Final answer:
The popular form of music that teens listened to in the 1950s was Rock and Roll, a genre that combined various musical styles and served as a form of youthful rebellion. It was widely embraced by teenagers despite controversy and became a significant cultural force.
Step-by-step explanation:
The popular form of music that teens were listening to in the 1950s was Rock and Roll. This new musical genre emerged from the combination of electric instruments with the sounds of gospel, blues, country, jazz, and R&B, giving birth to a sound that captivated teenagers across America. Rock and roll music celebrated themes such as young love and freedom, and it stood as a symbol of youthful rebellion against the constraints of middle-class society.
Artists like Elvis Presley became enormously popular and controversial, as rock and roll was seen by some as a form of American expression that blurred racial lines. The music increasingly brought together white suburbanites and the music of black America through the airwaves, and was promoted by figures such as disc jockey Alan Freed. Despite some adults' attempts to ban the music or protests against concerts, teenagers embraced rock and roll, which helped to shape the cultural landscape of the decade.