Joan+Baez

__Joan Baez__  __Overview:__ Joan Chandos Baez (1941-present) is an American of Scottish and Mexican decent. She is a widely known for being a folk singer, songwriter and activist. With her soprano voice that is notably known for its own unique vibrato and timbre, Baez started out singing in neighborhood folk music clubs. Her covers of other artists’ songs and some of her own songs became hits. Aside from her voice, Baez was also famous for her activism, which she spent her life dedicated to doing and continues to do so. Table of Contents:
 * 1) Early Life
 * 2) Music
 * 3) Legacy

Early Life: Joan Baez was born on January 9, 1941 to her Mexican father, Albert Baez, and her Scottish mother who also had the same name, Joan “Big Joan” Baez. She also had two sisters, Pauline and Mimi. Her family moved frequently because of her father’s occupation. She has lived in many places in the United States as well as places outside of the country like England, among other places in the world. Although her grandfather was a minister, Joan Baez’s family believed in Quakerism. Quakerism is centered on the belief that there is a little bit of God in every human being without regard to their social class. Quakers believein all around wholesomeness when it comes to others around them. The beliefs of Quakerism were engraved into Baez as a child, so she continues to demonstrate those beliefs up until today.  Music: Baez’s music genre is considered to be folk or folk rock. Although she has written her own, she has done numerous covers of many other folk songs. She also has a mix of ballads, blues and lullabies in her collection of music. Baez was not interested in whose song belonged to whom or how it sounded; she was more interested in the message portrayed in the songitself. She sang with a mystic soprano voice that was heavy with vibrato; it brought much emotion in her singing. She believed that the music and how it wa sinterpreted could send its message to the audience alone. In her teenage years, Baez and her family moved to Boston in 1958. Baez attended the Boston University School of Drama there at the age of 17. Her friends at theschool introduced her to folk music. Baez performed first at her neighborhood coffee shops and folk music clubs, but herreal singing career started when she performed at the first Newport Folk Festival in the year of 1959. In the year after, she signed on to Vanguardrecord label and recorded her self-titled album //Joan Baez //.

Throughout her career, many of Baez’s own songs and covers became popular. A few of herhits include: //Diamonds & Rust //, along with her covers of //There but forFortune //and //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down //. Baez performed at events like Woodstock when she protested. Joan Baez introduced other folk artists such as Bob Dylan, whom she toured with and dated for a period of time. Her music changed subtly and very little with time, but her music is mainly the same. Today, she still performs, and she is re-releasing some of her albums.

