Rockin' the Free World!: How the Rock & Roll Revolution Changed America and the World

by Sean Kay Robson Professor of Polit

Overview

In Rockin' the Free World, international relations expert Sean Kay takes readers inside “Bob Dylan’s America” and shows how this vision linked the rock and roll revolution to American values of freedom, equality, human rights, and peace while tracing how those values have spread globally. Rockin' the Free World then shows how artists have engaged in advancing change via opportunity and education; domestic and international issue advocacy; and within the recording and broader communications industry. The book is built around primary interviews with prominent American and international performing artists ranging from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and Grammy winners to regional and local musicians. The interviews include leading industry people, management, journalists, heads of non-profits, and activists. The book concludes with a look at how musical artists have defined the American experience and what that has meant for the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442266056
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/29/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	292
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Sean Kay is Robson Professor of Politics and Government and Director of the Arneson Institute for Practical Politics/ International Studies at Ohio Wesleyan University. He is also an Associate of the Mershon Center for International Security Studies at the Ohio State University and a non-resident fellow at the Eisenhower Institute in Washington, D.C.

Table of Contents

Introduction and Acknowledgments 1

Part I Power and Progress 3

1 Bob Dylan's America 5

Part II Values 23

2 Freedom-Revolution Rock! 25

3 Equality-This Land Was Made for You and Me 47

4 Human Rights-In the Name of Love 73

5 Peace-Give Peace a Chance 103

Part III Change 127

6 Education-Teach Your Children Well 129

7 Activism-We Are the World 153

8 Money-Welcome to the Machine 181

Part IV Rockin' the Free World 205

9 Ripple in Still Water 207

Afterword 233

Sources 239

Notes 243

Index 271

About the Author 283

Editorial Reviews

Sean Kay has written a fun and engaging book that demonstrates the many ways rock and roll music has intersected with political and civic life across much of the world since the 1960s. This book, neatly organized, generally optimistic, and useful for casual and expert readers alike, is Kay’s testament to the inherent strength and benevolence of the rock and roll spirit. The obvious joy here signals his evangelism and belief that this spirit is indeed quite vital and powerful.

Journal of American Culture

Kay draws on scores of firsthand accounts (derived from interviews) and published sources in this wide-ranging overview of rock 'n' roll. Comprising nine chapters, the book opens with a chapter titled ‘Bob Dylan’s America,’ which focuses on folk music and the social content of rock 'n' roll since the 1960s. Subsequent chapters take up freedom, equality, human rights, peace, education, activism, and money, and the volume concludes with a chapter titled ‘Rockin’ the Free World.’ Scores of performers are discussed (the focus is on the US, but various other countries are also represented). For example, the chapter on peace begins with Pete Seeger, then looks at Rage against the Machine, Country Joe McDonald, System of a Down, and David Crosby—relating all to international wars and events of the 20th and 21st centuries. The endnotes and lists of sources, particularly the numerous interviews, are helpful. This is a useful addition to the untold number of studies of rock 'n' roll, particularly because the author includes music industry executives, foundation administrators, and music journalists as well as performers.

Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers.

Choice Reviews

Sean Kay’s Rockin’ the Free World! is a declaration of faith, in the music and in America.

The Huffington Post

"Kay brings his undoubted expertise in the international relations to bear on a series of more than 50 interviews he conducted with some of the most prominent and influential artists, producers, managers and journalists in the industry....He explores case after case of rock and roll's broader cultural impact on geopolitics, human rights, and racial and social equality."

Survival

"[A] superb realist account of US foreign policy history and, as such, is a must for US foreign policy reading lists, as well as the bookshelf of any foreign policy academic."

Oxford Academic Journals

Kay draws on scores of firsthand accounts (derived from interviews) and published sources in this wide-ranging overview of rock 'n' roll. Comprising nine chapters, the book opens with a chapter titled ‘Bob Dylan’s America,’ which focuses on folk music and the social content of rock 'n' roll since the 1960s. Subsequent chapters take up freedom, equality, human rights, peace, education, activism, and money, and the volume concludes with a chapter titled ‘Rockin’ the Free World.’ Scores of performers are discussed (the focus is on the US, but various other countries are also represented). For example, the chapter on peace begins with Pete Seeger, then looks at Rage against the Machine, Country Joe McDonald, System of a Down, and David Crosby—relating all to international wars and events of the 20th and 21st centuries. The endnotes and lists of sources, particularly the numerous interviews, are helpful. This is a useful addition to the untold number of studies of rock 'n' roll, particularly because the author includes music industry executives, foundation administrators, and music journalists as well as performers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers.

Choice

Kay draws on scores of firsthand accounts (derived from interviews) and published sources in this wide-ranging overview of rock 'n' roll. Comprising nine chapters, the book opens with a chapter titled ‘Bob Dylan’s America,’ which focuses on folk music and the social content of rock 'n' roll since the 1960s. Subsequent chapters take up freedom, equality, human rights, peace, education, activism, and money, and the volume concludes with a chapter titled ‘Rockin’ the Free World.’ Scores of performers are discussed (the focus is on the US, but various other countries are also represented). For example, the chapter on peace begins with Pete Seeger, then looks at Rage against the Machine, Country Joe McDonald, System of a Down, and David Crosby—relating all to international wars and events of the 20th and 21st centuries. The endnotes and lists of sources, particularly the numerous interviews, are helpful. This is a useful addition to the untold number of studies of rock 'n' roll, particularly because the author includes music industry executives, foundation administrators, and music journalists as well as performers.

Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers.

CHOICE