Introduction

Rock’n’Roll is a part of everyday life. Whether you like it or not, it is always there. Whether it’s your favorite car chase scene, hearing the roar of the guitar, feeling the anticipation as you sit at the edge of your seat, attempting to predict the outcome. The music your parents force you to listen to in the car—you can’t help but tap your feet to that drumline. Eating the best pizza of your life, wiping the grease from your mouth, while Bohemian Rhapsody plays in the background.

For some people rock is a loud inconvenience—for others, it’s a lifestyle. What some fail to realize is how much Rock’n’Roll actually shaped our nation. It isn’t just about the harmonious sound, the melodious guitar line, or how the singer seems to invoke passion with every line. It’s the political message of Rock. How can Rock have so much political influence? Whether it be The Beatles, creating generations of fans through timeless writing; Janis Joplin, challenging puritanical and conventional roles for women; or Marvin Gaye, being a vehicle of racial equality through his powerful lyrics, Rock is much more than just a music genre. It is power; in other words, it is political. It is something that in this current time period, despite the aggressive guitar line, represents peace in a time of social and political war.