Jessica Jung
April 15th, 2016
English Period 1
Mrs. Heisler
Bob Dylan: The Voice of a Generation “No one is free, even the birds are chained to the sky” (“BrainyQuote”). Bob Dylan stated this, referring to one of his famous folk songs, “Ballad in Plain D”. Dylan’s powerful choice of words in all of the different genres of music he produced allowed his audience to truly connect and get a feel for the stories behind his lyrics. His fame quickly rose due to his style in music, that he soon became recognized by millions and succeeded in making a multitude of musical accomplishments. Known as a Civil Rights activist, Dylan took initiative in helping guide America’s society towards constructive change. Bob Dylan left a lasting impact on the
…show more content…
A few of Dylan’s most famous folk songs at the time were “Song to Woody”, “Blowin’ in the Wind”, and “Masters of War”. He was influenced to write “Song to Woody” during his time spent in folk clubs and coffeehouses of Greenwich Village, where he met a crowd of other musicians similar to himself (“Dylan, Bob” 31-39). This particular song was written as a tribute to his ailing folk musician hero, Woody Guthrie. Moreover, “Blowin’ in the Wind” is a song that was released in 1963 as a part of the album, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”. According to Dissent Magazine, it was composed as a topical song that reflected the country’s overall mood (Dreier). Dylan allowed his music to be open for the public to interpret freely. “Masters of War” is another folk song that contained deeper meanings than what the lyrics simply suggested. Dylan tackled the theme of men in power as he wrote this during the time of political change when John F. Kennedy came into power. The genre of folk changed the face of music during the 1960s, influencing Dylan’s literature style.
Dylan’s talents of having the ability to compose music in a variety of different genres was evident through his country songs as well. According to editors Sara and Tom Pendergast, “He frustrated his fans over and over by refusing to stick with any one musical style or personal philosophy” (“Dylan, Bob” 31-39). However, his compelling music lyrics easily overpowered this feeling of frustration expressed by the crowd. Dylan’s
Hank Snow was a popular and important musical artist, active before 1960, who is not included in the Dalhousie University 2017 - 2018 Popular Music until 1960 course. Hank Snow’s, “country standard I’m Movin’ On, a twelve-bar blues, came out before 1960. ” In this paper I will argue that Hank Snow and his song I’m Movin’ On must be a required listening in this course as he has had historical significance, has influenced musical artists (several that are covered in this course) and most importantly he is a Nova Scotia native with a successful musical country career on an international scale. I will provide relevant background information on Hank Snow as well as proof of his importance in the areas of historical significance, musical influence
Bob Dylan's song, "The Hurricane" is a story communicated through song. It is a tribute
Dylan’s most famous protest song is “Blown’ in the Wind”. It became the anthem for the civil rights movement in America during the 1960s, and as result Dylan was viewed as the spiritual leader of the civil rights movement. “Blown’ in the Wind” became very popular among the American people because the lyrics of the song could be applied to any situation as the lyrics were all about humanity learning from its mistakes and a call for freedom. “Only a Pawn in Their Game” was Dylan’s most offensive protest song that he wrote, and it was first performed at a civil rights rally in Greenwood, Mississippi. This song was about a civil rights activist who was murdered by “just a poor dumb
With every aspect of our lives we are making a point, arguing a belief, or refuting some other aspect of our existence. Aesthetic pieces, most avidly poems and songs, argue a message both in the lyrics and in the meaning posed between the lines. “American Pie,” in a multitude of ways, argues that American lives and memories are closely intertwined with the music of the time period. Not only does “American Pie” argue a message it also pulls many generations together. Today, thirty years after the initial release, “American Pie” still has an effect in our music and continues to be popular with all age groups. Don McLean accomplishes this task through using the context of the time period, placement of words, the words
The 1960’s was an era of revolution and social change in the United States. Painters, dancers, actors, musicians and many more artists all wanted to portray societies immoral issues through their art. Musicians played a very prominent role in providing society with an outlet on the importance of this change. Within these musicians was a folk rock singer and songwriter by the name of Robert Allen Zimmerman, or as America knows him, Bob Dylan. He is known and honored around the world for his influence on popular music and culture, however, he is much more than that (Wood 313). The beginning of Bob Dylan’s career as a singer and songwriter was marked by his repetitive emphasis on social change throughout his protest songs which include “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall,” “Masters of War,” and “The Times They Are a-Changin’”; with each song, Dylan exposes many issues that affected, not one, but many lives as he aimed to spread social and political consciousness to society.
