Elvis and the Beatles-Revolutionizing the World Stage
With World War II finally over, a new decade in America was starting. The 1950’s were a time of change for the United States and music was one of the foremost areas where this change was felt.
Rhythm and blues had been a prominent form of spiritual expression in the Black community for decades. However, it did not mainstream until Elvis Presley came onto the scene. One key element that was essential for the movement of rhythm and blues into mainstream American music was the increasing position of the television in American homes. Elvis Presley was a slick, tough Caucasian male, unafraid to show himself as a rebel to the American people as he gyrated his hips in front of the entire nation. This allowed the caucasian American population to view rhythm and blues as a part of their culture instead of the segregation of music they had previously experienced. Another element Elvis brought was his crude sexual innuendos that had parents appalled and every girl lovestruck. Singlehandedly, he opened up American television to being open about sexuality, a practice that had never before been seen in America. The sheer fact that parents disapproved of Elvis’s music catapulted his fame even more as evidenced by George Clinton when he stated that “most kids hate their parent’s artists... they want to get away from that more than anything.”
As Elvis paved the way for the rhythm and blues movement in America, the Beatles started the revolution in Great Britain. Greatly influenced by Elvis, the Beatles followed his lead by being trendsetters for clothes and hairstyles. They let their hair grow out and found themselves to be heart throbs everywhere they ventured. Overall, they started a revolution of change and treading against the grain of popular society of the time to become predominant figures.