culture
America 250: How the US took over the world's jukebox
In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.
TL;DR
- George Gershwin viewed jazz as American folk music, bridging European classical traditions with American urban sounds.
- Early American music forms like field hollers, work songs, and the blues originated from the harsh realities of black life in the American South.
- Louis Armstrong elevated jazz to individual expression, and Duke Ellington brought architectural grandeur to the genre.
- The blues became a foundational element for genres such as rockabilly, rock and roll, and hip-hop.
- American blues and rock and roll influenced European musicians, leading to the 'British Invasion' where bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones repackaged American sounds.
- American music often emphasizes individual performers like Bob Dylan, Prince, Michael Jackson, and Madonna, contrasting with the British focus on bands.
- Hip-hop, originating in the Bronx, became the next great American folk music, prized for improvisation and rhythm.
- American popular music has achieved cultural hegemony, with its progressions and flourishes seasoning indigenous music globally.
- The paradox of American music is that its art, born in hardship, repeatedly became the world's popular music.