews.com/article/social-impact-of-rock-http://hsc.csu.edu.au/society_culture/popular_culture/focus_studies/focus_rocknroll/http://www.musicalfamilytr/http://www.musicalfamilytree.net/http://hsc.csu.edu.au/society_culture/popular_culture/focus_studies/focus_rocknroll/http://www.musicalfamilytr/http://www.musicalfamilytree.net/http://www.merinews.com/article/social-impact-of-rock-