The Youth Generation of the 1960sIn the early 1960s, the youth were optimistic

as the “young” Kennedy administration were redirecting societyKennedy’s assassination destroyed the

optimismBy the end of the 1960s, disillusionment,

violence, drugs and antisocial behavior were the norm.

But what happened in between? What was it like being the youth in the 1960s?

Chapter 8: Folk Music & Folk Rock

The 1950s- Republicans dominated; political and social conservatism

The 1960s- Democrats dominated; liberal yearsSocial issues:

Racial integration- the civil rights movementYoung people participated in sit-ins, freedom bus rides, and

protest marches1965- civil rights legislation passed

Vietnam WarYouth rebelled against the selective service system and the

growing U.S. involvement in the warThe protestors demanded peaceThe youth were less successful in this campaign; the war

escalated through the 1960s and didn’t end until early 1970s

This frustration may be why domestic violence grew in the late 1960s

The Youth Generation (cont)

Environment issues:Ecology- there was concern that the population

growth and industrial expansion would deplete natural resources

Technology- youth became suspicious in the newly evolving computer industry

Growing concern for the self- “getting to know one’s self”Spiritual vehicles (Buddhism, meditation, etc)Drugs (barbiturates, amphetamines, etc)

This contradicted their the natural health food trend they promoted

The Youth Generation (cont)

Violence- another inconsistencyThe peace-youth needed to resort to violence in order to

make their pointYouth dropped out of school in order to protest against

“the establishment”Long hair, outlandish styles, students ran away

Sexual revolutionFemales fashions became revealingCo-ed living was now an alternative lifestyle

Music was a central ingredient to the 1960s; it reflected society’s concerns and feelings, reinforced attitudes and beliefs, helped modify value systems and helped spread changes. The youth were motivated by music to act.

The Youth Generation (cont)

Combined folk music with rock and rollRobert Zimmerman (Bob Dylan)- born on May

24, 1941 in Duluth, MNHis influence was Woody Guthrie, whom he had

left home to go visit in the hospitalMoved to NYC where Guthrie welcomed him

into the folk cultureHe auditioned for Columbia Records with the

song You’re No Good by Jesse FullerVocals, acoustic guitar and harmonicaWould you have recommended Mr. Dylan for a

recording contract?

Bob Dylan

Columbia Records signed him and his first record was released in March 1962Included traditional folk songs and blues and 2

original songsTalkin’ New York- in the “talking blues” style

A story is half spoken and half sungAn autobiography of his travels from the west to

NYCShows Dylan’s talent of writing lyrics with artistic

skillReveals his dry wit and sarcasm

Bob Dylan (cont)

Follow-up album in March 1963Blowin’ in the Wind

Covered by Peter, Paul and Mary who turned it into a #2 hit

Became an anthem of the youth movement as it expressed optimism and confidence

Masters of War- condemns the military-industrial complex

Don’t Think Twice, It’s All RightAlso covered by Peter, Paul and MaryOne of his love songs

A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna FallVaguely refers to the spectrum of humanity’s disregard

for itself

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

Album released in January 1964This is when Dylan emerged as a folk starThe song The Times They Are a-Changin’ warns that

there is a new force in the nationThe youth better adapt to it or they’ll “sink like a

stone” in the floods of changeHas a rougher edge than Blowin in the Wind’s anthem

The following album, Another Side of Bob Dylan, was more mellow and contemplativeSubterranean Homesick- was #39 and used a drum

set and electric guitars- sounded like rock

The Times They Are a-Changin’

At the Newport Folk Festival, Bob Dylan used electric instruments in July 1965He was booed and hissed when entering the

stage, but the “folk rock” style had been bornMr. Tambourine Man- a song by Bob Dylan

was covered by The Byrds in their rock style and was #1 in June 1965

Dylan and the Byrds share the credit as they both released this style at the same time

Did Bob Dylan create “folk rock”?

Other important songs/albums:“Like a Rolling Stone”“Rainy Day Women #12 and 35”-in response to

criticism“People will criticize you (“stone you”) no matter what

you do or how good you try to be. He tosses off the criticism with a double entendre: ‘Everybody must get stoned.’ This hook line can mean that everybody must endure criticism (getting “stoned” in the biblical sense) or that one is best advised to shrug off criticism and simply get “stoned” (i.e. with drugs or alcohol.) –p. 180

John Wesley Harding“All Along the Watchtower”Nashville Skyline- had a country soundBlood on the Tracks- #1 album in 1975

Bob Dylan (cont)

His obtuse lyrics were always at the center of controversyThey were the most influential and

sophisticated since the beginning of rock and roll

They used symbolism, internal ironies, sarcasm, thought-provoking messages, dry wit, surrealism, and graceful flow

Topics included civil rights, war, folk rock, country rock, surrealism, broken relationships and Christian faith

