Elvis, The Beatles, & Dylan Mikhail Karpich
According to George Clinton, “Most kids hate their parents artists…They want to get away from that more than anything.” The prime reason for Elvis and the Beatles success is rebellion according to Walley and Stark. I definitely disagree with Walley’s and Stark’s statement. It was not rebellion or bored teenagers from the baby-boom that caused the emerging artists success but, rather a new style or a way to express themselves, to go with the developing new music and culture of that era. According to the article, “Beatlemania,” by B Ehrenreich, “Adolescents are going through a strenuous period of emotional and physical growth, which leads to a need of expression…” It was a way to express themselves and not riot or try to cause trouble. Of course, group conformity can have both powerful and profound effects on what might happen but, it was not intended to be violent or rebellious. According to the same article by B. Ehrenreich, the teens, “did not riot for anything, except the chance to remain in proximity of their idols…” I definitely agree with Clinton’s statement on the other hand. According to the book, “Meet the Beatles,” the teens acted the way they did because it was something new and different from their previous generation, “We screamed because it was a kick against anything old-fashioned.” Why were the Beatles, Elvis, etc. so popular than? They had distinct music, they were different, and they were doing things that others were not doing. What was the role of woman in this phenomenon and why were they so up taken by Elvis and the Beatles? According to, “Meet the Beatles,” “They were drop dead cute,” and, “Beatles appearance especially their long hair, which too many made them look like girls.” These young women were looking for idols of their generation, seeing that every generation has an idol. Also the young girls of that generation were walking a path that, “Was a narrow and careful defined terrain,” According to the article, “Beatlemania,” by B. Ehrenreich. Rock n Roll was a chance for them to express the sexual repressed yearning s and freedom. According to the same article by B. Ehrenreich a woman who was thirteen at that time said the following, “I liked their independence and sexuality and wanted those things for myself.”