Rock and roll music in the mid-50s grew out of the fertile soil of blues, becoming a solid foundation for the development of a very versatile direction called "rock". It was in North America when the youth suddenly “went crazy” and began to do something unimaginable on the guitar. Very soon, a rock and roll epidemic swept the whole world, provoking a storm of protest from the older generation. But why was it so, and not otherwise? The usual conflict of fathers and children or something more? The article will help to understand this issue and understand what rock and roll really is.
Journey to History
What is rock and roll, translated into Russian? Literally, this can be translated as "roll and swing." This style owes its name to Alan Freed, a DJ who worked at one of Cleveland's radio stations. The guy quickly realized that the young representatives of the white race are not indifferent to the music of the "blacks", so he often filled the air with Negro music of that time. The name rock and roll was suggested by the DJ song We'll rock, we'll roll in 1952, and after that he closely engaged in promoting the new genre. He did this not only through radio waves, but also arranged balls with rock and roll dances. They were visited by representatives of both races, which was a "bone in the throat" for the general public.
Reason for Negative Attitude to African Americans
After World War II, black people in the United States began to feel even worse than before. They were severely restricted in their rights and humiliated in every way. Therefore, the older generation disliked Negro music, preferring country to it, devoid of a bright emotional coloring. However, young people were looking for new heroes and music that could express their protest and disagreement with established norms. They believed that before God all are equal and each person deserves respect. The music of the Africans was very colorful, interesting and very different from the popular in those days. Therefore, the young population often tuned radios to “black radio waves” and enjoyed a new rhythmic sound.
Parents were against the nascent tolerance and declared war on the new genre. The media began to refer to rock and roll as “black plague”, which threatens America’s well-being. It got to the point that students were forbidden to wear jeans. That is what rock and roll of that time is - first of all, an irreconcilable struggle.
Cool changes
It could last forever, but in the 54th Bill Hale, who performed the song Rock Around the Clock, became a messenger of something new and unprecedented. However, the composition gained popularity only after the release of the film "The Jungle of Slate Boards", in which it sounded as a soundtrack. True, the 30-year-old Bill himself did not draw on a youth hero, but Elvis Presley very soon became the true king of rock and roll.
Time passed, new idols appeared, each of which brought something fresh to the genre. As a result, the Beatles, which along with Elvis are revered to this day, became a striking role model.
Our times
Despite the spiteful critics who wrote back in the late 1950s that rock and roll had died, this was far from the case. As long as they remember Elvis and other idols, the genre remains livelier than all the living ones, and this is an undeniable fact. Otherwise, how can one explain the interest of young people in vinyls half a century ago? In addition, this style gave birth to rock, which certainly will never die. The most famous rock and roll song to this day is Rock Around The Clock ("Rock round the clock"), which has become the best-selling song in the history of this musical direction.
Acrobatic Rock and Roll
This is a sports dance based on the lindy hop style. However, unlike the latter, rock and roll requires staging and combines both acrobatic and choreographic elements. It is usually performed in pairs to rhythmic music with a frequency of 42 to 52 beats per minute. The rock and roll dance itself lasts no more than 1.5 minutes, and the main movements are performed with your feet. Complex acrobatic elements are his pearl, becoming the main criterion for choosing winners in sports.
Distinctive features
Rock-n-roll - this is exactly the music from which the legs begin to dance on their own. It is difficult to resist his rhythm and energy, beating over the edge. Rock and roll has a special place in dance culture. The style was formed by mixing jazz, boogie-woogie, gospel and rhythm and blues, however, white artists added some country elements to it. The standard set of instruments is saxophone, electric guitar, drums and piano.
What is rock and roll? We can say that this is a perpetual motion machine that will never stall. Thanks to him, legendary teams such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple were born.