Success of the Beatles and Elvis: Generation Gaps and Rebellious Youth by Chris Hovel
I agree entirely with the statement that the some of the success of the Beatles and Elvis was based on the generation difference between the youth of that time and their parents. Most kids no matter what time period think that whatever their parents do can't be that cool or appealing. The opposite also applies, if your parents keep telling you that you can't listen to this certain type of music or dress a certain way, you will naturally be attracted to the thing that upsets them so much. However it wasn't just the rebellious element that attracted throngs of youth to them but these bands also played a different type of music that many had never heard before and utilized their appearance to form some sex appeal. I feel that this sex appeal along with the ever growing female movement allowed for younger teenage girls to express themselves through fashion, music and gender equality in the work place. Teenagers were also coming into contact with more and more spending money which would allow them to purchase more things like records and clothing. The success of these bands can never be explained by one or two different things. The Beatles and Elvis were bands that were at the perfect moment in time for them to have the impact that they did on our culture and society. Also along with the help from the notion that anyone who listened to or enjoyed that type of music was being some how rebellious, these bands were able to captivate an entire generation and any one passed that with their music.