Classically influenced and presently popular.
Like all art forms, any piece of music will be shaped, crafted and moulded by a person’s specific tastes and stylistic influences as every decade had a definitive sound.
The swinging 60s was soundtracked by the British invasion bands, the 70s saw the arrival of stadium rock while shoulder pads and synthesizers became the norm in 80s.
Mouseketeers and MTV were dominant in the 90s but what about the 50s?
Blues, jazz and showbands were the norm and the music from this decade is still massively influential amongst certain artists that wouldn’t look out of place on top of the Billboard charts during that period.
Kings Of Leon
The Followills were born and raised in a landscape that embraced southern country rock and they even spent their formative years travelling around the deep south whilst living in a camper van.
Their debut record, Youth and Young Manhood, wears its influences heavily on its sleeve and thank God it did.
Part of the band’s unique appeal is that they’re able to merge blues, rockabilly and country music but Irish fans aren’t complaining.
They sell out on every gig on these shores.
Little Richard’s screaming vocals obviously had an influence on Caleb’s delivery while bands like The Drifters, Bill Hayley and His Comets or Buddy Holly & The Crickets all made guitar music that girls could dance to. Sound familiar?
The Strypes
Here’s a band you can clearly hear channelling Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf and Jimmy Reed amongst many others on their debut album Snapshot.
The Cavan band’s choice of ’50s influences seems to be paying off, though; they’re making huge waves in the US and also quickly earning a reputation as one of the most electric Irish acts to see live.
Beyoncé
Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James and Dolly Parton were all pioneers in terms of providing women with a strong, inspirational and independent voice and Beyoncé seems to be carrying that baton right now.
Stylistically, Queen Bee has borrowed heavily from the rousing ‘brass sound’ that’s closely associated with showbands of this era on her tracks Crazy in Love, Naughty Girl and Halo.
It would be interesting to see how 50s music fans would react to hearing Jay-Z’s rapping though.
The Black Keys
The music of the 1950s was often dangerous, unpolished and exciting. There was no Auto-Tune or Pro Tools to fix up sloppy performance.
The tape they recorded on was massively expensive so only musicians and performers with chops got near a recording studio in the first place to do their thing. We’re talking about performers like Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Nina Simone.
Many modern bands hide their inadequacies behind technology. It takes talent to sound raw and unprocessed.
The Black Keys would’ve coped just fine in the 50s. They don’t hide behind effects, they only use them to enhance their huge musicality.
If you want to hear a band play, really properly play their instruments, have a listen to their 2010, uncomplicated masterpiece, Brothers. Here’s the opening track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Vkz1ctdTI
Imelda May
There’s something truly wonderful about a girl form The Liberties area of Dublin becoming the poster child for a genre of music that’s more American than Uncle Sam eating apple pie.
Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and Buddy Holly may straddle the 60s period also but the incredibly likeable singer has ensured that a new generation of music lovers know their importance and relevance.
No easy feat.
John Legend
You get the impression that John Legend belongs in a different era because the soulful singer seems incredibly ‘old school’ and is proud to carry the torch of ‘gentleman singer’.
His suits and style are almost as slick as his vocals and he wouldn’t look out of place whilst performing behind a piano at a blues bar in the 50s.
You get the impression that he would probably hold a female audience member’s hand, look them straight in the eyes and sing to them from the next seat over. He’s slick.
There’s no doubt that he’s channelling the showmanship, soul and style of artists like Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and Duke Ellington.
Article brought to you by Zaconey– American Spirit, bottled.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
