Music from the 1960s has had a continuous influence on contemporary artists. A welcome resurgence of the 1960s has come at large in contemporary music during recent years, with artists being heavily influenced by the music and culture. This resurgence has not only strengthened the already popular genres of the 1960s, but has revolutionised them, taking previous expression of the genres to a new level. Artists at the forefront of revolutionising 1960s genres include ‘She & Him’, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, and producer Mark Ronson. These four artists have developed 1960s music for a contemporary audience to experience.
American duo, ‘She & Him’ incorporates popular 1960s musical genres into their music, along with a mix of other genres, to create a sound which is quintessentially ‘She & Him’. After meeting in 2007, actress Zooey Deschanel and musician M. Ward have worked together towards two albums, entitled ‘Volume One’ (2008) and ‘Volume Two’ (2010). These albums showcase a unique mixture of 1960s rockabilly, country and soul, with more contemporary genres such as ‘indie’ music. The combination of genres in the music of ‘She & Him’ is quite rare in popular contemporary music, and by combining rockabilly, country and soul with ‘indie’, ‘She & Him’ are revolutionising 1960s genres. Specifically, M. Ward’s characteristically played guitar. Heard in the guitar solos on ‘Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?’ (1) and ‘In the Sun’ (2) is Ward’s jazzy, rockabilly influence. This creates a new movement not only for 1960s music, but also for contemporary ‘indie’ music. Deschanel has listed her musical influences as “older, more classic songwriters, from Cole Porter and Gershwin to Carole King and Roy Orbison and Bobbie Gentry” she goes on to say “People always expect you to be a fan of what’s happening now, but the things I gravitate towards are older and more worn” (She & Him, 2011, p.1.). These influences are noticeably evident through the music of ‘She & Him’. When listening to ‘She & Him’, it becomes apparent that particular core qualities are regularly revisited in their music. These qualities include a small group of back up voices, a common 1960s musical attribute similar to the likes of The Dynamites, along with the use of instruments with ukuleles, and upbeat drum lines. ‘She & Him’ have not only been influenced by 1960s music, but also by the culture of the era itself. Their music video for ‘Don’t Look Back’ offers a strong 1960s cultural atmosphere. The theme of the video sets the audience in a futuristic scene, capturing the imaginative future of 1960. The video explores and pays homage to classic 1960s qualities such as the bright clothing, bold colouring and groovy dancing. 
Another artist who is inspired by the musical genres and the overall culture of the 1960s, is singer Joss Stone. Vocally, Stone’s strong, husky, passionate expression can be compared to and has been inspired by music legends Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Dusty Springfield and Betty Wright. Her genre inspirations include soul and funk. Stone had great opportunity in 2003 when recording her debut album, ‘The Soul Sessions’ (4), as she was joined in the studio, by legends such as mentor Betty White and jazz guitarist Little Beaver to record the album. With the significant guidance of Wright, Stone was strongly influenced by this genre of music on ‘The Soul Sessions’ and has continued to use this same funk vibe on her albums post ‘The Soul Sessions’ and is therefore revolutionising the 1960s soul and funk genres, with Stone attributing her own qualities to the music. Joss Stone’s vocal influences are predominantly Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin and Dusty Springfield. Though these influences are heard through her own music, Stone has also taken part in performing tributes to these icons as live performances. Stone has performed classics such as Springfield’s ‘Son of a Preacher Man’ (5) and Franklin’s ‘Natural Woman’ (6). In her performances of these classics, she pays homage to her 1960s icons with her strong, sensitive stage presence and soulful expression Joss Stone is not only influenced by 1960s music, but is also inspired by the 1960s culture. With her free loving, Janis Joplin like appearance, Stone produces an aura which strongly expresses the 1960s era. This is clearly inspired by her influences Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield, but most of all Janis Joplin (Petridis, A, 2003, p.1.). Stone’s voice even explores strong similarities to Joplin’s (7) in that she has a raw, husky, almost scream like timbre to it, whilst remaining soothing and soulful.
