blowin in the wind anaysis

blowin in the wind anaysis

Bob Dylan wrote the song ‘Blowin’ in the wind’ in 1962 and later released it in 1963 as a single. The song was released on Dylan’s album known as The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan and has been defined protest song, which asks numerous questions about peace, war, and freedom.

Melody

Bob Dylan puts words to the melody of a song known as ‘we

shall overcome’ a song that was used by the Old African American that they

often sang after fleeing from Britain to Canada after the abolishment of

slavery. Dylan, in the middle of the song, complements the melody using the

violin, piano and his vocal is amazing and supportive of the melody which sinks

the message he is striving to pass.

Harmony

I firmly believe that the main instrument for

harmonization in Blowin’ in the

wind is the piano supported by Bob

Dylan’s vocal, which is fantastic and strives to pass the message most

peacefully. Besides, piano and violin give chords that support the melody

leading to a simple melody. Overall, I regard Blowin’ in the wind as having simple chord and melody

and I attribute to the support from piano and violin and some extent Bob Dylan’s

voice

Timbre

The timbre in this song is very mellow and folksy, which

shows a peaceful urge for change. Blowin’ in the wind is a political song that

calls for change peacefully which is supported by the use of the fretless bass,

piano, warm pad, ensemble string, violin, and syn bass 1, which compliments

that song to give it a mellow feeling which assists in putting the vital points

across.

Rhythm

Dylan’s song employs the ABCBDB rhyme scheme. ‘Blowin in

the wind emphasizes and also flows through, which sets ease and promote,

further understanding of the song. Besides, the song employs repetitions

certain words which imitate certain environment state. The rhythm of the

song seems like a wind itself, and some part appears calming while at the same

time still powerful. It is very slow to bring emotions and sensitivity, which

Dylan used to attract and make the audience engrossed. Words in ‘Blowin in the wind

have at most two syllables. The song repeats words that appear close together.

Form

Blowin’ in the wind has a binary form. It combines both

the strophic and binary designs, as can be seen by three combinations of verses

with each having A vs. B. The “How many roads must a man walk

down . . .” and “How many times must the cannonballs fly . .”

represent the ‘A’ which are the three similar phrases while “The answer my

friend is Blowin’ in the wind . . .” contrast the three similar

phrases.” Similarly, I can describe the form as a simple verse form which

is apparent which the intense repetition and warm bright and ethereal timber

which is evident throughout the song. Also, the melody which aims to make the

message heard by the targeted audience makes is simple, which supports the

form. ‘Yes,’ n’ how a man’ is repeated in the chorus, however, the stanzas are

not that simple, but Dylan’s mixture of instrument and voice ensures that the

form is as simple as possible to deliver the message.

Texture

Dylan’s Blowin’ in the wind has homophonic in

texture. Dylan’s vocals form the predominant line as the guitar, and the

harmonica provides excellent support.

Historical

setting

Blowin’ in the Wind was produced at a time when there

were war and discrimination. Bob Dylan did not like the situation where people

could fight and discriminate against one another. Nobody was ready to listen

and resolve issues, and this caused a lot of damages. So Dylan composed the

song to create awareness about peace. He aimed to show people that they only

needed a little effort to end the war and embrace on earth. People need to come

together. Blowing in the Wind was powerful words in which Bob Dylan meant that

people only needed to be kind to one another to have peace.

Listening Log of Paint It, Black by The Rolling Stones

Description

Paint it Black was a song by the Rolling Stones, which

was an English rock band. It written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and

first released in 1966 as a single and was later incorporated into the opening

track to the United States version in the Aftermath, which became Rolling

Stones’ album produced later in 1966.

Melody

The

melody in this song can be described as going from low to high then it goes to

low again forming a shape like a mini climactic moment that is B B BA G B. This

is evidence in the line that goes ‘I see a red door, and I want it painted

black.’ The same shape is seen in the chorus; however, this time, it is flipped

over. The chorus goes ‘I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer

clothes.’ The melody is even apparent at the beginning of the song from the

line that goes ‘until my darkness goes.’ Therefore, it is right to say that the

verse is moving higher, then goes back to lower while the chorus moves lower and

then goes back higher, and most keen listeners will notice this. The hook of the

main guitar riff is excellent and pushes the song’s melody along, which is very

lovely.

Harmony

The

harmony in this song occurs at the end of each chorus. In the song, the chorus

has a different lyric every time. I believe that harmony happens in the words’ until my darkness goes.’. The chords being played are A, then B7 follows, and

I believe that the song is in the key of E minor.

Timbre

The

timbre in Paint is a sitar and the drums, which gives both the chant-like

melody and the ritualistic Indian sounds and tone, which is consistent all

through together provides the song with some ritualistic sound

Rhythm

I can

describe the rhythm in this song as an upbeat rhythm. This is shown by the

double-time drum pattern in the song, which is done to echo the rhythm in some

Middle Eastern dances.

Form

The form

in the Paint it, Black, is a simple verse form. The song begins with an

introduction that takes some solo guitar and then breaks into almost sort of

ritualistic rhythm and the sitar, which doubles the melody of the verse leading

the simple verse form. It shows some form that I can describe as (verse, verse,

verse, verse, and verse) five times, and the code that is revealed is a similar

material to what makes up the verse. In the end, it gets into some increasingly

intense and ritualistic rhythms.

Texture

Paint It, Black has a musical texture which Jones ensured using the

eastern instrument and particularly the sitar, which also warranted complexity.

Historical

Setting

Paint

it, Black was released in 1966 when the Vietnam War was taking the life of many

people. It mainly addresses the oppression that man suffered and was primarily

about rebellion and some form of non-conformity. Paint it, Black mostly discusses

the loss of loved ones during the war and the mourning moments that followed.