The Second World War heavily affected American popular music in the mid 1940's. Songs of reunion with missing loved ones who went off to battle dominated the popular charts. Also, beginning in the late 1930's, there was a resurgence of interest in folk music amongst the American public. This was due to a renewed interest that the American public had in the "common man", or working class. The great depression era of the 1930's had sparked this interest because so many people lost so much during that time in American history.
Leadbelly and the Lomax Family Legacy
John Lomax and his son Alan were a team of folklorists who set out to record folk musicians during the 1930's. This week, we will look at their odyssey during the mid to late 1930's to record American folks musicians such as Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter. One of his best known songs, "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", was famously covered by the band Nirvana in 1993. This cover is a prime example of how popular culture recycles itself, and is reinterpreted through different social groups.
The Leadbelly recordings have become some of the most important records of early 20th Century American music. It is important to study the work of these men, because their recordings documented traditional African American music of the time, which paint a very authentic picture of life for black America during the 1930's. It is also imperative to look at how this music heavily influenced Blues music, and consequently, Rock and Roll.
The recordings that resulted from the work of the Lomax duo, show a public need for "authentic" American music. We need to examine why authentic music was so desired by the American public during that time. We must also ask, is it important that certain styles or genres of music retain some of their authenticity, and if so, why?
Leadbelly's first recordings were done in July of 1933 by the father of the Lomax team, John, at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana. These recordings became famous across the country, and Leadbelly was released from jail. Leadbelly then subsequently became a signed recording artist with a major recording label. The truth behind the stories that were sung by men like Leadbelly was stories of poverty, perseverance, violence, love, and discrimination. This music brought the story of the black American experience into the homes of the American public, and began to change the sound of popular music in predominantly white communities at that time.
The roots of popular music of the mid 1950's, which sprang out of the releases from new musicians at the time such as Chuck Berry and Elvis, can be seen through the music of folk musicians such as Leadbelly. When listening to Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock", we must ask, is this music authentic? Is this artist truly singing about his experiences in the State Penitentiary? Why does this matter? There is always a need for authenticity in even the most commercial areas of popular culture.
ASSIGNMENT:
Write an essay about the cultural impact of popular music on society, and how it reflects the social issues of its time of production.
- Select a popular song from the era of your choice (1950's - 2000's), and discuss its cultural impact.
- Analyze the meaning of the lyrics, and discuss how this song represents an element of popular culture/ American society. The main focus of your essay should be regarding symbolism, and the symbolic nature of the song you have chosen.
- Give some background into the musician or musical group you have chosen.
- Then, discuss some of the social and political issues present in American and, if relevant, international culture that were going on at the time of the song's release.
This paper should be 2-3 pages, in APA style, utilizing the college's library resources. A minimum of one scholarly article should be included in your essay.