Now Reading: What Was Ravi Shankar’s Influence On Pop Music?
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What Was Ravi Shankar’s Influence On Pop Music?
What Was Ravi Shankar’s Influence On Pop Music?
Ravi Shankar had a significant influence on pop music, particularly through his impact on the music of the 1960s and beyond. Here’s how his influence manifested:
Direct Influence on The Beatles and George Harrison:
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Sitar in Pop: Shankar’s most direct influence on pop music came through his relationship with George Harrison. Harrison’s encounter with Shankar led to the introduction of the sitar into The Beatles’ music, notably in songs like “Norwegian Wood,” “Within You Without You,” and “Love You To.” This popularized the sitar in the West and set a precedent for incorporating Eastern instruments into pop music.
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Cultural Exchange: Through Harrison, Shankar’s teachings and music philosophy permeated pop culture, influencing themes of spirituality and peace, which became central to some of The Beatles’ later work.
Broader Impact on Pop Music:
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Psychedelic Rock: Shankar’s music inspired the psychedelic rock genre, where musicians began experimenting with Indian scales, drones, and raga structures. Bands like The Byrds with “Eight Miles High,” The Rolling Stones with “Paint It Black,” and The Doors with “The End” all show evidence of this influence.
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Sound and Texture: His use of the sitar and exploration of Indian classical music elements introduced pop musicians to new sounds and textures, leading to a richer, more varied musical landscape in the late 1960s.
Influence on Other Musicians:
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Exploration by Other Bands: Beyond The Beatles, artists like Donovan, who studied under Shankar, incorporated sitar and Indian musical elements into their work. His influence can be heard in tracks like Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man.”
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Jimi Hendrix: Although Hendrix’s use of the sitar was more for effect, Shankar’s music was part of the broader cultural zeitgeist that influenced Hendrix’s experimental approach to guitar.
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Post-Beatles Era: Musicians like Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) and John McLaughlin (with the Mahavishnu Orchestra) further explored and integrated Indian music into their pop and jazz fusion works.
Long-term Effects:
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World Music: Shankar’s influence helped pave the way for the world music genre, where musicians from different cultural backgrounds collaborate or draw inspiration from a global palette of sounds. His work with artists like Philip Glass on “Passages” is a prime example of this crossover.
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Cultural Appreciation: His music encouraged a broader appreciation for Indian culture, leading to an increased interest in Eastern philosophy, yoga, and meditation within Western pop culture.
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Fusion and Experimental Music: Shankar’s legacy is evident in the ongoing fusion of musical styles. Bands like Kula Shaker in the ’90s, and contemporary artists who blend genres, owe a debt to the groundwork laid by Shankar’s cross-cultural musical endeavors.
Educational Impact:
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Music Education: Through his teachings and workshops, Shankar indirectly influenced how musicians learned and approached music, emphasizing improvisation within structured forms, which resonates with pop music’s evolution.
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Instruments in Pop: His promotion of the sitar and other Indian instruments made them more accessible to pop musicians, leading to their occasional use even in modern pop music for exotic or ambient effects.
Ravi Shankar’s influence on pop music is both profound and enduring. He didn’t just introduce an instrument or a sound, he opened up Western musicians to a whole new musical tradition, philosophy, and approach to composition and performance, fundamentally altering the trajectory of pop music.’
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