Guest Post: Connie Lacy

Published on by J. Kelland Perry

“From a novelist’s perspective, the Sixties, itself, is like a character – so rich was that period as a decade of change.” ~ Connie Lacy

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming author Connie Lacy to my blog as a special guest. I hope, dear friends and followers, those of you who read or write fiction would kindly say hi or leave a comment for her below.

Connie writes speculative fiction, climate fiction and magical realism, all with a dollop of romance. Having worked for many years as a radio reporter and news anchor, her experience as a journalist shows up in some of her novels.

Connie’s post today is about 1960s music, stemming from her research for her latest novel due out this fall. I am a huge fan of the music from that era, so I jumped at the chance to share it with you. Take it away, Connie!

The 1960s – when social consciousness hit the airwaves

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When you think of music of the 1960s, what pops into your mind? The Twist by Chubby Checker? Ricky Nelson’s Hello, Mary Lou? Maybe it’s Come Together by the Beatles, or Bob Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone. All of those songs were popular in the 1960s. But the first two were in the early sixties. Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone hit the charts in 1965 and Come Together was released in 1969. Needless to say, the volatile decade of the 1960s saw a huge transformation in the music everyone heard on the radio. Looking back, the first few years of that decade seem like a continuation of the 1950s, while the middle and late sixties come across as a new era with a more complex sensibility.

I’ve been re-listening to some of those songs as I write my latest novel which comes out this fall. The story is set in 1966-67 as musical tastes underwent a tectonic shift. It’s surprising now to think that the actual top forty playlist as my novel opens in September of 1966 included such varied songs as: Sunshine Superman by Donovan, Summer in the City by The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, Land of 1000 Dances by Wilson Pickett and Stevie Wonder’s version of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind, all in the top ten. Then at #11 was Wouldn’t it Be Nice by The Beach Boys and #12 was Lil Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs.

The Sixties, of course, was a time of great social upheaval, with opposition mounting to the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement gaining momentum, growing demands by women for equal opportunities, and the gay rights movement picking up steam. The music we listened to incorporated or reflected growing social consciousness. Some popular songs were overt political statements. It’s amazing when you realize we went from Brian Hyland’s 1960 hit, Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, to James Brown’s Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud in 1968… and from 1961’s My Boomerang Won’t Come Back by Charlie Drake to Barry McGuire’s 1965 anti-war anthem, Eve of Destruction.

This musical evolution took us from silly novelty songs like 1962’s Monster Mash to 1965’s My Generation by The Who – a teen rebellion anthem if there ever was one. But the airwaves were also filled with anti-war songs. Think Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Peace Train by Cat Stevens, Universal Soldier by Donovan and the very powerful War by Edwin Starr – “War, huh, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” There were songs calling for equal treatment of black Americans such as A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke and Southern Man by Neil Young. There were also songs that became anthems for women, like Aretha Franklin’s Respect, Lesley Gore’s You Don’t Own Me, and on the Country and Western side, there was Dolly Parton’s 1968 hit, Just Because I’m a Woman.

From a novelist’s perspective, the Sixties, itself, is like a character – so rich was that period as a decade of change. Our country was undergoing a dramatic transformation and our music was changing as well. What a gift for me as a writer. And I make use of popular songs the characters listen to in my novel to help create that Sixties vibe.

If you’d like to be notified when my new book comes out, you can sign up for occasional, brief author updates here. And you can find my other novels on my Amazon author page or my website www.connielacy.com.

This article was originally posted on the author’s website here.

Thanks so much for visiting, Connie!

Readers and Writers, did you live through the Sixties?
Have you ever written a story set in that decade?
What are some of your favourite songs from the era?

30 thoughts on “Guest Post: Connie Lacy”

  1. I wasn’t alive then, but I like early Rolling Stones stuff, and Judas Priest at the very tail end of the 60s although they didn’t have their metal look yet; Rob Halford had long hair and it looked hilarious.

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  2. I grew up in the 60s and 70s and, being the youngest in my family, I heard many of the 60s music through the wall of my sister’s bedroom and down the hall from my brother’s room. I agree the 60s was a time period like no other and I’m sure listening to this music while writing your book helped a lot in setting the scene. Glad to learn more about you and your book!

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    1. Thanks so much! It’s great to make new friends! One thing about it, I can picture my book as a movie with a great soundtrack! Love the image of you hearing the songs through the walls of your childhood home!

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  5. Carrie and Jill,
    A fun aspect of including songs in a novel, whether they’re form the 1960s or another era, the songs themselves can add depth and meaning, especially if the titles are revealing. And back in the ’60s, teens listened to the radio a lot. It’s so different now with the segmentation of music and all the other sources for listening. Most teens don’t even listen to the radio now and may not have much in common musically.
    Thanks so much for your comments!
    Connie

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  6. Thanks for introducing us to Connie, Jennifer! Although I was born in 1965, as a teenager and adult, I’ve always enjoyed music from the 60’s. When I get stuck in my story, listening to song lyrics always gets the words flowing again. Have a great weekend!

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    1. That’s a great idea, Jill, drawing inspiration from song lyrics. Another benefit of good music! I grew up with Beatles records playing all the time because my father was such a huge fan and a musician in his own right. Thanks for weighing in. 😊

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  7. I didn’t live through all the 60s, and I was too little to know any of its music at the time, but I certainly love it now! I can’t listen to it while I write though. Or any music, for that matter. But I love the idea of it as a setting, and the concept of it being almost a character.

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    1. Jacqui, even though I grew up in the ’60s, it only occurred to me that the decade was something like a character as I did research for my novel. It was such a tumultuous time! I’m excited about my novel coming out next month. Thanks for your comment! And thanks, Jennifer, for sharing my blog post! Connie

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