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Britney Spears, Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, Pop Music, Rock Music, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones
Elvis Presley
In the world of recorded music, the 1960s was a time of dramatic change, as for the first time, the music industry came to equate success with the concept of the “hit”.
The ideas of “hits” and “singles” gained prominence in the 1960s through bands and artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, and Elvis Presley. The term “singles” comes from 45-rpm records sold at the time, which featured a single song on each side.
Rolling Stones – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Artists generally only recorded their best songs and radio stations played only the most popular songs of the day. These “pop” songs included one of the The Rolling Stones’s greatest hits, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” which was recorded in the summer of 1965 This hit has even been re-recorded by another artist defined by her greatest hits – Britney Spears.
Britney Spears – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
A current analogous musical movement is centered on the relatively new downloads music industry. With programs such as iTunes, fast and easy downloads – most commonly of single songs – are possible. Generally speaking, as illustrated by the “Top Songs” column prominently displaying the most popular single downloads in the iTunes store, songs are downloaded individually, not necessarily in album compilations. These hits are often what people hear on the radio or see publicized on TV; but it is through their cyber popularity that they truly become “hits”.
As in the music industry’s shift during the 1960s, today’s notion of a hit determines the popularity of an artist or band and most often greatly influences the popularity of the artists’ future songs. The link between an artist and his or her hit song has, since the “all hit era” in the 1960s, become inextricable and undeniable.
LAUREN CORALLO
“Hit music” is synonymous with sales, popularity, and all that good stuff. Great singers/songwriters, performers, and even musicians often benefit from the makings of “hit music.” Many successful artists are recognized for their hits, time after time, collecting award after award to add to their collections. However, there are some artists, sometimes viewed negatively (more often than not) in some circles, better known as “one-hit wonders.” Being able to market original music and gain some sort of popularity is an often coveted achievement, even if happens just once in a lifetime. Back in the day, especially for us Afro-Americans, resources were rather limited, in terms of being able to become self-sufficient in creating and producing music. If all you had was a guitar, you “worked” that guitar, practicing many restless nights, until you came up with a polished finished product. Certain conveniences like rehearsal space were often provided at a charge. The Jackson family, like many Negro households of the day, had humble beginnings at their small dwelling at the corner of 2300 Jackson Street in Gary, Indiana. Before things took off in a big way, much sacrifice was made, having to use the family home to “work out” the dance moves and stuff. Motown opened many doors for people like us to get ahead in the industry. Unfortunately, with the growing competition in the music business, the bar seems to have been raised to be able to create a “hit” these days. A lot of today’s music seems to target the majority of the youth, who make up a large percentage of the sales, due to the conveniences of downloading favorite tracks onto personal media players. In addition, many vocal competitions like “American Idol” and “Sunday Best” seem to filter out the “average folk” from the “superstars,” seemingly promoting the most polished voices and talents. It has a lot to do with fashion and “swag,” and not often what comes from within. Boy, did Susan Boyle take Britain for a wild one on “Britain’s Got Talent!!!” Regular folk from humble backgrounds couldn’t make it in the industry???!!! There’s hidden talent everywhere, even where you would least expect it! I remember, as a child in the seventies, in which singers could put out a hit, simply because the music was “good” and meaningful, not to mention easygoing and relaxing tunes, stuff we could relate to, especially after a rough day. Those tunes took you away in your own little world, leaving much to the imagination. Artists like Dan Hill (“Sometimes When We Touch”), Mary Macgregor (“Torn Between Two Lovers”), or even Maria Muldaur (Midnight at the Oasis) are relatively unheard of, and may not have been able to capture audiences with subsequent hits year after year, but they were able to capture the hearts of dedicated listeners, who can relate to the music of the time. Cheryl Lynn (“Got to be Real”) is often viewed as a “one-hit wonder,” although she managed to belt out music here and there, as well as the popular duet with Luther Vandross, “If This World Were Mine.” Many listeners of the time tend to gravitate to the most popular hits of the time, and fortunately, one could purchase the “45″ record single, the cassette single, or even the CD single, for a “small” price. Not to stray away from the topic, the “hit” song meant everything to the hardworking singer of the day, leaving nothing to be taken for granted. We must always remember the bridge the carried us across, and appreciate every moment in musical history, as many doors have been opened to us like never before! We can be great performers and entertainers, but we can also “run” this thing! We can utilize all the educational resources to our advantage and become pioneers for growth and even greater success in the future, if we must put our hearts and minds to it!!!