At only 22, he was crowned the voice of a generation. His audiences became mesmerized with his expressive lyrics and soulful harmonica. He changed the way the world looks at songwriting and protest, and inspired countless future musicians from the moment he stepped up on the stage in his railroad hat, denim jacket, and harmonica brace. However, it is clear that there is so much more behind Bob Dylan than just a rough voice and a collection of poetic songs. As one man said about Dylan’s early days in Greenwich Village, “There’s a quality of determination and of will that some people have that when they’re doing something, they’re really doing it and you
The prevailing ideologies that define masculinity within country music, and with even greater prominence in the “bro-country” subgenre, remains engrained within the concept of being an outdoorsman. Luke Bryan’s “Huntin’, Fishin’, Lovin’, Everyday,” acts as a laid back anthem to said country-man, whose song’s lyrical substance indicates that a true country boy yearns for a life within the rural setting. Luke describes “the prayer that a country boy makes” as one
For generations, singers and songwriters of country music have been working to evoke emotions in listeners by performing and writing songs that the listeners will be able to relate to. Country music traditionally reveals stories of life, love, death, and values, all of which can be seen in the works of great singers and songwriters like George Strait, Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, and Alan Jackson. One artist in particular, Garth Brooks, forever left his stamp on country music and on the hearts of his millions of listeners with his hit songs, “The Beaches of Cheyenne”, “Callin’ Baton Rouge”, and “The River”. “The Beaches of Cheyenne” has a storyline containing themes of life, death, love, and regret. The themes of this song branch out much
Arguably one of the most powerful of Dylan’s social issue charged song is The Death of Emmet Till, a young black man who was unrightfully killed by the Ku Klux Klan. By 1963, Dylan and his on and off lover Joan Baez were both very well known in the civil rights movement. Baez and Dylan would sing together at rallies including the famous March on Washington. Dylan was on stage with Martin Luther King Jr. when his gave his infamous I Have a Dream speech. Though Dylan sang of American injustices, he was never incredibly interested in politics and he was ultimately frustrated by people defining him solely as a protest singer. Dylan’s frustrations with the unsought political branding are expressed in It Ain’t Me Babe, which “appears to be a song about rejected love, [it] was actually his rejection of the role his reputation and fans had thrown on him” (Carlson).
In Oates’s Where Are You Going, the protagonist, whose name is Connie, is used to an ordinary life that is ruined when she hears the words “Gonna get you, baby”. Throughout the story a main theme is religion, which can make one curious to why Arnold Friend does what he does. Through his looks and ability to know what the family is doing, we see that Arnold Friend appears to be some supernatural entity. Bob Dylan produces music that “could be religious”. Lastly, the family does not attend church.
Langston Hughes and Bob Dylan are two poets from different eras in modern American poetry. Although Bob Dylan is more characterized as a songwriter, I see much of his work as poetry. In this essay, I will discuss Hughes’ poem “Harlem [1]” and Dylan’s “Times They Are A-Changin”’ as commentaries on are culture, but from different backgrounds.
Bob Dylan still tours to this day for his spectacular songs he has written. Many modern singers still look up to Bob Dylan today. As a result, he may be the best songwriter of the 1900’s. On the other hand, he may not be a good singer. In conclusion, Bob Dylan is an amazing lyricist at the current age of 74, but may not might have the best voice. All in all, he is a great
Even Though Bob Dylan and Buddy Holly are both singer/song writers, their journeys have taken them down completely different paths. One has had a long career in the industry and the other has unfortunately has had a short career. Both have had wonderful and successful lives and are still well known for what they accomplished with their music. Buddy Holly played rock ‘n’ roll for a few short year but the music he recorded in that time has made a major and forever lasting impact on popular music. Not only did he write his own music, but he was also the first to exploit advanced studio techniques such as double-tracking, (rockhall.com). Bob Dylan on the other hand is a recognized poet laureate of the rock ‘n’ roll era and the pre-eminent singer/songwriter of modern times. No matter if he is singing topical folk songs, exploring rootsy rock and blues, or delivering one of his abstract, allegorical compositions, he is always demonstrating a rare ability to reach listeners with his lyrics, (rockhall.com).
“The song has to be of a certain quality for me to sing…One aspect it would have to have is that it didn’t repeat itself” (Bob Dylan). Transforming into new people throughout his life, Bob Dylan reverted to the Bible and other religious findings in his songs. Dylan is able to reveal a fulfillment from spirituality as he perceives his music as a sacred landscape. Bob Dylan brings up a theme of religion, referencing the book of Isaiah in his 1967 song “All Along the Watchtower” as he writes a story about two people at the watchtower, where the significance of life is found. Dylan’s spiritual lyrics conceived his work as a an artist through imagination and religion that creates a hallowed dwelling for him to aqurie attainment.
Duluth Minnesota, May 24th 1941 Robert Allen Zimmerman (Bob Dylan) was born. 69 Years and over 45 albums later Bob Dylan has completely altered the face of popular music since his debut as a fresh faced folk singer in 1962. His early career forged him into an informal chronicler and then he later developed into an apparently reluctant figurehead of social unrest [Gray, 2006] and became a voice for a generation. His songs have been covered by many artists in a wide span of genres and he has remained a prominent and highly influential figure in the history of popular music over the past five decades. [Gates, David, 1997]