The Power of 'Dylanism' Today

During the Civil Rights Movement's in the United States during the 1960's to the 70's one of many artist but the one who made a significance in the musical scene at that time. Bob Dylan wasn't the most brilliant singer or musician but rather than that implied a fantastic participation to the political movements in his way of constructing fantastic songs. His musical talent and composing skills together with his advances political screenwriting has given the folk/rock singer/songwriter a status that have recalled him one of the best musicians of our time. Yet so few of Dylan's original recordings such as 'All Along The Watchtower' and the folk tune 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' have gained as much recognition from Hendrix and Guns N' Roses' versions of the songs. What Dylan created as a political activist during the 60's with records like 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan', 'Times They Are A-Changin' and 'Blonde on Blonde' is what came to signify the political folk. With him was for example singer/songwriter Joan Baez but what I would like to signify the style of Dylan's music would be the term 'Dylanism'.

 

During the 1990's the popularity of Dylan slowly died and with an uprise during the end of 90's and in the beginning of the new century with Greatest Hits Compaliations and tributes in forms of Martin Scorsese's 'No Direction Home' and the very artistic 'Not There' his popularity is yet at the status mark he once left it with. Last year Dylan released his album 'Tell Tale Signs' which is a collection of b-sides and demo's that have never been released by Dylan. When looking through the 1990's and looking back on the 60's we don't see the same categorizing as then but a much more severe political landscape with a new economical crisis and war in which the Dylanism have payed a visit to in new ways and through new voices. We have never reached the same theme but as the 90's has passed we have heard Bono U2 mantle the role as a political singer with 'How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb' and Springsteen through his political envolvement in the John Kerry campaign 2004 and now in new elected president Barrack Obama's campaign. The releasing of 'Working on A Dream' with the track 'Working on A Dream' as a political song we can clearly see the dylanism.

Through modern acts and against the last president of the United States we have seen artists like Pink perform 'Dear Mr. President' and really been involved in a political side of the former teen age punk/rock band Green Day with their 'American Idiot' featuring 'American Idiot', 'Jesus of Suburbia' and 'We Are the Waiting' with great political impact. These are just few of many who have involved in the better political approach people hope to see with President Obama and this signifies the power of dylanism into the main goal of achievement in our late 00's which Obama struggles for and encourage people to do; Social Change and Social Transformation into a better and safer society.

U2 - One, Greenday - American Idiot and Jesus of Suburbia, Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream, Pink - Dear Mr. President.