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Music
Music as a reflection of the times.
From rock ’n’ roll to disco and Afrobeats – how music has shaped generations.
Music is more than just entertainment. It tells stories, is an expression of the spirit of the times, hope and transformation. This blog post looks at musical milestones, genres and what they mean to society – from the 1950s to the present.
People have always been making music – whether by beating drums, singing or imitating natural sounds. Music has also formed an important part of many traditions, religious ceremonies and festivals. Since then, it has developed tremendously and continues to connect people all over the world. In this post, you can find out about different music from around the world and what’s behind the genres of the decades. You can also find the relevant tracks in our playlist.
The music of the 1950s reflected social upheaval after the Second World War. Rock ’n’ roll was a rebellious expression of a newly emerging youth culture and met the desire for entertainment and light-heartedness in a recovering world.
Rock ’n’ roll: Rock ’n’ roll started to dominate American pop music from the mid-1950s. In 1956, “Hound Dog” made Elvis Presley a symbol of this new youthful genre, which was a mix of rhythm & blues, country and gospel.
In the 1960s, music increasingly became a tool for expressing political, cultural and social upheaval – from civil rights to the student movements and the sexual revolution. Music became the mouthpiece of the younger generation.
Beat music: The Beatles triggered the so-called British Invasion with “I Want to Hold Your Hand” in 1963. Beat music was influenced by rock ’n’ roll and skiffle, and became a mass phenomenon.
The 1970s were marked by a lot of tension between social depoliticisation and artistic expansion: while many took refuge in nightlife (disco) or psychedelic soundscapes (krautrock), this era also saw the formation of various countercultures (punk, reggae) as means of vocal protest.
Disco: Disco fever swept through the USA and songs like “Stayin’ Alive” (1977) by the Bee Gees turned dance music into a global phenomenon. It also saw clubs like Studio 54 achieve cult status.
The 1980s marked the beginning of the trend of visually staging music through music videos on television channels such as MTV. The decade was marked by electronic sounds, strong song structures and visual branding.
Synth-pop/new wave: British bands like the Eurythmics combined synthesizers with pop. The band’s song “Sweet Dreams” (1983) was emblematic of this new electronic era sound.
In the 1990s, the public turned away from over-produced pop and towards greater authenticity, attitude and music-scene affiliation. Music styles such as grunge, rap and techno became the cultural homes of a fragmented youth.
Britpop: Britpop was a nostalgic return to 1960s guitar pop. Oasis’s “Wonderwall” (1995) not only became the genre’s anthem, but also a worldwide hit.
The 2000s was a decade of radical change: music became digital, genres blended and the internet and MP3 players made listening more individual. This was accompanied by a boom in new club and niche scenes.
German rap: Aggro Berlin was the label that made street rap a hit in Germany. And it was Sido’s “Mein Block” (2004) that propelled the raw sound of the Berlin ghetto into the charts.
Social media, streaming and smartphones paved the way for music to be shared globally and in real time. Trends no longer just emerged locally, but worldwide – enabling artists like BTS and Wizkid to become global stars regardless of their country of origin.
EDM/house: Avicii made danceable electronic music accessible to the masses. His 2013 song “Wake Me Up” became a worldwide mega hit and was played at festivals and on the radio.
Each one of these songs tells a unique story. Each decade has its own style that is still shaping us to this day. This is what makes music so inspiring.
The 2020s is an era marked by music created from algorithms, trends and memes. At the same time, cultural diversity has also become increasingly important: Afrobeats, drill, German rap – making the top of the charts global and multilingual.
Afrobeats: Burna Boy and Wizkid introduced a new global sound from Nigeria, with “Essence” (2020) by Wizkid, featuring Tems, becoming an international hit.
