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“Rock and roll is eternal because it is simple, there is nothing superfluous in it. Its rhythm penetrates through all barriers” – this is how John Lennon described this music. Time will tell how right he was, but the fact that rock and roll has been considered one of the most popular musical genres in the world for more than seventy years is hard to deny.
We tell about the holiday of true connoisseurs of rock and roll, how and when it is celebrated in the world.
When is Rock and Roll Day?
In 2023, World Rock and Roll Day will be held in the middle of spring – 13 April. This is a fixed date that does not change from year to year.
history of the holiday
The forerunner of rock and roll is rhythm and blues – the music of the black population of America, which arose in the late 40s. In those periods, ideas of racial segregation were strong in society – white Americans were considered a privileged class, while blacks were severely limited in their rights and opportunities. It is expected that such a division led not only to a split in society, but also to a split in culture.
“White” music of the second half of the 40s is predominantly lyrical, calm, sentimental. It is a reflection of the post-war sentiments of Americans who survived the shock and shock of the Second World War, striving for a measured life without difficulties and unrest. This is the kind of music that is constantly played on radio and television.
In parallel, “black” music is developing, which has grown out of jazz motifs, one of the directions of which is called “rhythm and blues”. It is the exact opposite of white pop music: rhythmic, loud, wild and full of life. R&B developed chaotically and for a long time only sounded in African-American neighborhoods.
However, everything changed in the early 50s. In 1951, Cleveland radio station WJW disc jockey Alan Freed aired a selection of rhythm and blues songs as an idea for his weekly program. The appearance of this music before a wide audience was carefully prepared. So, for example, the word “rock and roll” arose, with which Alan called a new sound for the general public. Alan Freed’s musical program was a resounding success – these melodies were so different from everything that Americans were used to. Rock and roll instantly formed an army of devoted fans, new performers began to master this direction. It was the first musical style to be performed and developed by artists from different backgrounds, helping to reduce the racial tensions of those years.
Rock and roll is a synthesis of many musical styles that were popular in the 50s in the United States. Rhythm and blues, boogie-woogie, country, gospel fancifully mixed with each other, forming new sounds. One of the pioneers of this genre was Bill Haley, the first white rock and roll star. His work was a resounding success, and the climax of his career was the recording of the hit Rocking Around the Clock. The single saw the light of day on April 12, 1954, the day before the celebration of modern Rock and Roll Day was approved.
Rock and roll was destined to become the most popular musical genre of the XNUMXth century. Within it, new directions were developing, new stars were rising. Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, The Beatles, Rolling Stones – these artists and bands have become truly legendary and have forever taken their place in the history of rock and roll and rock culture. And the subgenres that arose at a later time – pop, punk, psychedelic rock and others – still do not lose the impressive fan base acquired in the last century.
Holiday traditions
There are no established traditions for Rock and Roll Day. This holiday, like the music itself, is not about rules and norms, but about fun and spontaneity. Head to your favorite band’s concert or club to dance to familiar beats. Throw a music party or house party at your home. Or just listen to your favorite songs alone, feeling all the rhythms and intonations.
Rock and Roll Day playlist
The very word “rock and roll” can literally be translated as “swing and spin” – the term was taken from the lexicon of sailors, which they denoted the movement of the ship at sea. Rock and roll motifs are so energetic that it is simply impossible to sit still – and now you already feel like this very ship, swaying and dancing to the beat of musical waves.