Woodstock 1969

By: Sarah Buslewicz And

Nathaniel St. Pierre

History of the Festival

• Organized predominantly by producer Michael Lang

• Held on a 600 acre dairy farm in Bethel, NY• Expected attendance was 200,000 ended up

with over 500,000 people…• …Making it one of the largest gatherings of

human beings in one place in history• Posters advertised “3 days of peace and music”

Musical Influence

• Woodstock featured the largest lineup and set list of any previous concert

• Songs/artists relayed messages that appealed to the youthful generation in attendance (also referred to as the counterculture of American Society)

• Messages clearly stated in the lyrics of songs such as;

Freedom by Richie Havens• Freedom

FreedomFreedomFreedomFreedomFreedomFreedomFreedom

Sometimes I feel like a motherless childSometimes I feel like a motherless childSometimes I feel like a motherless childA long way from my home

FreedomFreedomFreedomFreedomFreedomFreedomFreedomFreedomFreedomFreedom

• Sometimes I feel like I?m almost goneSometimes I feel like I?m almost goneSometimes I feel like I?m almost goneA long, long, long, way, way from my home

Clap your handsClap your handsClap your handsClap your handsClap your handsClap your handsClap your handsClap your handsHey?yeah

I got a telephone in my bosomAnd I can call him up from my heartI got a telephone in my bosomAnd I can call him up from my heart

When I need my brother?brotherWhen I need my mother?mother

My Generation by The Who• People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

Just because we get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generationThis is my generation, baby

Why don't you all f-fade away (Talkin' 'bout my generation)And don't try to dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin' 'bout my generation)I'm not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generationThis is my generation, baby

•  •  

• Why don't you all f-fade away (Talkin' 'bout my generation)And don't try to d-dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin' 'bout my generation)I'm not trying to cause a b-big s-s-sensation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-generation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generationThis is my generation, baby

People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation)Just because we g-g-get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation)Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation)Yeah, I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generationThis is my generation, baby

We Shall Overcome by Joan Baez• We shall overcome

We shall overcomeWe shall overcome some day Oh, deep in my heartI do believeThat we shall overcome some day

We'll walk hand in handWe'll walk hand in handWe'll walk hand in hand some day Oh, deep in my heartI do believeThat we shall overcome some day

• We are not afraidWe are not afraidWe are not afraid today Oh, deep in my heartI do believeThat we shall overcome some day

We shall overcomeWe shall overcomeWe shall overcome some day Oh, deep in my heartI do believeThat we shall overcome some day

Attendees/Atmosphere

• Conditions were awful, food and water shortages as well as lack of proper waste and medical facilities made things hard

• As the “icing on the cake” it began to thunder storms on and off all weekend

• Due to the downpour the ground of the farm turned into a giant mud pit

• Severe lack of living space due to the surprising turnout

Attendees/Atmosphere• Attendees made due with what they had• Didn’t sweat the small stuff, enjoyed wallowing in the filth and

mud• "The Woodstock Festival happened during a time of foreign

conflict and racial tensions in America. Woodstock, however, was not just about the music. This event was a center for the 1960s counterculture, and for three days drugs were basically legal and love was free. Woodstock was a statement by a generation that they were not going to support hate and violence any longer, and so nearly half a million people gathered and listened to music without violence and little theft."

• Nobody died at Woodstock and 3 lives were welcomed!

Hippie Movement

• Referred to as counterculture, product of a huge generation gap

• Grew long hair to distinguish themselves, derogatorily called long haired freaks

• Despised the competition of capitalism, advocated communal living and free love

• “Many people fear things they don’t understand, and the new “hippie” culture was no different."

The Political view and socio-cultural impact of the event

• Woodstock took place in 1969, right in the middle of a hectic period in American life

• Dissatisfaction with the Vietnam War as well as the assassinations of MLK and Bobby Kennedy in 1968 were some of factors that led to this need to express peace and love

• Every band at Woodstock (with the exception of The Who) openly expressed the desire to end the Vietnam War

Some may ask…

• How did Woodstock embody a new generation's need for peace and change in America?

Some may say…

• Through messages of unity and freedom in the music, carefree actions and attitudes of the attendees, in contrast to the political and social climate of the "outside world" Woodstock made it clear that a generation of younger people desired a change from the established norms.

Hendrixxx

• http://Star Spangled Banner

Bib…• Database and print used

for info.• Waddell, Ray. "Peace and 

prosperity: how a three-day festival became a four-decade business." Billboard 8 Aug. 2009: 22+. General OneFile. Web. 8 June 2010.

• Lang, Michael. The Road to Woodstock. New York: HarperCollins, 2009. Print

• Sites for the pictures• mommylife.net• gigdoggy.wordpress.com• lcmedia.typepad.com• classicrock.about.com• picsdigger.com• ideachampions.com• Katesrandommusings.com• andrew1769.wordpress.co

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