RESEARCH: British Music Experience

We went to a history based workshop which explores the significant youth movements that have emerged in the UK as a result of social change. We then did an interactive pop quiz highlighting the music and fashions that have emerged from these movements, we explored the social and political reasons for the rise of famous styles from Mods and Rockers to Teddy Boys and Punks in the UK.
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We all got given the use of a Smarticket. This helped build up a digital resource storing information, pictures, objects and recordings to view later via the British Music Experience website.

Some of us went in the Dance the Decades booth, here we learnt culture-defining dance moves from our virtual dance instructor, we we could then replay ourselves looking like we were in an actual music video! 

In the Interactive Studio you could put on headphones, pick up an instrument, and play. The interactive 

screens helped you to access lessons from beginner to pro for the guitar, drums and keyboard. You can also show off your singing skills in the Sennheiser vocal booth. 

50s-The 1950's were a time of changes and the music of the decade both reflected the cultural changes that were happening. Racial tensions were being strained with the beginning of the civil rights movement and music reflected many of those tensions. Rhythm & Blues (R&B) and Rock 'n' Roll popularized "black" music and many African-American musicians rose to fame and enjoyed success, but many others were forgotten or denied access to audiences through segregation.The 1950's saw the emergence and rise of Rock 'n' Roll and Rockabilly. Elvis Presley is thought to be the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" by many and rose to stardom. Elvis was more successful in this endeavor than any other artist of the time and he epitomized the Rock 'n' Roll style and teenage rebellion of the 1950's. Other popular music genres include: 

Rock 'n' Roll                              Traditional pop                           Country                                 Blues
Chuck Berrt, Little Richard,         Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald,    Johnny Cash,Hank Williams   Bobby Day,
Buddy Holly                               Doris Day                                  Gene Autry                           Same Cooke,
        
60s-The 1960's were a time of upheaval in society, fashion, attitudes and especially music. In 1963 and the years to follow, a number of social influences changed what popular music was and gave birth to the diversity that we experience with music today. The "British Invasion" is the name given to the period of time in the early to mid-1960's, during which many British rock bands and pop artists found mainstream success in the United States and worldwide. Many of these bands first started by covering American songs and showcasing an American Rock 'n' Roll and R&B influence in their sounds.The one band that comes to mind when speaking of the British Invasion is The Beatles;The band holds many musical records to this day reflecting album sales and number one singles and they're music remains some of the most popular of all time. Other popular music genres include:

British Invasion	Motown/R&B	Surf Rock and Psychedelic Rock	Roots Rock and Hard Rock	Folk Rock and Protest Music

The Who,                     The Supremes,              The Beach Boys,         Janis Joplin                   Bob Dylan

The Rolling Stones,       Marvin Gaye,                 The Ventures,              Roy Orbison                 The Turtles 

Cream                          The Four Tops               The Champs,               The Band                      Crosby

70s-The 1970s created a perfect musical bridge from the rebelliousness of the 1960s and the happy songs that are characteristic of the 1980s. Most people, though, were just looking for another way to vent their frustrations, which helped to give rise to the fun that disco music provided. The 1970's was not a unique decade in terms of creating innovations in musical styles and genres, but it was unique in that it was a musical bridge connecting the hippie lifestyle of the 1960s with the characteristic yuppie lifestyle that was about to occur in the 1980s. Other popular music genres include: 

Disco/ Club                Progressive Rock          Punk Rock/ New Wave               Funk & Soul

The Bee Gees,          Kansas,                          The Ramones,                                The Jackson 5

Gloria Gaynor,           Pink Floyd                       Blondie                                         James Brown

ABBA                       Rush                              Sex Pistols                                    Kool & the Gang

80s-Like many other decades, the 1980s was a decade where music was a way to chronicle the times and events of the era. In some ways, the musical genres during the 1980s redefined the way many bands and artists made new music and it still continues to influence music today. Many of the musicians during the 1980s have maintained staying power and are still popular today. Other artists enjoyed a modicum of success during the decade and they are not even widely recognized today. Other popular music genres include:

MTV, or Music Television        New Wave and Synthpop     Good ol’ Rock ‘n Roll       Glam Rock

Video Killed the Radio Star”         The Police,                             Van Halen                        Motley Crue  

by the Buggles,                           the B-52’s                              Aerosmith                        Poison                     

90s- was one filled with a variety of pop, rap, and alternative music artists as well as a plethora of one-hit wonders. It was a time when musical taste was as varied as the events that were happening at the time.The music in the 1990s went through a series of changes in regards to the mainstream radio airwaves. Ironically, it was nearly a full-circle of styles and tastes that resulted in recreating the mainstream sound that is strongly reminiscent of popular music in the 1980s. Nearly a decade later, we are still being exposed to many of their effects that they had on the musical front. Fortunately, several of these acts have matured in recent years and continue to produce quality music while others with less talent have fallen by the wayside in recent years. Other popular music genre include:

Techno                        Hip-hop            New style of rock music     Grunge and alternative rock

Technotronic               MC Hammer       Pearl Jam                              Hootie and the Blowfish, 

C+C Music Factory      Vanilla Ice        Soundgarden                          The Bodeans                                                

2000s- In recent years, mainstream music has been overtaken by hip-hop and rap music. Though it follows the natural trend of music over the decades, music in the last few years has been repeatedly criticized for its sexual lyrics and violent themes.The last few years in the music industry has shown to have a great contrast in styles, themes and personal taste.  Other popular music genre include: 

Hip-hop                     Rock metal rap      Emo                                            Bubblegum pop

Usher,                               Kid Rock                     Death Cab for Cutie                                   Christina Aguilera

Justin Timberlake        Limp Bizkit,                Dashboard Confessional                         Britney Spears

Kanye West                 Linkin Park            Green Day