Bob Dylan: Protest Music Pioneer

Bob Dylan (Bring it All Back Home Sessions), a photo by ky_olsen on Flickr.

Hulton Archive, & Getty Images. (Photographer). (1965). Bob dylan (bring it all back home sessions). [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/ky_olsen/5404760738/

Bob Dylan will forever be an icon of the 1960's. He was one of the first and loudest voices to protest through song, whether it be the Cuban Missile Crisis, the mistreatment of African Americans, and of course, the Vietnam War. A recent article in the Washington Post lists some of the most famous Bob Dylan protest songs. You can find that list here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/8/list-bob-dylans-protest-songs/

Bob Dylan performed in Ho Chi Minh City this April. Decades ago, Dylan was singing about the war that was going on in that very country. Since the war has been over for a long time, Dylan's popularity is not exactly as strong as it was in the 60's. His show in Vietnam only sold "about half of the seats" (Mason, 2011). But, it is important to note that his messages of peace were powerful. The audience had both foreigners and Vietnamese sitting together and swaying to his music.

Bob Dylan's protest music became a new genre. His songs may have opened the eyes to some of the American public. He also opened the doors to other artists, like Joan Baez, to be more open about their feelings of what is going on in the world. He has had a significant impact on bringing folk music to the masses. He is most definitely a pioneer, and his music from this time will be synonymous with protest.

Sources:
(1965, October 16). Billboard, 77(41), Retrieved from http://www.billboard.com/album/soundtrack/american-dreams-1963-1964/580802#/archive/read?id=JSkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=3&query=bob+dylan&date=1965-10-16


Mason, M. (2011, April 10). Anti-war icon bob dylan jams in a vietnam at peace. Retrieved from http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110410/ap_on_en_mu/as_vietnam_bob_dylan

The list: bob dylan’s protest songs. (2011, April 8).Washington Post, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/8/list-bob-dylans-protest-songs/