Week 5: Elvis and The Beatles
The Beatles and Elvis took rock music to a new level. But they did not just do this by way of their musical talent and memorable lyrics. Their appearance and actions deserve a handful of the credit too. The Beatles came onto the scene in America and brought “Beatlemania” with them. Girls and women alike went crazy for them. Crazy might even be an understatement. The Beatles were like a new drug. “Rock music provides premature ecstasy and, in this respect, is like the drugs with which it is allied” (Bloom 80). Due to the complete, for lack of a better term, wildness, The Beatles had to stop doing live tours and become a “studio band” because no one could hear anything at their concerts (lecture). The constant “scream” from the fans, consisting the majority of females, was overpowering and drown out their music. One reason for the insanity over this historical musical group was their appearance. They had a totally different look from the current “look” of every man in America. They had longer, straight hair and a different sense of fashion. In general, they were irresistible to the vast majority of the American youth population.
“The inevitable corollary of such sexual interest is rebellion against the parental authority that represses it” (Bloom 74). Elvis was the other major craze of the rock world. Girls wanted to be with him and guys wanted to be him. For the youth population, he was an icon. He too had “a look” that helped propel him to stardom. He had his slicked back hair and “gyrating” hip. He captivated the youth of America, but was looked down upon by parents and the middle age to older population. He was too sexually “provocative” and his dancing was poisoning the youth. But he was the newest and “hippest” thing in rock music.
The Beatles and Elvis mesmerized America. Not only were they the new sound, but they were the new look.