Bob Dylan (cont)

This band could have done very well if it weren’t for the constant personnel changes

Original group members in 1964:Jim McGuinn- born in Chicago, was the central

figureGene Clark- from MissouriDavid Crosby- singer from Los AngelesChris Hillman- mandolin player from Los AngelesMike Clarke- drummer from NY

Their first album included Mr. Tambourine Man (Bob Dylan cover) released in March 1965Electric-rock oriented Was #1 in June 1965

The Byrds (review)

Their second album Turn. Turn, Turn used original material and more Dylan songsThe song, Turn Turn Turn, was #1 in

December 19651966- Gene Clark left; the group remained a

quartetTheir 3rd album, Fifth Dimension was released

in 1966Eight Miles High was #14

Used unusual chord progressions Lyrics had a double meaningWas their most controversial hit

In 1967, Crosby left after disagreements with McGuinn

The group continued as a trio

The Byrds (cont-review)

The Notorious Byrd Brothers album was the most interesting and eclectic albumDraft Morning- an effective protest song

has effective lyrics and mixed-in sound effectsMany songs have a country sound intermingled with

electronic rock soundsContains experiments in meter (using 5 and 6 beats, etc)Phase shifting is used

Mike Clarke then left the group and was replaced by Kevin Kelly

Gram Parsons joinedMid-1968- Parsons and Hillman left, leaving McGuinn

as the only original member1973- McGuinn finally disbanded the Byrds entirely

The Byrds (cont-review)

One of the most successful “folk rock” groupsThey tended toward a softer rock style1966-1967- had 9 singles in the top 40 and 6

in the top 10Members who all moved to Los Angeles to

record:John Phillips- from South CarolinaCass Elliot- from MarylandDenny Doherty– from CanadaMichelle Phillips

Mamas and the Papas

If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears album was released in 1966 and became #1California Dreamin’- #1 songMonday, Monday

Their second album, The Mamas and the Papas, also released in 1966 I Saw Her Again was in the Top 10

By mid-1968, the group disbandedMusical elements:

Used echo and overdubbing techniquesQuartet sounded like a full chorus with effective

harmoniesThey rarely engaged in protest songs

Mamas and the Papas (cont)

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel released singles in 1957 as “Tom and Jerry” such as Hey Schoolgirl.

The guys attended school together and auditioned for Columbia Records

1964- their first album Wednesday Morning 3a.m. was releasedThe Sounds of Silence- an original Simon song

using voices and acoustic guitarIt was remixed with electric bass, electric

guitars, and drumsTheir second album used this title and remix as

one of the songs

Simon and Garfunkel

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme album was released in 1966Included Homeward Bound which was a Top 10 hit

The Graduate film helped the duo return to the spotlightWas #1 soundtrack for 9 weeksContained Scarborough Fair/Canticle and Mrs.

RobinsonMrs. Robinson became #1 hit

1968- Bookends was a concept album and was influenced by Sgt. PepperIncluded the songs America, Overs, Voices of Old

People, Old Friends, Bookends Theme, Mrs. Robinson, A Hazy Shade of Winter (folk rock)

Simon and Garfunkel (cont)

Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)After that album, the duo went separate waysTheir success was based on Simon’s lyric and

tune writing skillsReferences to Bob Dylan, folk rock, and

themselves

Simon and Garfunkel (cont)

Joan BaezWe Shall Overcome- a civil rights anthem in 1963Diamonds and Rust- 1975

Judy CollinsSend in the Clowns- 1975

Sonny and CherAll I Really Want To Do- 1965

Buffalo SpringfieldFor What It’s Worth- 1967 Mr. Soul- 1967

DonovanCatch the Wind

Other artists

The three basic types of form structure are:12-bar bluesAABA Through-composed (new music composed for each

section of text)Classical composers use this as the music can respond to

the variations in mood, images and situations in the lyrics

The form structure Bob Dylan uses is called strophicEach and every verse is set to the same music,

regardless of lyrical contentVery common for folk musicExample: church hymns

Bob Dylan’s Song Style

Blowin’ in the Wind 4-measure melody = 16-measure strophe with

AAAB Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

4-measure melody = 16-measure strophe with AABC

The Times They Are a-Changin’ 5 stanzas with 6 lines per stanza; 26-measure

stropheMr. Tambourine Man

Verse-chorus approach

Bob Dylan’s Song Style (cont)

The test will include listening, multiple choice and short answer questions.

You should be able to:Describe the youth generation of the 1960sDescribe the impact music had on the youth

generationDescribe Bob Dylan, his contributions and

impact on folk musicDescribe how “folk rock” was createdDescribe the Byrds, Mamas and the Papas, and

Simon and Garfunkel and their contributions/impact on folk music

Recognize other folk rock artistDescribe Bob Dylan’s song style

Chapter 8 Review