BOB DYLAN

Released on May 16th, 1966, Bob Dylan's album Blonde on Blonde became his landmark double album. Recorded almost entirely in Nashville, Blonde on Blonde is considered one of Bob Dylan's best records and also makes the list for the 10 greatest rock albums ever made. This album was a hit for Dylan but it also turned Nashville into a destination for singers and songwriters who preferred to perform their own material.

From the epic 'Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands' to the simple 'I Want You', Dylan merges many styles and ideas to make one amazing album.

I personally do not enjoy Bob Dylan's voice whatsoever. I do, however respect the messages he portrays in his works and the overall way he gets his audience to think about certain conflicts in our society.

1.) "Rainy Day Women" : I did enjoy this song, but I thought the message behind it had a lot less "meaning" to it compared to Dylan's previous songs. The main message this song seems like Dylan is telling everyone to "get stoned"

2.) "Pledging My Time" : a very bluesy song with a standard blues guitar groove and harmonica added. A very good song with a lot of blues and folk mixed, but nothing really special. 


3.) "Visions of Johanna" : I like the use of the blues guitar and the harmonica. I didn't like how Dylan once again has lyrics that don't make sense. But overall, the song is pretty good. Actually, considered by many critics as one of Dylan's greatest masterpieces


4.) Sooner or Later (One of Us Must Know) : The use of the keyboard is essential along with the guitar work and drums. I like how emotional this song is. The message of trying to let the other person know that you tried with all your ability is pretty strong. It comes off to me as a relationship that has run its course.


5.) "I Want You" : A very simple song. The simplicity of the song is part of its brilliance. It's just as simple as the chorus: "I want you, I want you, I want you, so bad." I really did enjoy this song. 


6.) "Stuck Inside a Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" :This song is actually very catchy. The guitar licks in the background are simple but still elegant. I didn't mind Dylan's voice in this song, it was definitely a catchy tune. 

7.)  " Leopard-skin Pill-box Hat" : I didn't like this song at all because I didn't understand the theme or message Dylan was trying toe portray. This song is a weird topic, about some crazy hat that somebody is wearing.

8.)  "Just Like a Woman" : reminded me of a breakup song for some reason. The harmonica in it really sets the tone of the song. 's a slow song that's mellow enough to listen through it. 


9.) "Most Likely You'll Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)" : people with different ideas and not being able to agree, just going two ways.

10.)  "Temporary Like Achilles": The lyrics are so out there, I'm not sure what to say about the song. It breaks for some harmonica near the end, which keeps up the slow poetry like beat. Still a pretty interesting song, just not catchy at all. 


11.) "Absolutely Sweet Marie" : I like the keyboard in the back a lot. I enjoy the energy that the drums and the upbeat guitar bring to the song. It's about a girl named Marie. 


12.) "4th Time Around" : Simple in its music, but very elegant. I like the use of the harmonica because it makes the song more pretty sounding. 


13.) "Obviously 5 Believers" : Honestly sounds a typical Dylan song. A folk and blues mix. Bluesy guitar with a folkish sort of beat. 


14.) "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" : One of my favorite songs on the album. I like this song because Dylan is serenading a girl and the lyrics are abstract but I liked the message. The combination of blues and folk mix plus the Steady guitar with a bit of harmonica here and there set the tone, too. 


This album was OK to me. This album is very good for anyone who likes Dylan's voice. Dylan's lyrical abilities are strange at times, but the message always seems to be floating around somewhere in the imagery.

Marilyn Monroe

Actress Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. During her all-too-brief life, Marilyn Monroe overcame a difficult childhood to become of the world's biggest and most enduring sex symbols. During her career, Monroe's films grossed more than $200 million. A real rags to riches story.

In her younger life, She never knew her father, and her mother Gladys, developed psychiatric problems and was eventually placed in a mental institution. Growing up, Monroe spent much of her time in foster care and in an orphanage. She married her boyfriend Jimmy Dougherty on June 19, 1942 and was later discovered by a photographer. Her marriage fizzled out as Monroe focused more on her career. The couple divorced in 1946—the same year she signed her first movie contract. The movie contract came a new name and image, she began calling herself "Marilyn Monroe" and dyed her hair blonde.

