Example of british invasion essay

Music is a popular culture adopted by a large number of individuals globally. It is clear that the music industry is one of the most coveted and respected entities. The British invasion which was a period in the 1960`s represents a transition from boring American rock music to exciting and sessional hits from Britain. The early rockers in Britain always wanted to be famous in America. The British invasion therefore created a platform for them to showcase their musical talent to a wider fan base. The invasion is believed to contain two schools which rely heavily on specific American styles of music for them to gain inspiration.
Initially, the British invasion is believed to have begun in 1962, when a certain single “ Telstar” by a popular British band the Tornadoes was played in America. This was the first British song to be played in a radio station in the United States. The music fans in America were thirsting for more music from the states since their own country`s music was not that appealing to them. They were craving for a significant genre of music which would sweep them off their feet.
When the Beatles` song I Want to Hold Your Hand was first played on radios across America in 1963, it received a warm reception from fans across the states(Alan 113). The year 1964 is often attributed as the inception of the complete British Invasion, as a result of the unique live performance showcased by the then popular band.
The British invasion was composed of two major distinctive schools, each depending on the styles of music in America. The first a major school consisted of those bands which depended heavily on blues and country music while the second school depended heavily on the polished structure of traditional pop music. Some of the bands in the first school include the Mindbenders, The Hollies Herman`s Hermits, and The Moody Blues. Alternatively, those who depended heavily on the pop genre include the great Beatles, The Kinks, The Zombies and The Rolling Stones.
The effect created by the Beatle band on their fans was commonly known as the “ Beatle mania”(James 125). Their experiment with rock and roll resulted from the inspiration they gained from musicians such as Elvis Presley who had attained immense success. Like many great performers they came from Liverpool which is often credited as the place where the British Invasion began. The sound from the British bands was simply similar to that from the rock in America and blues turned into a more supreme sound with a unique accent.
The recording companies in the United States of America were forced by the British invasion to find rock bands from Britain with a sound pattern similar to that of the Beatles. This obsession was so intense that the pattern for rock bands was also defined by the same band. That is, a single drummer, one bass, and two guitars. There emerged a new look in the way the young generation was dressing. Many of them rocked tight jeans, surfer shirts and boots, all in line with the musicians’ dress code. Alternatively, the young boys defied orders to have their hair shaved. The Radio stations on the other hand also played the music by British rock bands week after week. Conversely, some of the stations only played songs by the Beatle band.
Appearance by the Beatle band caused frenzied excitement among the fans. The screams that rent the air drowned the music while some of the young individuals fainted and broke past barriers created by the police. Some of the songs by the Beetle band include; Let It Be, Free as a Bird, She loves you and Don’t Let Me Down. When their movie “ A Hard Day`s Night” was out, people queued for hours waiting to watch it.
The Rolling Stones closely followed the Beatles though they were not as enthusiastic as their competitors. They relied more on blues by American artists such as Muddy waters. They were commonly referred to as the “ bad boys” of the invasion(Alan 123). In contrast, the Beatles had a sense of humour, dressed well and were also neat.
The rock bands relying on the pop culture such as the Kinks came up with songs such as “ You Really Got Me” and later produced “ All the Day and All the Night”(Emmett 126). Conversely, The Zombiescame up with compositions such as “ Tell her No” (Emmett 132). The Yard birds, produced “ I am a Man” which was a major hit (Emmett 141). t. Songs produced by the school which relied on genres such as blues were also well embraced by fans across America. The Mindbenders came up with songs such as “ Groovy kind of Love” (James 138). The Hollies Herman`s Hermits on the other hand came up with “ No Milk Today” (James 145).. The Moody Blues came up with “ Question” which was one of the most requested songs on air.
In conclusion, it is clear from the above illustrations that British invasion brought about a new genre of music in America. Its occurrence has led to the diversification of rock music across all states worldwide. This invasion has resulted in initiation of new ideas in the music world and culminated in the success of a majority of productions. British invasion has therefore proved to be one of the most beneficial occurrences in the world today.

Works cited

Grant, Alan. Marvel Masters. Tunbridge Wells: Panini, 2007. Print.
Perone, James E. Mods, Rockers, and the Music of the British Invasion. Westport, Conn: Praeger Publishers, 2009. Print.
Price, Emmett G. Encyclopedia of African American Music. Oxford: Greenwood, 2010. Print.