The Hippie Aesthetic

Rock and roll changed after Woodstock. The free-wheeling psychedelic jam songs of the 1960s were being more tightly controlled by the record labels so that songs could fit into the looser, but still demanding, format of FM radio. Yet these restrictions didn’t stop artists from making some of the most memorable and best-selling albums in the history of rock and roll. Part of the success of this music can be attributed to what Covach has coined the “hippie aesthetic. “While watching and listening to the videos, ask yourself the following questions: What features would you expect to hear in a song with hippie aesthetic? Firstly what kind of lyrics would you expect? What kind of music would you expect? What kind of performance would you expect? How would it differ from mainstream pop songs from the 1960’s?Begin by reviewing the section of the hippie aesthetic on pp. 295.

Next click on the links of the following songs: Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” (Links to an external site.) [Video file] [10 min 51 sec]Deep Purple “Child In Time” (Links to an external site.) [Video file] [09 min 37 sec]Stevie Wonder “Too High” (Links to an external site.) [Video file] [04 min 36 sec]Led Zeppelin “Kashmir” (Links to an external site.) [Video file] [08 min 37 sec]Kansas “Can I Tell You” (Links to an external site.) [Video file] [03 min 40 sec]Jethro Tull “Locomotive Breath” (Links to an external site.) [Video file] [04 min 26 sec]Frank Zappa “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” “Nonoo Rubs It” “St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast” “Father O’Blivion” from the album Apostrophe (Links to an external site.)

Further Description

[Video file] [10 min 49 sec] (1974).I had to introduce you to one of the most wonderfully bizarre minds and talents in rock and roll. It’s hard to pick one song since they all bleed into each other. I’m going to start you off at the beginning of the album and ask you to try to hang in there for the first 4 songs. After that if you’re curious, listen to as much more as you want. If you want to get a feel for Frank Zappa’s extreme guitar virtuosity listen to the 7th song “Apostrophe (Links to an external site.)” [Video file] [05 min 49 sec].Spotify playlist (Links to an external site.)

with all of the above songs. All of these songs, as different as they are, have what your textbook describes as the “hippie aesthetic. “Discuss the hippie aesthetic and how it applies to these songs. Which elements of the hippie aesthetic are found in these songs? Refer to the guiding questions while developing your response. Then choose at least two of your classmates and explain whether or not you agree with their interpretations of the two styles. Briefly explain why you agree or disagree.

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