The British Invasion

• Engels
• Basisschool
• Groep 7,8

The British Invasion – Part 1: A Musical Wave from England

n the 1950s and 60s, most popular music came from America. It was brought to England by big ships and radios, like Radio Luxembourg. British kids loved this new sound: 🎵 Jazz, blues, gospel, rock & roll and country music

In cities near the sea, boys started to play music. They listened, copied, and made it their own.

This new British music was called Merseybeat, named after the River Mersey in Liverpool. 

🎸 Bands started everywhere — in garages, basements, and clubs. They played a mix of American and British music. Soon, this music went back across the ocean to America.

The Americans loved it! They called it: “The British Invasion”

🎧 Let’s listen to:

“I Want to Hold Your Hand” – The Beatles

→ One of the first British hits in America!

🎸 The British Invasion – Part 2: Famous Bands from the UK

The most famous Merseybeatband of the British Invasion were The Beatles. They came from Liverpool and played happy songs with guitar, bass, and drums. Their music was new, fun, and everyone wanted to hear more!

🎧 Let’s listen to: “Twist and Shout” – The Beatles

→ Energetic, fun, and full of rhythm.

Other British bands followed:

The Who – Loud, wild and full of drums

The Kinks – Cool guitar sound

The Hollies – Harmonies and happy tunes

Herman’s Hermits – Fun and catchy

These bands played in America and became very popular. They dressed differently, moved differently — and the American kids loved it!

British bands also started mixing American sounds with their own style. It was music that connected two worlds.

🇳🇱 The British Invasion – Part 3: What Happened in the Netherlands?

In the 1960s, the Netherlands didn’t have many pop groups yet.

Most music on the radio was in Dutch, like songs by Willeke Alberti and Rob de Nijs.

But something was changing...

🎸 Young people wanted pop and rock & roll.

They listened to British and American music on the radio.

They wanted to dance, sing, and play music too!

🎶 The Indo Rockers - Dutch Rock Heroes

After World War II, many families came from Indonesia to the Netherlands.

Some of them were Indo (half Dutch, half Indonesian). They loved music — and they were very good at it!

These Indo musicians started bands like:

- The Tielman Brothers

- The Crazy Rockers

- The Javelins

They played amazing rock & roll and even went to play in Germany, where many British bands also performed.

🎧 Let’s listen to:

The Tielman Brothers – “Rollin’ Rock”

→ Wild guitars, rhythm, and fast solos!

British bands, including The Beatles, saw these Indo groups play.

They were impressed and inspired!

Paul McCartney later said:

“We were inspired by the Indo rock bands. They were great!”

🌍 The British Invasion – Part 4: Mixing Styles

At first, pop music came from America: 

🎵 jazz, blues, gospel, rock & roll, and country.

British bands listened, learned, and made their own sound. 

Then their music went back to America — and people there loved it!

🎧 Let’s listen to:

The Kinks – “You Really Got Me”

→ A British song with a loud American-style guitar!

But it didn’t stop there...

But it didn’t stop there...

American artists started copying British styles too.

Soon, it was hard to tell:

🌀 Is this British or American?

➡️ It didn’t matter — it was just good music.

Musicians from both sides inspired each other.

They made new sounds by mixing styles.

This made music grow faster than ever before.

🌍 The British Invasion – Part 5: Music That Changed the World

The British Invasion didn’t just bring new music. It changed how people dressed, acted, and felt. 

Bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who made music that felt exciting and different.

Young people everywhere wanted to be like them.

The British Invasion also showed that music could travel the world. It didn’t matter where you lived — music could connect everyone.

Even now, many artists are inspired by that time. British artists like Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, and Arctic Monkeys all grew up listening to older British bands.

🎧 Let’s listen to:

Harry Styles – “As It Was”

→ You can hear a mix of pop, rock and emotion — just like in the 60s.

The British Invasion never really ended.

It just keeps going — with new bands, new ideas, and the same energy.

🎤 Music from Britain still rocks the world!

🎧 Ed Sheeran – “Photograph” (2014) and The Beatles - "Yesterday" (1965)

This song is soft, melodic, and full of emotion.

It’s about love, memories, and feelings — just like The Beatles sang about in Yesterday or Let It Be.

The chords, structure, and singing style are inspired by pop ballads from the 1960s.

🔎 Things to notice in class:

- A simple and gentle melody

- Clear verse–chorus structure

- Personal and emotional lyrics

Only guitar in the beginning — just like many Beatles songs