That notion seems rather outrageous today, but Rock and Roll represented a revolution in the 60's. The airwaves had been dominated with doo-wop and puppy love ballads such as "Teen Angel." The public swooned for such songs. They were happy, the talked of all things good and lacked the sinful sounds of a howling electric guitar and bounding drum riffs. .
In January 1962 Chubby Checker introduced the world to The Twist. Out of the darkness of the night then came, The Stomp, The Hucklebuck, The Watusi, The Fly, The Limbo, The Slop, The Pony, and The Mashed potato. Suddenly students in countries everywhere were gyrating and adults were appalled. They all had the worst case scenario on their minds. This could lead to sex, and it will all be because of that evil, Satanic Rock and Roll. .
As the children of the 60's danced, the ground work was being laid for a huge societal shift. Sit-ins began, riots, and mass protests on college campuses were common place. In August 1962, 200 000 civil rights activists converged on Washington, D.C and heard Rev. Martin Luther King talk about his dream. Again, anyone over 30 knew what was to blame, it was darn Rock and Roll. More level-headed and open minded people realized that "Times Were Changing" as echoed in the Bob Dylan Classic and the younger generation was taking matters into their own hands. .
Protest is an art form. If done in properly can be the catalyst for change. However, if it is done improperly, the protesters just sound as though they are whining. In the 60's and 70's the Generals in Vietnam insisted war was the answer, whereas others insisted love was the answer. Musicians took their right of free speech seriously and responded to the Generals. Bob Dylan retorted with "Masters of War," Phil Ochs with "I Ain't Marching Anymore," Creedence Clear Water Revival with "Fortunate Son," and The Guess Who with "American Woman." Over 180 songs were written in reaction to the Vietnam war alone.