Amy Winehouse is another artist who has been heavily influenced by genres from the 1960s. Such 1960s genres include soul and Motown. Like ‘She & Him’, Winehouse also incorporates modern genres into her music in addition to the 1960s genres. An example of one of these genres is R&B. Through the use of contemporary genres, Winehouse is able to bring 1960s genres into a contemporary domain. Like Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse has a distinct voice and has been described as being “the Marge Simpson of retro junkie soul.” (Frere-Jones, S, 2008, p.2.) Amy Winehouse has had much popularity in her mainstream success. Her album ‘Back to Black’ was voted by the public to be the Album of the Decade. Her 1960s soul and Mow Town influences includes the use of baritone saxophone, jazz guitar, tubular bells, and a small group of back up voices (8); a quality also evident in the music of ‘She & Him’, teamed with Winehouse’s contemporary R&B genre have revolutionised popular music. This fusion has power for younger and older generations, in her combination of what is new and what is old, she has revolutionised the way people listen to and enjoy music. In 2007 ‘Back to Black’ reached number one on the official 
UK producer Mark Ronson’s album ‘Version’ has been strongly influenced by 1960s genres. ‘Version’ is in essence, a cover album, in which ten artists have covered popular songs with a 1960s, Go-Go (9) and funk genre influence. This album is an admirable example of contemporary music at its best. It constantly references classic 1960s sounds which Ronson has been heavily influenced by, quite like many other contemporary artists of today. The first song on the album ‘God Put a Smile Upon Your Face’ (10), a cover of the ‘Coldplay’ song of the same name, is a perfect example of this. ‘God Put a Smile Upon Your Face’ features brass band ‘The Daptone Horns’. With a sample of the 1960s icon, Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Let me stand Next To Your Fire’ (11) in the opening bars, the first song on ‘Version’ prepares the listener for a heavily influenced 1960s sound. ‘Version’ is evidently an exploration of a modernised 1960s genre, with the majority of the album heavily incorporating contemporary electronic beats and effects, whilst equally employing a prominent horns section, heavy bass, percussion and funk guitar grooves. This is not unlike the music of Chuck Brown, the “Godfather of Go-go” (12) and another major influence of ‘Version’. 1960s music has always had, and is having a major influence on contemporary artists since its establishment. In recent years; ‘She & Him’, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, and Mark Ronson have been strengthening the genres made popular in the 1960s. Some examples of the genres include; soul, rockabilly, country, Mow Town
She & Him - 'Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?'
She & Him - 'In The Sun'
She & Him - 'Don't Look Back'
Joss Stone - 'Super Duper Love'
Joss Stone - 'Son of a Preacher Man'
Joss Stone - 'Natural Woman'
Janis Joplin - 'Piece Of My Heart'
Amy Winehouse - 'Rehab'
Example of 1960s Go-Go Dancing
Mark Ronson featuring The Daptone Horns - 'God Put a Smile Upon Your Face'
Jimi Hendrix - 'Let Me Stand Next To Your Fire'
Chuck Brown & Soul Searchers - 'Funk To The Folks'
She & Him - 'In The Sun'
She & Him - 'Don't Look Back'
Joss Stone - 'Super Duper Love'
Joss Stone - 'Son of a Preacher Man'
Joss Stone - 'Natural Woman'
Janis Joplin - 'Piece Of My Heart'
Amy Winehouse - 'Rehab'
Example of 1960s Go-Go Dancing
Mark Ronson featuring The Daptone Horns - 'God Put a Smile Upon Your Face'
Jimi Hendrix - 'Let Me Stand Next To Your Fire'
Chuck Brown & Soul Searchers - 'Funk To The Folks'
Bibliography
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The Playlist 2007, ‘Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward are Go-Getters’ July 2007, viewed 3rd March 2011, < http://theplaylist.blogspot.com/2007/07/zooey-deschanel-and-m-ward-are-go.html>
Blakeney, J 2007, ‘Mark Ronson Version Review’, April 2007, viewed 3rd March 2011, < http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/rb8c>
Brown, C 2011, ‘Chuck Brown The Godfather of Go-Go’, viewed 6th April 2011, < http://www.windmeupchuck.com/>
Frere-Jones, S 2008, ‘Amy’s Circus’, March 2008, viewed 24th March 2011, < http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2008/03/03/080303crmu_music_frerejones>
Petridis, A 2003, Purely Belter, November 2003, viewed 24th March 2011, < http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2003/nov/14/popandrock1>
Ronson, M 2007, ‘Version’, CD
She & Him 2011, ‘Story’, viewed 3rd March 2011, < http://www.sheandhim.com/#/story/>
She & Him 2008, ‘Volume One’, CD
She & Him 2010, ‘Volume Two’, CD
Stone, J 2009, ‘Colour Me Free’, CD
Stone, J 2003, ‘The Soul Sessions’, CD
Stone, J 2007, ‘Introducing… Joss Stone’, CD
Winehouse, A 2006, ‘Back to Black’, CD
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