Final answer:
The song "Be-Bop-A-Lula" is more closely related to rock and roll due to its strong backbeat and electric guitar riffs characteristic of the rockabilly style, which is a blend of rock and country music but with a greater emphasis on rock rhythms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The song "Be-Bop-A-Lula" by Gene Vincent is a classic example of the rockabilly style, which is a blend of rock and roll and country music. This genre was a precursor to rock and roll and shared many similarities with country music, including instrumentation and vocal styles. The rock and roll rhythm of "Be-Bop-A-Lula," however, makes it lean more towards rock and roll rather than pure country music. The song features a strong backbeat and electric guitar riffs that were characteristic of the evolving rock and roll sound of the late 1950s.
Rockabilly artists like Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent, along with others such as Bill Haley and His Comets, and Chuck Berry, played a crucial role in the transformation of the music industry. These artists introduced a new sound by combining electric instruments with the sounds of gospel, blues, country, jazz, and R&B, giving birth to rock and roll. The new genre was an instant success, especially with teenagers who were drawn to its heavy rhythm combined with simple lyrics and melodies. Rockabilly represented both a progression from and a merger with country music, but with the electrification and more pronounced rhythm, it became the foundation of rock music, which would dominate the latter half of the 20th century.