Dylan
A song is anything that can walk by itself.
Bob Dylan
There are few artists in this evolutionary arc whose influence is as profound as that of Bob Dylan. It's hard to imagine the art of songwriting as we know it without him’
(Pete Segar quoted in - Bob Dylan: The Song Talk Interview By: Paul Zollo Date:1991)
The engimatic Bob Dylan...
How Dylan constructs songs
Lyrical influences
Historical context, Protest Songs and influence...
Songwriting challenge
How Dylan constructs songs
Lyrical influences
Historical context, Protest Songs and influence...
Songwriting challenge
While you listen to 'Blowin' in the Wind'...
In pairs research on the internet/discuss/share EVERYTHING YOU KNOW about Bob Dylan. Focus on:
1) His songwriting techniques?
2) Which types of structure, harmony and melody are evident in his music?
3) Which styles and genres does he explore?
In pairs research on the internet/discuss/share EVERYTHING YOU KNOW about Bob Dylan. Focus on:
1) His songwriting techniques?
2) Which types of structure, harmony and melody are evident in his music?
3) Which styles and genres does he explore?
influences and inspiration
- The blues, especially 'talking blues' especially Leadbelly, Woody Guthry
Poetry: The BEATS (Kerouak, Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti), French Symbolists (Rimbaud)
American folk and country traditions: Cash, Hank Williams
Later influenced by Rock&Roll and the Beatles
Famously 'went electric' alienating his folk followers but keeping in time with revolutionary sixties culture
protest and poetry
- Associated with protest songs but rejected the term.
- Think/Pair/Share:
What makes a protest song?
Go back to blowing in the wind listen through and do an analysis of the song
Mid sixties
- Things started to get really interesting in the mid-sixties:
Stretching out from the blues and conventional lyrical and structural forms
Didn't get into the sonic experiemntalism of the Beatles and 'Psychedelic' music but pushed the limits of lyrical possibility...
influential Singer songwriter
- Influenced The Beatles, Rolling Stones and others to embrace 'deeper' lyrical concerns
Inspired a generation of singer-songwriters
30min songwriting challenge
Option 1: work on Dylan-esque lyrics
Option 2: work on Dylan-esque chord/melody
Option 3: work on full Dylanesque song lyric/melody/chords
Option 2: work on Dylan-esque chord/melody
Option 3: work on full Dylanesque song lyric/melody/chords