One of the leading characteristics of musicians in the early 1970s was the implementation of classical, electronic, and jazz music elements in the rock style. The musical craft was improved in a variety of ways, which led to the promotion of a new aesthetic approach known as the “hippie aesthetic.” The main idea of this concept was that rock musicians had a responsibility to introduce sophisticated music for repeated listening, addressing any available means (Covach and Flory 295). The lyrics should touch upon crucial topics to demonstrate musical prowess and the worth of some meaning. This innovation proved the development of psychedelia, a combination of artistic ambitions and financial rivalry. In addition to these musical elements, the “hippie aesthetic” included the improvements of some nonmusical essentials. For example, musicians performed and played their own music, which contributed to self-development and professional growth.
Examples of hippie aesthetic music can be found in the works by Beach Boys (“Good Vibrations”), the Beatles (“Let It Be”), and Bob Dylan (“Blowin’ in the Wind). The albums “The Dark Side of the Moon” (Pink Floyd) and “Riders on the Storm” (The Doors) were inspired by social activities and values cherished by people at the moment. These artists showed how to unify the 1960s and the 1970s and take a successful step into the 1980s. Progressive rock of the 1970s manifested the hippie aesthetic through craft dedication and listenable abilities. An album was no longer a piece of musical work but a self-contained statement (Covach and Flory 307). Instead of provoking the listener or causing particular emotions, the goal of the hippie aesthetic was to offer a trip and use appropriate technologies and resources to amaze, satisfy, and enhance critical thinking. Words gained a profound meaning together with sounds and background, and such manifestation was new and interesting for the generation of the 1970s.
Work Cited
Covach, John Rudolph, and Andrew Flory. What’s That Sound?: An Introduction to Rock and Its History. 5th ed., W. W. Norton and Company, 2018.