Bob Dylan and Popular Music - 3164 Words

â€Å"the man who did to popular music what Einstein did to physics,† while initially sounding like hyperbole, really isn’t (Gates, cited in Detmarr, 2009,p.20) Why is Highway 61 revisited such a culturally important album? The year is1965, 8 years into the Vietnam war and 2 years in the shadow of a presidential assassination, marked the inception of an artistic vision, cut to Vinyl. Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 revisited is a testament to the state of America in the 1960s, using poetic devices, and engaging rock and roll music to capture the imagination of a breadth of people, unwittingly, it would seem, brought change to the minds of Americans. Opening their eyes to what was happening and inflicting a sense of new found justice in their hearts,†¦show more content†¦In 1959 Robert left home to attend the University of Minnesota. Shortly after enrolling in the university, Robert was offered a gig at a venue named the ten o’clock scholar coffee house, the owner David Lee was auditioning for folk singers, when he turned up to play and was asked his name, Robert replied â€Å"Bob Dylan† which he has refuted as meaning anything other than just â€Å"what came to him† when inte rviewed later. Robert dropped out of University at the end of his first year in 1960; 5 years later he would release one of the biggest works of his career, Highway 61 revisited. Highway 61 revisited has a deep rooted reality within its imagery that the youth of the 60s could poignantly relate to, In a time when social boundaries were breaking down, and society had a more relaxed view of such issues as racism, (after the signing into law of the civil rights act) and sexism, the â€Å"swinging† sixties where the perfect backdrop for an album that is rife with statements of politics, war, class, race, and the general state of America in this time. Like a rolling stone The first track of the album, clocking in at 6:10 was ground-breaking for its time, as it was the first extended play single to be put on the radio. Bob Dylan’s like a rolling stone is a testament to his departure from his old sound in earlier works, featuring in theShow MoreRelatedBob Dylans Impact on Popular Music1013 Words   |  5 PagesBob Dylan is a man that needs no introduction, He was a poet with a guitar who brought poetic interest back to the younger generations. Born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24th 1941, no one saw him coming. Dylan started his music career upon dropping out of college and moving to New York, After reading his musical icon, Woody Guthries partially fictionalized autobiography, â€Å"Bound for Glory†, where he changed his name and began performing in Greenwich emulating his idol. He was given a 5 year contractRead MoreThe Life Of Bob Dylan1536 Words   |  7 PagesThe Life of Bob Dylan Bob Dylan is often considered to be one of the greatest and most influential musicians of all time. He has released 36 albums, and has amassed a huge following of music lovers. His songs have ranged from poetic folk songs that discuss social issues of the 1960s, to covers of very famous songs recorded with his own stylistic twist. He was one of the first rock artists whose lyrics were considered to be on par with works of literature (1)He has also been one of the only artistsRead MoreBob Dylans Impact on Pop Culture1515 Words   |  7 PagesPOPULAR CULTURE ESSAY- BOB DYLAN 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 wideRead More Folk Music in Toni Morrison’s Recitatif Essay1649 Words   |  7 PagesAllusions to Bob Dylan and the Folk Music Revival in Toni Morrison’s â€Å"Recitatif† One important aspect of Toni Morrison’s â€Å"Recitatif† deals with the difficulty that lies in trying to remember history exactly as it happened. Since the story revolves around one event–Maggie’s fall–it makes one question whether her fall may be a symbol of some specific event in our history. Considering the context and setting of Twyla and Roberta’s beginning relationship at St. Bonny’s, Maggie’s physicalRead MoreBob Dylan Essay1153 Words   |  5 Pagesin this time of adversity. A young Bob Dylan arises to the spotlight and sings songs speaking of protest and originality, expressing societal dissatisfaction felt by not only himself but by his entire generation. In the 1960s Dylan wrote many protest songs that people of his generation found themselves connecting to, leading way to a counterculture aside from popular music which also paved a way for introspective song writing. Born in Minnesota in 1941, Bob Dylan, then Robert Allen Zimmerman, befriendedRead MoreThe Impacts Of Bob Dylan And The Civil Rights Movement939 Words   |  4 Pagesfreedom for music, invention, and racism. In America in 1960 the Civil Rights Movement was underway and the Vietnam War had already been going on for 5 years, where approximately 900 American troops were already serving. The 1960s produced some of the greatest musical artists seen in history, and one in particular was Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan is thought to be one of the greatest influence on popular culture in all time, and is one of the main and influential protest song artists of the 1960s. Dylan grew upRead MoreEssay on Bob Dylan1273 Words   |  6 Pageswas Robert Allen Zimmerman, known by his popular assumed name, Bob Dylan. Born in 1941 in Minnesota, Dylan grew up the grandchild of Jewish-Russian immigrants and had a surprisingly unexceptional childhood. His interest in music became evident in his high school years when he taught himself basic piano and guitar. From these rudimentary skills Dylan would build his knowledge and experience in music to his present status as a forefather of folk music in the rock era. Accordingly, a songRead MoreBob Dylans Influence during the Civil Rights Movements1223 Words   |  5 PagesMusic has been around since the very beginning of time. The human body flows in a rhythmic syncopation. Music is used to change one’s mood and to inspire those who open their minds. It has the potential to cure diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Humans, of every culture and society, function with a type of rhythmic music. As humans, we are hard wired to respond to music (Mannes). The human brain responds to music in such a way that the brain becomes more open to new rhythms, ideas, and valuesRead MoreEssay about Themes Of Bob Dylans Music1181 Words   |  5 Pages Bob Dylan was recognized by his poetry and song writing. He usually wrote songs about protesting and religious themes. Although the theme of Bob Dylan’s work is depressing, it is necessary to consider how the events in his life affected his music. Also Bob Dylan had other musicians that infl uenced him in his early years.Bob Dylan was born in Duluth Minnesota on the date of May 24th 1941. By the time he was ten years old he was writing poems and had taught himself to play guitar. He later changedRead MoreThe Beatles And Bob Dylan905 Words   |  4 PagesMusic plays a significant role in societies all over the world. It allows people of all ethnicities and backgrounds to express themselves. Different music genres help to inspire other artists to create new music that they would not have thought of before. In various ways, Britain and America have influenced and inspired one another for many years. Music was, and still is, a huge connecting factor between the two countries. The Beatles and Bob Dylan, two of the most famous artists of all time, demonstrate