Bob Dylans Impact on Pop Culture - 1515 Words

POPULAR 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 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] In the early sixties, before Bob Dylan emerged, the concept of folk and rock fusing was†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Beatles shift towards more introspective songwriting in the 60’s would never have happened without him† [V.Bogdanov, 2002]. Artists such as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Patti Smith, Joni Mitchell and Tom Waits all acknowledge the profound impact Dylan had on the industry and themselves as artists. â€Å"Bob Dylan, Ill never be Bob Dylan. Hes the master. If Id like to be anyone, its him. And hes a great writer, true to his music and done what he feels is the right thing to do for years and years and years. Hes great. Hes the one I look to†. [Neil Young, 2005]. Dylan encapsulated a generations hunger for change, challenged the social and political status quo but interestingly seemingly rejected this status after receiving the ‘Tom Paine Award’ from the National Emergency and Civil Li berties Committee he drunkenly questioned the role of the committee and claimed to see something of himself and everyone in JFK’s alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald [Andrew Loog Olham, 2005]. In 1965 The Byrds cover of his song Mr. Tambourine Man helped to propel not only The Byrds to super stardom but established the folk rock genre. [V.Bogdanov, 2002]. His verbal sophistication drew comparison to the romantic poets and much literary criticism artists still strive to attain today. His launch of Theme Time Radio Hour for XM Satellite Radio helped him to establishShow MoreRelatedBob Dylan: The Voice of a Generation Essay961 Words   |  4 Pagesthe fact that this country was engaged in a bloody stalemate in the jungles of Southeast Asia, but because we were gradually transforming into a new, better America back home. Because these tumultuous times were so important in shaping the country, Bob Dylan, a legendary songwriter, became the voice of an entire generation, and therefo re, an unlikely icon amidst the other titans of American history. Perhaps the most famous man ever born in frosty Minnesota, Robert Zimmerman came into this worldRead More Bob Dylan Essay3671 Words   |  15 PagesBob Dylan When I was fifteen and I heard Like a Rolling Stone, I heard a guy like Ive never heard before or since. A guy that had the guts to take on the whole world and make me feel like I had em too... - Bruce Springsteen The Grammy Awards ceremony in 1991 was not all that different from those which preceded it. A crowded auditorium littered with the beautiful people of Hollywood and the music industry once again gathered in Los Angeles to honor the years most popular recordingRead MoreBob 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. 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As any scholar of the humanities would tell yo u that often times after a great war there exists a time of enlightenment, prosperity and reformation. One such cultural revival took place in this nation after the closing of the Second World War. The progressive thought of the ‘50s nurtured new ideas and cultures including the CivilRead MoreMusic Is An Art, Music, And Music1494 Words   |  6 Pagesmessage to making a lasting impact on music and change music in the future. In this paper I will be talking about a few of those iconic artists, how they have been influenced by major social and cultural changes during their careers and how their music has reflected that. Throughout our history, politics and music have intermingled. Artists have used their power of fame to be the soundtrack for movements of change in our society. When I think about an artist who has made an impact on rock roll or music