media type="youtube" key="GGMHSbcd_qI?rel=0" height="349" width="425" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Legacy: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Joan Baez did not sing for fame; she sang to convey the messages of songs and her activist beliefs which were messages of non-violence and equality no matter one’s ethnicity, gender or age. Baez’s Quaker belief shelped fuel her passion for being an activist, which is what she dedicated herlife to and still continues to do so today. Baez has much involvement in many different social and political movements. She was also involved in manyprotests. Numerous amounts of her songs and covers mimic her life and the current events at the time. She stood of for movements like the Civil Rights Movement, Human Rights and the LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexualrights) Movement and many others. She also protested against the Vietnam Warand the Iraq War. However, some controversy lies with Baez; some of her actions were questionable because they broke the laws. She refused to pay taxes supporting the Vietnam War and tried to gather others who would mimic heractions. Also, she persuaded men to oppose the draft for the Vietnam War. Those actions were considered to be “anti-American.” __Analysis__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Joan Baez had an important impact on society starting in the sixties and continuing on through a few decades afterwards. Using her special talent, she sought outto deliver her message of humanitarianism to the world by her involvement in social movements and her music.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Joan Baez’s interest in social causes was fostered by her own childhood experiences. As a child, Baez did not fit any where. She was not accepted at school by her Spanish speaking classmates or her Caucasian classmates because of her mixed ethnicity. She experienced firsthand the pain of being treated unfairly. Another happening that fuels herdrive are the Quaker beliefs that were instilled within Baez as a young girl.The Quaker beliefs that Baez practiced are the foundation to her necessity toconvey her beliefs and the foundation to her philanthropic characteristics. Joan Baez was fully committed to being an activist all her life and it was evident that is was something that she felt strong about and she truly believed in. Although Baez gained fame from her activism and singing career, fame was not what she intended to have. Her motive was selfless in her journey to sendher message out to people. “I think of myself as hardly a speck. Then I see there is no use for this tiny dot to spend its small life doing things foritself. It might as well spend its tiny amount of time making the lessfortunate specks in the world enjoy themselves.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> She first affected society by her involvement in many social movements. Baez supported many movements over time; her support started in the sixties with Civil Rights when she became a close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King and joined him on the frontlines of civil rights protests and marches. Her song // We Shall Overcome // became an anthem at the civil rights supporters. Another song that supported the movement was // Birmingham Sunday //. She also marched, protested and sang songs that conveyed heropinions for all the other movements that she was involved in; such exampleswould include protesting the Vietnam War, and supporting LGBT rights and Human Rights. She had a big impact on such movements because she went to extremes tostand up for them and what she believed in. Her refusal to pay taxes supportingthe Vietnam War landed her a spot in jail for over thirty days. This action taken by Baez is an example of her commitment. Another example would be thenumerous organizations Joan Baez founded specifically created to help the less fortunate.// Bread & Roses // is an example ofthis; it is an organization that provides “Hope and healing through live music.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The second way that Baez affects society is by her music. She made folk music more popular and introduced many other folk artists. Baez helped introduce the now famous and influential Bob Dylan. Dylan accepted Baez’s proposal to collaborate at theNewport Folk Festival in the year of 1963. This is significant because Bob Dylan is considered to be one of the most monumental musicians of all time. Hismusic, much like Baez’s, focused on spreading the word of non-violence. Much of Dylan’s music raised subject on the Vietnam War. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Aside from Bob Dylan, her music represented the voice of society. Baez used her music toconvey the cries of the less fortunate and of the people affected by events such as the Vietnam War. Lyrics from the song // Saigon Bride // manifested the thoughts and emotion that Baez and others hadabout the Vietnam War. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “Farewell my wistful Saigon bride <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I'm going out to stem the tide <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> A tide that never saw the seas <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> It flows through jungles, round the trees <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Some say it's yellow, some say red <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> It will notmatter when we're dead <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> How many dead men will it take <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> To build a dike that will not break? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> How many children must we kill <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Before we make the waves stand still?” <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Also, Baez’s music was effective because of the combination of her unique voice, guitar melodies, her passion for change and the haunting lyrics. All of those traits combined together formulated something harmonious, beautiful and most of all, powerful. Her voice and guitar playing mesmerized people while her passion for change added more emotions to her performances. Not only did the lyrics have content, but the lyrics were especially effective because people empathized with them; they were something people could relate to. The lyrics of her songs gave a sensation of sadness, but at the same time gave a message of hope. “…And the seabird struggles in the wind. She topples, balances again.” Her music touched thehearts of many people, including others from different parts of the world. She persuaded an enormous amount of people to support non-violence and humanitarianism.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Overall, Joan Baez had a strong impact on society. Although she is not as famous as Bob Dylanor other artists and had done some questionable actions, Baez should berecognized more because of all her hard work and commitment to helping other sthrough her movements and music.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Works Cited <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Joan BaezWeb Pages //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Web. 19 May2011. <http://www.joanbaez.com/officialbio08.html>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Joan Baez:Newport Folk Festival 2009 : NPR." //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">NPR : National Public Radio : News& Analysis, World, US, Music&Arts : NPR //. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111395125>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> "JoanBaez." //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia //. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Baez>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Holden, Stephen."Music Review - A Folk-Music Queen at Town Hall Still Singing Antiwar Anthems - NYTimes.com." //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">TheNew York Times - Breaking News, WorldNews & Multimedia //. 19 May2011. Web. 19 May 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/arts/music/30baez.html?ref=joanbaez>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Woliver, Robbie."MUSIC; Joan Baez Fights Myth of Being Joan Baez - New York Times." //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The New York Times -Breaking News, World News & Multimedia //. Web. 19 May 2011.<http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/15/nyregion/music-joan-baez- fights-myth-of-being-joan-baez.html>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> "What IsQuakerism?" //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Midcoast Meeting of Friends //. Web. 04 June 2011. <http://www.midcoastfriendsmeeting.org/intro.htm>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> "Joan Baez Biography - Life, Family,Childhood, Parents, School, Mother, Young, Son." //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Encyclopedia of WorldBiography //. 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Web. 04 June 2011. <http://www.joanbaez.com/Lyrics/seabirds.html>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> "NewportFolk Festival." //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia //. Web. 04 June2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Folk_Festival>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Welcome toBread & Roses - Bread And Roses //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Web. 04 June 2011. <http://breadandroses.com/index.php>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> "What IsQuakerism?" //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Midcoast Meeting of Friends //. Web. 04 June 2011. <http://www.midcoastfriendsmeeting.org/intro.htm>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">