Popular Music in the USA, in conjunction with politics

The Vietnam War, which was very trying on people worldwide, ended in 1973 and President Nixon resigned in 1974, so much of the 60's music had been protest music (against the war), which supported the hippie and anti-war movement. Some of this music filtered into the 70's, but most people were so relieved that the war was over that they wanted to be completely past it. Read more about the withdrawal from the war here. They were ready for something lighter, more upbeat. Disco became prominent in the late 1970's and it was a new type of music for people; as opposed to the typical 2 guitars, 1 drum, maybe a keyboard style band, disco featured lots of orchestral instruments.

The movie Saturday Night Fever, which came out in 1978, showcases many popular disco songs. One band in particular stepped up and claimed the disco spotlight in the U.S. The BeeGees had been popular in the 60's then faded into the music mix. When disco evolved, they created themselves as the falsetto leaders of it, cranking out hits such as Stayin' Alive. Songs were upbeat as everyone was ready for carefree, party music. To view Top 500 Disco Song charts and other disco information, click here.

During this time there were still occasional protesting songs, but they were usually about the environment. The Beatles had broken up by this point, but they were doing individual work-- John Lennon continued protest pop about the establishment. Another artist, Billy Joel, began his career in the 1970's, releasing songs such as Allentown. This song hones in on steel mills and the frustrations of trying to work in the U.S.A. at that time. It includes the lyrics:

Well we're waiting here in Allentown
For the Pennsylvania we never found
For the promises our teachers gave
If we worked hard
If we behaved.

So the graduations hang on the wall
But they never really helped us at all
No they never taught us what was real
Iron and coke,
Chromium steel.

Listen to the song and see the music video here. Full lyrics can be found here. Many identified with his song, regardless of what state they were trying to work in. Working hard in school did not yield any better job than had they dropped out. Even though the disco movement was going on, there was still dismal songs. Life wasn't fixed just because the Vietnam War was over, and many people had problems finding work once they returned from war. He is just one example of this type of music, but was a very popular artist because people viewed him as a a "thinking man's artist" but with blue-collar roots. Many people could identify with him.

The 1970's was a period of growth and change for the US. The Vietnam War had ripped apart life for many people and the 70s was a time to try to put it back together. Some approaches, such as disco, worked just to restore spirits while others, such as Billy Joel's music, worked to show that the country still wasn't perfect and that jobs were still problematic.

*these insights were gained through talking to people who grew up in the 1970's in America and the above linked websites*
* URL of Saturday Night Fever picture