Music: it's been around as long as consciousness, and shows no sign of losing popularity. Since the beginning of history, people have been making music, and in the process have shaped the way that we view the world. A Classical piece often invokes the idea of sadness or dark times; the smoothness of Jazz recalls a simpler time when people had fun and got in trouble. It's these types of connections that make categorizing history into its musical eras that make history that much more fun; I mean, who else doesn't think of the early 2000s when they hear Smashmouth's "All-Star"? Or the Woodstock-like euphoria of the Sixties when Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" comes on? The point is that humans are a very specific animal; once we attach something to another thing in our mind, there's no way to get it to un-attach. In this way, music can make history fun, as it not only allows the listener to hear the undertones of the music, but it also involves listening to popular music. I would give my life to have a history class like that. While it's completely up to you to decide how music defines history, you must consider the following things: what makes it special, what is it saying, and who did it appeal to? For starters, I'll give my own 2 cents on the historical music thing, but we'll start a little closer in the 1900s in the US:
1900s-1910s: Typically folk music or orchestral pieces in this era. They spoke to the cultures of the world, like the Irish tune "Danny Boy", as well as to the hierarchy of society with sophisticated pieces involving whole chamber orchestras. It can help represent how the early 20th century was full of people trying to fit in, either by embracing their culture or becoming something greater.
1920s: While folk songs like "Old Man River" and orchestral pieces survive into this era, the "Roaring Twenties" are more defined by the creation of Jazz. People like Louis Armstrong used brass and wind instruments to create either a lively, upbeat feeling or a sad, downtrodden one (blues). As the decade neared a close, jazz defined the era as one of a never-ending party, that unfortunately came to a screeching halt.
1930s: Jazz and orchestral pieces survive into the Depression era, while the latter is more pertained to the blues. Songs like "Minnie the Moocher" vocalize the feeling of being cheated in a society that's gone down the drain in a matter of years. The folk songs of previous eras are beginning to evolve into country music. The era can be defined by this music as one of reflection and hope, as war begins to loom near the end of it.
1940s: As war has begun, music began to change with it. Songs became more upbeat and lively, as demonstrated by "Boogie Bugle Boy", and as people began fighting for freedom, songs expressed their inner excitement to matter in the world at large. After the war, the songs slowed back down, and country began to make a more dominant appearance as orchestral pieces went on their way out.
1950s: Welcome to the 'Rock 'n' Roll' Era, so named for the music that defined it. As people like Elvis and Little Richard gyrated their hips and pounded out beats, parents were appalled while kids fell in love. On the other end of the spectrum, people like Johnny Cash belted out their regrets and desires to twangy country/rock music, as the US fought a war of societies abroad. This decade's music helps show the rage against conformity and the beginnings of the Free Life Movement.
1960s: Rock 'n' Roll has been mastered, and the British Invasion brings the Beatles and the Stones to revolutionize the industry and the country. The counter-culture movement gains traction with "free-wave" music; music without boundaries, as hippies and their musical counterparts begin proposing world peace and love. The decade ends in a cloud of drugs and paraphernalia that has begun hard rock and the beginnings of pop rock, and the Sixties with their music will always be groovy.
1970s: As the previous decade wears off, musicians become either very mad or very happy. People like Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin sing their issues with society out into radios everywhere, and the counterculture lives on in Liberation movements. On the other end, musicians like Elton John help show the lighter side of life with pop music like "Crocodile Rock", and as the uneasy Seventies come to a close, their music defines them as very schizophrenic and confused. The very beginnings of rap music are heard.
1980s: The introduction of hair bands and synthetic rock really define this era. The futuristic sounds of hard/pop rock lead to stars like Madonna and Michael Jackson gaining popularity as the US sets its sights for the future. Bands like U2 help set the stage for alternative rock, which continues the 70s style of rock without any 80s influences. As the populace is told "Don't Stop Believin'", many do with how society functions. This era is much like the Sixties, with cocaine instead of weed. Heavy metal also becomes prominent, and rap is gaining speed.
1990s: Grunge rock takes hold in this era, as alternative rock boots out synthetic and heavy metal becomes even more controlling. Rap makes a big rise as more and more people lose touch with their idyllic societies, and the world becomes very cynical (as evidenced by the whole of Nirvana and NWA). Pop is less popular, but sticks around as hard rock becomes split between alt and metal. This decade is largely depressing.
2000s: The new millennium, the new fear: pop takes back control of the airwaves, as do many other genres, as satellite radio makes them available to all. As terror takes hold, alt rock begins to slow down, but rap continues riding out the decade thanks to Jay-Z and Kanye West. Rap even becomes incorporated into pop music as parts of choruses, and into the Recession many are becoming less cynical and more optimistic. The decade can be defined as scared but recovering.
2010s: The decade isn't finished yet, but alt rock and pop/rap are the top of the charts. Singers like Taylor Swift and One Direction begin to change the industry and turn it almost into a machine.
Again, this is all opinion. You can define the eras as you see it, but use the impact of the music in your reasoning. Just because it sounded good doesn't mean it defined anything!
-Pharaoh Noh-Tyep
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