When we study history, we often consult the same primary sources: newspaper clippings, political cartoons, and verbal testimonies. The entertainment and media of an age, however, are also important cultural artifacts that can be used to analyse the state of a society. Though TikTok wasn't around sixty years ago, the music released throughout the decades show us what was important to a generation and where their values lied. The following 5 songs, in chronological order from 1960, each bring up some kind of societal change.
1. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini - Brian Hyland (1960)
"Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" Song Link
As the very descriptive title suggests, this song highlights the story of a girl who wears a rather 'skimpy' bikini for the first time. Traditionally, females during that time period would wear one-piece swimsuits or separates with minimal skin showing in between the top and bottom. The song emphasizes a girl's embarrassment and discomfort when going out in public wearing something a lot more revealing than previously accepted.
Looking back, it seems silly to be ashamed of wearing a bikini to the beach. Hyland forever memorialized this feeling in his song so we know for sure: this girl walked so the ladies of today could fly.
2. Imagine - John Lennon (1971)
This song was written at a time of international tension: following the two World Wars the planet was still seemingly divided, this time by the Cold War, a decades-long battle between communism and capitalism. In the midst of all this comes Lennon's song, in which he imagines world peace. Some of his dreams seem rather radical in today's eyes (the lyrics imagine no countries, religion, possessions, etc) yet at the time capture perfectly a devastating need for a "brotherhood of man." The changing ideology from enraged and power-hungry to peaceful shows a positive shift towards a (hopefully long-lasting) less violent future.
3. Welcome to The Machine - Pink Floyd (1975)
Enriched with sounds of metal and technology, "Welcome to the Machine" encapsulates the rise of digitized machinery in daily life. With this new power of technology, of course, came the fear that the government would be able to control its citizens without them being aware. The 'machine' of the song serves as a symbol for the government, and this worry is pictured in lyrics like, "it's alright, we told you what to dream." Such an idea, that an entire organization can sift through and control thoughts, seemed very dystopian and an idea reminiscent of George Orwell's book "1984" (which was published in 1949). Even though the Patriot Act hadn't been passed at the time (that's the Act where the government can look into our devices for security reasons) the idea of the scary Big Brother was already on the rise.
4. They Don't Care About Us - Michael Jackson (1996)
The king of Pop music used his platform to raise awareness of racial injustices, a major social and political problem throughout history. The song brings light to the pain of prejudice, and touches upon subjects like police brutality and high incarceration rates, which are still very relevant topics today. Jackson calls upon influential figures like Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr saying if they were alive, they "wouldn't let this be."
Many know and respect this song but turn away at the idea of modern artists politicizing their music. It is important, as it was then, to speak up about injustices and use the platforms given to inspire social progress.
5. The Village - Wrabel (2017)
Though gay marriage was officially legalized in the United States by 2015, being a member of the LGBTQ+ community comes with many other social hardships. "The Village" gives an emotional insight into the struggle between balancing one's identity with the approval or the surrounding family and society, or village. The song's excellent ratings and features on public radio show a shift into a more inclusive, tolerant worldview.
Certainly, we have a long way to go with social progress. But sometimes when you look back, you see how far you've come. Our world has changed drastically in the past sixty years, and that's referring only to the cultural norms and standards. We can only hope to see more positive change in the years to come.