The emerging sex symbol was paired with another bombshell, Jane Russell, for the musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). The film was a hit and Monroe continued to find success in a string of light comedic fare. After this Monroe's career skyrocketed. Marilyn Monroe was often times casted in movie roles as the hot and sexy blond.

She became internationally known for her blond hair, fashion, soft voice, and rowdy behavior. In December of 1953 Marilyn Monroe was featured in the first issue of Playboy Magazine. This helped make Monroe a sexual icon and she gained interest from many powerful men, supposedly including the Kennedy brothers.

 She married famous baseball star Joe Dimaggio and later famous playwright Arthur Miller. Monroe notably traveled overseas to perform and dance for thousands of soldiers fighting in the Korean War. During the 1950s and 60's, Marilyn Monroe was idealized by millions of American men and women.

At only 36 years old, Marilyn Monroe died on August 5, 1962, at her Los Angeles home. An empty bottle of sleeping pills were found by her bed. It was officially ruled as a drug overdose, thus a probable suicide. Marilyn Monroe is ingrained in American History as the first women sex symbols. Monroe was not another a beautiful bombshell, but what she represented was much more important. She represented a new image for women. She embodied everything about the word sexiness and complete sophistication. Marilyn Monroe was, is, and always will be a fierce female.

 

Elizabeth Taylor

The role of women in the 1950 was repressive and constricted in many ways. Society placed high importance and many expectations on behavior at home as well as in public. Women were supposed to fulfill certain roles, such as a caring mother, a diligent homemaker, and an obedient wife. The perfect mother was supposed to stay home and nurture so society would accept them. A diligent housewife had dinner on the table precisely at the moment her husband arrived from work.

But there were women who stood out of the common 50's sterotype and went on to accomplish great things .. making them the fiercest of females in the 1950's

Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born in London, England, on February 27, 1932. Although she was born an English subject, her parents were Americans, art dealers from St. Louis, Missouri. Elizabeth lived in London until the age of seven, when the family left for the US when the clouds of war began brewing in Europe in 1939.The family relocated to Los Angeles, where Mrs. Taylor's own family had moved. Mr. Taylor followed not long afterward. A family friend noticed the strikingly beautiful little Elizabeth and suggested that she be taken for a screen test. Her test impressed executives at Universal Pictures enough to sign her to a contract. Elizabeth was soon picked up by MGM.

In 1944, Taylor had her real big break in National Velvet alongside Mickey Rooney. The film was a smash hit, grossing over $4 million. Elizabeth now had a long-term contract with MGM and was its top child star. Throughout the rest of the 1940s and into the early 1950s Elizabeth appeared in film after film with mostly good results. A HUGE film for Taylor was in 1955, when she appeared in the hit Giant with James Dean (who was also a big star in Hollywood at the time) He unfortunately never saw the movie's release because of his tragic and sudden death in 1955.

Taylor was nominated for several awards, but lost to other actresses of the time. Her Oscar drought ended in 1959 when she brought home the coveted statue for her perfect performance in Butterfield 8  as Gloria Wandrous, a call girl who is involved with a married man. Taylor did not star in another movie for about 3 years. She later left MGM after her contract was up, but did projects for the studio later on. In 1963, she starred in Cleopatra, which was one of the most expensive productions up to that time. Taylor received  $1,000,000 for the film.

Her final big hit was her the role of "Martha" in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She played a loudmouthed, shrewish, unkempt "Martha" and critics say it was easily her finest to date. For this she would win her second Oscar. She also met her future and 5th husband in this movie.

In her personal life, Taylor had 7 husbands total. Conrad Hilton, Michael Wilding, Michael Todd (who died in a plane crash), Eddie Fisher, Richard Burton (who she married and divorced a few times), Senator John Warner, and then finally Larry Fortensky. Her later movies lacked luster and Taylor drifted from the movie scene. She did appearneces in theatre and several TV programs, however.

In 1997, Elizabeth entered the hospital for the removal of a brain tumor. The operation was luckily successful. Sadly in 2011, Taylor passed away due to heart failure. Hollywood will always remmeber Elizabeth Taylor as one of the most influential and beautiful actresses of all time.

Elizabeth Taylor (February 27, 1932 - March 23, 2011)