Blowing in the Wind with the Good Vibrations of the Wizard of Oz

The following comes from another class paper where we were told to listen to three NPR clips (from this site) of different American musical pieces. I chose "Blowing in the Wind" by Bob Dylan, "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys and the music film "Wizard of Oz."

The nominated winner:

(my favorite of the three musical pieces)



Listen to Paul, Peter and Mary singing "Blowing in the Wind"



Bob Dylan

"Blowing in the Wind" was originally written by Bob Dylan and became the foremost anti-war protest song of the 1960's. Listening to the NPR clip, I found it interesting that the song was originally based on a negro spiritual from the Civil War era. That gives the song an added layer of meaning as it connects the anti-war protests of the 1960's to the strivings of African-Americans during and after the Civil War to overcome the culture of slavery and discrimination. Both are linked together as struggles to more completely fulfill the American promise of freedom: freedom for African-Americans and freedom from the injustices of war. With this basis in a negro spiritual it is only fitting that the song was performed right before Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech, recalling the struggles of an earlier era and emphasizing the connection between the end of slavery and the civil rights movement.

Peter, Paul and Mary popularized
the song in 1963

Listening to the clip also made me realize how postmodern the song really is. The repeated statement that "the answer is blowing in the wind" has no specific interpretation readily readable from the song. Bob Dylan himself was cryptic about what this meant, saying only that the answers are not found in any book, TV show or discussion group, but in the wind. Whether it meant that the answers were obvious, or not obvious at all, or something else entirely is not clear from the song. This ambiguity or open-endedness is a very postmodern characteristic. By positing a number of questions and then answering them the song also uses a call-response mechanism typical of postmodernism.

I agree with the statement in the clip that Dylan was right not to give the song a specific interpretation because it is precisely this ambiguity that climaxes the song and makes it aesthetically pleasing to me. Had an absolute answer been given to the questions posed, the song would not have caused me to wonder and reflect on those questions as it currently does. That wondering and reflection is the whole meaning of the song to me. I also like the song because the imagery of the wind, while emphasizing the ambiguity of the answer, also leads us back to nature rather than to the established order of civilization for the answers to our condition.

These guys had good vibrations...

The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" is the next song clip I listened to. I like this song a lot because of the multiple instruments used to underscore the presence of "vibrations." The clip points out several different instruments used: the organ, the cello, bass, drums, an electro-theremin invented by Paul Tanner, and a harmonica. This multi-vocal or multi-instrumental attribute (itself a postmodern trait) emphasizes the vibratory nature of the song and makes it more playfully romantic than it would have been had only one or two instruments been used. I like the ability of the Beach Boys to use several instruments in making such playful and fun recordings.

I was surprised that Brian Wilson originally wanted to title the song "Good Vibes." I think the change to "Good vibrations" makes the song much better. The word "vibrations" makes the song more active to me than just using "vibes." When performed, "vibrations" is a more vibratory word because there are more syllables than in "vibes." It underscores the vibratory and playful nature of the song better.

Off to see the Wizard!

Finally, I listened to a clip about the Wizard of Oz movie. I found it interesting that putting in "Somewhere over the Rainbow" at the beginning of the movie was such a controversial or novel move. I like the insertion of that song at the beginning because it defines for us who Dorothy is and thereby sets up the rest of the story line for us to follow. I also like how different musical themes are used and repeated for the different characters in the movie and how these themes are repeatedly used to underscore the development of these characters. Seeing this development is enjoyable because as we learn about the development of others we learn about ourselves.

I like the theme of an escape from reality found in the movie. Having grown up watching the Wizard of Oz, I had never thought much about how it reflected conditions or emotions of the people following the Great Depression. Just as Dorothy was escaping from the cares of Kansas, people were trying to escape from the daily life of the depression and second World War. The film is a message of hope and assurance to those seeking escape: hope that everything will be alright as long as we follow our individual "yellow brick road" and an assurance that the answers are found within rather than by escaping. The heart we are looking for is already in us, the way to get home is in the yellow slippers we already have. In this way, the movie assures us that in spite of temporary lapses, if we live up to who we really are as individuals and as a society, we will continue to realize and fulfill the American Dream.