While the latter – a huge collection of non-corporate, crowd-funded celebration of peace and love – is heralded as the culmination of the hippie movement, the latter – a poorly-arranged, violent, inevitably tragic incident – is regarded as its metaphoric death. Two of the most legendary music-related events to occur in the real world this year are the music festivals of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair and the Altamont Speedway Free Festival. As such, the shifts that occurred in both the pop and especially the rock music scenes have demonstrated some of the most radical, influential changes ever documented in the medium.Īt this point, the counterculture movement has undoubtedly secured its place within the confines of history, in the music scene and elsewhere. Yet as more social and political issues rise to the forefront of importance to young people – the primary targets of record companies – the popular music composed during this era sought to reflect these concerns, even if a very implicit manner. Sure, songs about love and heartbreak are still around (The Guess Who’s sadly sentimental “These Eyes” (#44) might as well have been written in the early part of the decade), as are the not-so-serious novelty music (Ray Stevens is still hanging around, with the goofy “Gitarzan” (#61)). Now, a heightened level of thought placed into songs’ complex arrangements and intelligent lyrics is to be expected, no longer the exception. Gone were the slow, moody songs about young love and dead teenagers, as are the silly, weird novelty hits. – Dance to the Music: Billboard’s Hot 100 of 1968Īs the year-end Hot 100 of 1969 makes evident, the general quality of the music present at the end of the 60s is a huge turnaround from its state at the decade’s beginning. – Land of 1000 Dances: Billboard’s Hot 100 of 1966 – Like A Rolling Stone: Billboard’s Hot 100 of 1965 – Glad All Over: Billboard’s Hot 100 of 1964 For reference, here are the last five entries I’ve covered in my Billboard Hot 100 challenge:
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