Divine Randomness

Friday, October 21, 2011

The 1960s

It's decade spotlight time again, this time probably one of the best eras of the last century: the 1960s! And where do we even begin? Pillbox hats and sheaths, mods and hippies. Camelot and Jackie. The first man on the moon, the civil rights movement carried on and became more militant at decades end bringing us the Black Panthers. Student and anti-war protests, and the assassinations of the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King Jr. Musically, this is the era where things got more splintered: folk, psych, and acid covered the rock end, and as the decade progressed, it also became more politically aware. Motown, bubblegum, girl groups, and country satiated the Am palette. Then there was a little group called The Beatles that straddled the whole thing like some sort of deity. Art went pop and technicolor:

"Tune in, Turn On, and Drop Out" became the mantra of the emerging counterculture, as did smoking large quantities of pot, dropping acid, and many other assorted drugs as a way to "enlighten" oneself. During the "Summer of Love", Haight Ashbury in San Francisco became mecca for dozens of "flower children" then, just as quickly, most returned home and it disintegrated. Vietnam tore the country apart. And while the decade changed us forever, we remained strong and didn't break. Stranger days lay ahead however...Any thoughts or fave books about the 60s? Please share in the comments section!

And now, some of my fave era inspired Barbies:

Spring Break 1961 Barbie & Ken

Groovy 60s Barbie

A Nod For Mod

Mod Redux Barbie

Pop Life Barbie & Friends

Pop Life Ken

That's all for this week folks! Next up, the 1970s!

Music Links

Way too many out there for me to list, but here's a few I have saved:

Accuradio.com: 1960s station listings

Class of 1963 playlist

Class of 1964 playlist

Class of 1965 playlist

Class of 1967 playlist

Class of 1968 playlist

Buy

If you want some tunes on the psychedelic side, check out:
Plastic Tales From the Marshmallow Dimension
Accuradio.com: Fuzz Factory

Accuradio.com: Psychedelic Classic Rock

Psychedelic Relics playlist

Accuradio.com: Garage Rock
Beyond the Beat Generation

Psychedelic Jukebox

Melody series

May 8-15, 1965

Dear America series

Recommended nonfiction:

Friday, October 14, 2011

The 1950s

Here we go with another stop in the Decade Spotlight Series, this time highlighting the 1950s. What more can we say about this decade that hasn't already been said? We had baby boomers coming of age, and with that came the rise in popularity in a new musical style called rock and roll. Elvis became King, names like Monroe, Dean, Taylor, and Brando became icons, and even kids got a piece of the good life with the production of toys like Etch-a-Sketch, Play-doh, and Silly Putty that are still out there today. Another famous face introduced this decade? Barbie, who made her debut in 1959 and shows no sign of slowing in popularity.

New innovations in cooking and cleaning made housework easier for mom, and a little thing called TV began broadcasting shows for all ages and changed home entertainment forever. There was the Korean War in the beginning of the decade, and McCarthyism (as it was called) rattled several nerves in the worlds of film and politics. Car culture began, and with it fast food and the drive-thru first began popping up, and the diner became a popular hangout for teens everywhere. Fashion became about poodle skirts, saddle shoes, buzz cuts or Brylcreem, Bermuda shorts, and jeans.

A new word called "suburbia" entered the national lexicon, and while it all seemed white picket fences and happy families, a disquiet was brewing under the surface, and by decade's end, the civil rights movement was in full swing (introducing us to a man named Martin Luther King, Jr.), and many disenfranchised youths turned from the straight path laid out before them and became "beats." A bold new era was about to dawn...as always, feel free to share your thoughts on the 50s!