How Did Chuck Berry's Song Changed American Culture

To say that Chuck Berry was just a rock and roll artist would be a major understatement. His songs not only changed American culture forever, but still influence it to this day. His overwhelmingly popular hit, “Sweet Little Sixteen” was released as a single in 1958. In a matter of weeks, it climbed to second on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was inspired by Berry’s countless encounters with frenzied teenagers after his shows fighting for an autograph. The lyrics were just as popular as the music itself. His skill and creativity with his guitar paired with his unique voice left listeners begging for more (“Song Facts”). Considered to be an amazing artist, creative inventor, and influential leader, Chuck Berry’s songs made him incredibly popular. During …show more content…
It was the music of the American teenager and that’s exactly who artists like Berry were trying to appeal. The older generation had a high dislike for the music and resented it’s somewhat “unclean” content. Sweet Little Sixteen isn’t a great example of this type of content, but it is one that clearly shows who the music is advertised to. “'Cause they'll be rockin on bandstand” is a phrase used in the song that implies that not only were the young people listening to the music, but watching it on TV during Dick Clark’s bandstand show. Berry didn’t exhibit wild dance moves like Elvis, but he did sing his soul out in his songs (Christgau). This made every teen listening feel as if he was singing to them. Not only did sales soar, but they couldn’t get enough. Sweet Little Sixteen captured the longing for teenagers to be popular and famous like their role-models behind the microphone. The lyrics tell