The folk genre that inspired the Beatles was called a. samba b. skiffle c. ska
The Beatles’ main songwriters were a. Lennon and McCartney b. Lennon and Harrison c. McCartney and Starr
The term “Beatlemania” described a. the frustration that caused the Beatles to break up b. the disruptive crowds of fans that the Beatles attracted on tour c. the wave of new bands that took inspiration from the Beatles
Discussion/essay questions
In the 1960s, Beatlemania was strange and surprising. Television and radio helped the Beatles reach audiences all over the world. This was a new kind of fame. How has the internet changed fan culture? Do you think any living famous people have their own “mania”?
Transcript
The Beatles were a famous British rock band of the 1960s. The four members of the group were lead vocalists John Lennon and Paul McCartney, guitarist George Harrison, and drummer Ringo Starr. The band took inspiration from a British folk genre called “skiffle,” as well as American rhythm and blues. They became known for experimenting with many genres and sounds. Lennon and McCartney were the main songwriters, but Harrison and Starr wrote some of the band’s songs too. The Beatles were an important influence on 1960s popular culture. When they went on tour, they attracted disruptive crowds of fans—a phenomenon known as “Beatlemania.” The Beatles recorded 14 albums over ten years. After they broke up in 1970, each of the band members began successful solo careers. They are still the best-selling musical group of all time.
Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville invented a. the phonograph b. the phonautograph c. the gramophone
The problem with the phonautograph was that a. its recordings could not be copied and sold b. the technology to play its recordings didn’t exist yet c. it used very expensive materials
The first sound that Edison recorded was a. a nursery rhyme b. a telephone call c. a scene from a play
Discussion/essay questions
Technology has progressed very quickly over the last few centuries. Some tools we use every day would be hard for people 100 years ago to imagine. What new technology do you think we will have 100 years in the future?
Transcript
In the 1850s, a man named Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville invented the phonautograph, a device that imitated a human eardrum. The phonautograph was the first device to record sound. However, it only stored drawings of sound waves, and the technology to play these sound waves didn’t exist yet. The first person to record sound and replay it was Thomas Edison, in 1877. His invention, the phonograph, used a needle to carve grooves into a metal or wax cylinder. Edison’s first recording was the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” In 1887, German-American inventor Emile Berliner introduced the gramophone, which used flat records to store and play sound. These could be easily copied and sold. Record players remained common until the 1980s and 1990s, when cassettes and CDs became more popular choices.
Freddie Mercury was born in a. Britain b. Zanzibar c. India
His performances could be described as a. ordinary b. subdued c. theatrical
After Mercury’s death, his bandmates started a foundation to a. end hunger b. fight AIDS c. cure cancer
Discussion/essay questions
Music can be very powerful. Is there a song, singer, or band that had an important impact on your life? How did it affect you?
Transcript
Freddie Mercury was a British singer and songwriter. He was the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen, which also included guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, and bassist John Deacon. Mercury was born in Zanzibar in 1946. His given name was Farrokh Bulsara, which he changed after his family immigrated to Britain. Mercury became known for his vocal range and his experimental songwriting. His performances were energetic and theatrical. Although he never publicly labelled his sexuality, Mercury had romantic relationships with both men and women. In the last few years of his life, Mercury suffered from AIDS, which he kept private. After his death in 1991, his bandmates started a foundation to help fight AIDS around the world.
Mozart’s father was a professional a. conductor b. violinist c. pianist
When Mozart was seven, a. he learned to play the piano b. he composed his first pieces c. he started touring Europe
Discussion/essay questions
Why do you think so many great artists fail to make money?
Wolfgang’s sister, Nannerl, was also a musical prodigy. However, because she was a woman, she had to give up her career once she was old enough to get married. Do you think the world would look very different today if women’s work was valued in history? Why or why not?
Transcript
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian composer. He was born in Salzburg in 1756. His father, Leopold, was a professional violinist, and he taught Mozart to play and write music from a very young age. Mozart was a child prodigy. He began composing when he was only five years old. When he was seven, he began touring Europe with his older sister, who was also very talented. He composed over 600 pieces in his lifetime. Even though he was famous for his work, Mozart struggled financially later in his life. He also became ill while writing Requiem in D Minor, his final piece. He died when he was only 35, and Requiem in D Minor was left unfinished.
Michael Jackson began his career at age a. six b. eight c. ten
Jackson’s best-selling album was a. Off the Wall b. The Jackson 5 c. Thriller
“The King of Pop” was a. the nickname that Jackson gained for his musical achievements b. the first solo album that Jackson released c. the name of the first pop group that Jackson was a part of
Discussion/essay questions
What genres of music do you listen to? Who are some of the most famous artists in those genres?
What do you think makes someone an “icon”?
Transcript
Michael Jackson was an American singer and dancer. He was one of the top performing artists in the world, and he is remembered as a cultural icon of the 1980s. Jackson was born in 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He began his career at six years old, when he started performing with his family members in a pop group called the Jackson 5. The Jackson 5 was very popular throughout the 1970s. In 1979, Jackson released his first solo album, Off the Wall. His solo music made him even more famous—especially his 1982 album Thriller, which became the best-selling album in the world. He later gained the nickname “The King of Pop”. Throughout his life, Jackson released ten albums. He died in 2009, at age 50.
