Frank's not into rocking 'n' rolling

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, rock ‘n' roll was truly born, birthing a world of music that introduced and expressed a new and different (and quickly popular) sound. Some people from earlier generations in the show and music businesses did not approve of the new style of music. One such critic was Frank Sinatra. In 1957 he was quoted as saying,

“Rock and roll is the most brutal, ugly, desperate vicious form of expression it has been my misfortune to hear. Rock n' Roll smells phony and false. It is sung, played and written for the most part by cretinous goons, and by means of its almost imbecilic reiteration, and sly, lewd...in plain fact, dirty lyrics…it manages to be the martial music of every sideburned delinquent on the face of the earth." (Frank Sinatra at 1958 Congressional hearings, New York Times Magazine, 12.1.58, p.19).

It is partially true what Sinatra mentioned above, however I do not think this held true until the 1970s when rock then began dividing into different subgenres. So Frank, fast forwarded about 13 years, and I would agree with you more. In the 70s, rock music grew to ‘soft rock’, ‘progressive rock’, ‘heavy metal’, etc. and not until the 80s did rock emerge into ‘hardcore punk rock’ or ‘alternative rock.’ With the formations of these new types of rock, it became a time of speaking out and rocking out. However, to categorize all rock ‘n’ roll music (especially in the 1950s) as “smelling phony and false” well Frank, that’s a bit harsh. Chuck Berry, Big Joe Turner, James Brown and Little Richard, to name a few, all had early rock ‘n’ roll career hits and are still considered some of the best-known and most influential artists of all rock ‘n’ roll time. Rock ‘n’ Roll has changed dramatically since the 1950s, constantly forming into many other rock-influenced styles, but it would have never come about if it wasn’t for the “cretinous goons” playing for the “sideburned delinquents.” Do not get wrong, I am a fan of Frank’s music; however his opinion on rock ‘n’ roll is something that I would beg to differ.

Frank wondering, perhaps, why people love rock 'n' roll so much

References:

Frank Sinatra at 1958 Congressional hearings, New York Times Magazine, 12.1.58, p.19

Shirley, David. The History of Rock and Roll. Canada: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data, 1997