The American Dream and Tin Pan Alley

After reading the chapter, it occurred to me that the Tin Pan Alley songs are a perfect example of music being used to tell history. During the 1920's, the idea of the "American Dream" was being spread across the United States, and the world. This notion that anyone could achieve success and a better life was very appealing to the public, and this can be seen in Tin Pan Alley songs. To start, many of the composers themselves were living the American Dream. For example, Irving Berlin grew up in a poor Jewish ghetto and went on to compose some of the greatest standards of all time. Also, George Gershwin was the son of an immigrant leather worker long before he was known as a talented songwriter. Furthermore, the music business allowed for the advancement of all people, especially Jewish immigrants who worked as composers, performers, etc. The book also mentions that other "lower-class immigrants, denied the possibility of upward mobility" were welcomed into the Tin Pan Alley music business. The music itself told the story of the American Dream as well, sending messages that love and the American Dream could come to anyone. In particular, the song "My Blue Heaven" mentions one's own home and family, which appealed to all listeners at that time. The main focus of the 1920's was this ideal of the American Dream, and I think that the Tin Pan Alley songs reflect this, and demonstrates how music historians can use music to decipher history.