Rock and Roll Music History and Cultural Impact: An Analysis

This essay delves into the history of rock and roll music, offering a personal reaction to several iconic songs including "Rock 'N Roll Music," "Bring It On Home to Me," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "I Got You (I Feel Good)," "Changes," and "Ladies First." The essay explores the styles of Jimmie Rodgers and Robert Johnson and their contributions to country and blues music. Furthermore, it analyzes the influence of Bessie Smith, highlighting her impact on the cultural roots of rock and roll, particularly her contributions to jazz, blues, and gospel music, and how her themes of independence, social commentary, and artistic freedom shaped the genre. The essay provides a comprehensive overview of the music's evolution and cultural significance.

Running head: ROCK N ROLL HISTORY
Rock n Roll: History and Analysis
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ROCK N ROLL HISTORY
Part 1: My reaction to the songs:
“Rock 'N Roll Music” by Chuck Berry
This song is the early prototype of rock n roll music, and talks about the love of rock
n roll, playing music fast and having backbeats. One of my all time favorite songs of all time
made by the legendary artist Chuck Berry and has influenced rock n roll musicians for
decades to come.
“Bring It On Home to Me” by Sam Cooke
This is a soulful song by Sam Cooke, full of love and emotion. The song was one of
the most iconic one, still moving people to tears. I loved this song, however I wished the song
was a little longer as the voice of is completely mesmerizing.
“I Want to Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles
I was never a big fan of Beatles, and felt that the entire Beatlemania was phony. Ergo,
this song was never special or even significant for me and I completely hated it. I felt that the
song was just a happy-go-lucky representation of life and was too naïve.
"I Got You (I Feel Good)" by James Brown
I found this song to be completely bewildering, enchanting and mesmerizing. The
combination of the enchanting vocals of James Brown, the funky music style results in an
electric composition the surges through the body every time I listen to this. This song really
does make me feel good.
“Changes” by David Bowie

2ROCK N ROLL HISTORY
David Bowie has been one of my favorite artists of all time, and this song is
especially close to me, as I can relate to this on a personal level. The song itself represents
change of musical styles that Bowie mastered with sudden drop and pickups of the tempo.
“Ladies First” by Queen Latifah
This song sends a powerful message about the strength of a woman. It has a gritty and
raw feeling to it that makes the audience both cringe and applaud. I found the song to be
completely bewildering but in a good way. The scenes of the violence and riots were a strong
visual.
Part 2:
Jimmie Rodgers style was mostly related to country because of the lyrical content of
his songs that was based on the love for the country side and nature and rhythmic yodeling
that was a signature country music style. However the fact that he was white skinned also
made him associated with country music (Porterfield, 2007).
Robert Johnson was a guitar virtuoso and songwriter, his legendary compositions,
almost undocumented life and untimely death spawned several legends about him. His style
was bluesier, and was about emotions which were a common theme in blues. Also, the fact
that he was an African American also solidified his image as a blues musician (Wald, 2004).
Part 3:
Bessie Smith was a Blues and Jazz legend and iconic singer. She has been named as
the ‘Empress of the Blues’ for her powerful and soulful voice, which was both heavy as well
as melodic. Her singing style represented the cultural roots of rock n roll in Jazz, blues and
gospel music. Her music stressed heavily on independence, sexual freedom, fearlessness that
represented a working class persona. She spoke about social problems such as poverty,

3ROCK N ROLL HISTORY
racism, and sexuality. Such elements heavily influenced the later rock n roll music that
celebrated the artistic freedom of the artists and as a tool of a social discourse (Warfield,
2017; Reynolds & Press, 1996).

4ROCK N ROLL HISTORY
References:
Porterfield, N. (2007). Jimmie Rodgers: the life and times of America's blue yodeler. Univ.
Press of Mississippi.
Reynolds, S., & Press, J. (1996). The sex revolts: gender, rebellion, and rock'n'roll. Harvard
University Press.
Wald, E. (2004). Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the invention of the blues (p.
xxvi342). New York: Amistad.
Warfield, P. M. (2017). Postmodern Blackness and the Legacy of Bessie Smith.