History of Rock 'n' Roll- Ashley Bergman
Music in the sixties was something different from anything that had preceded. It was sexier, original, more political and was about what was really happening out there in the world. Bob Dylan criticized hugely popular Beatles because he said their songs didn't say anything. Musicians were prized based on their differences more than their talent-- Bob Dylan couldn't really sing and he wrote lyrics that meant something, the Beatles had the hair and the British accents, and Elvis swiveled his hips. All the biggest stars of the sixties were original, fresh, and different in some way. Undoubtedly these guys were bigger than big and brought the music industry to a new level of importance. But why?
Is it a coincidence that Beatlemania got out of hand just months after John F. Kennedy was assasinated? With the Kennedy administration came idealism and vigor, and a goal to get America moving again. His youth and passion were things the younger generations could relate to and they did indeed get the country going again. Politically he was breaking rules left and right. So when such a unique, influential, and innovative figure gets taken away without warning, what does the country do? They definitely don't turn to drab and unrelatable Lyndon B. Johnson. Instead they find the same idealism and passion and lack of rules in rock 'n' roll music. The Beatles were definitely a talented band later on but at the beginning they were nothing significant-- most of their earlier songs are forgettable-- they were simply in the right place at the right time with their moptops and exciting new sound.
Eventually the music fused with politics thanks to Bob Dylan and contemporaries to more completely fill the void left by Kennedy's death and since music has never been the same.