“Mule Skinner Blues” –Bill Monroe (1930)
- What instruments are used?
- Fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, banjo
- How does the sound compare to traditional bluegrass?
- Very traditional vocals, and playing styles
- How was the popularity of the song? How successful was it?
- Performed on the WMV
- Has been covered a few times (i.e. Dolly Parton)
“What a Friend we have in Jesus” –Doc Watson (1984)
- What instruments are used?
- Harmonica
- How does the sound compare to traditional bluegrass?
- Very different, it only used one person’s voice, and it was low
- How was the popularity of the song? How successful was it?
- Did fairly well
- It was on a more personal album “Down South”
- All comments on it were saying it is true bluegrass
“Working Girl Blues” –Hazel Dickens (1986)
- What instruments are used?
- Banjo, guitar, bass,
- How does the sound compare to traditional bluegrass?
- Traditional style, but women singing together was very new
- How was the popularity of the song? How successful was it?
- Received very well. Said to have inspired future female artists
“Man of Constant Sorrow” –Dan Tyminski (2002)
- What instruments are used?
- Guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass
- How does the sound compare to traditional bluegrass?
- Keeps with traditional blues music
- How was the popularity of the song? How successful was it? Received?
- Made very popular by the movie “Oh Brother Where art Thou”
- Said to have created the resurgence of bluegrass today
- Used in many scholarly articles to show bluegrass progression
- Marketing???
- Popularized by the movie
- Lyrical meanings
“Wagon Wheel” –Old Crow Medicine Show (2004)
- What instruments are used?
- Banjo, fiddle, bass
- How does the sound compare to traditional bluegrass?
- More traditional sounds, and the subject material is more traditional
- How was the popularity of the song? How successful was it?
- It really reopened bluegrass to younger generations.
“Psycho Girls and Psycow Boys” – Sam Bush (2007)
- What instruments are used?
- How does the sound compare to traditional bluegrass?
- How was the popularity of the song? How successful was it?
“Kangding Qingge” –Abigail Washburn (2008)
- What instruments are used?
- banjo
- How does the sound compare to traditional bluegrass?
- Not at all. Not even in english
- How was the popularity of the song? How successful was it?
- Popular in China
“This Girl” –Punch Brothers (2012)
- What instruments are used?
- Mandolin, guitar, bass, fiddle, banjo
- How does the sound compare to traditional bluegrass?
- Not at all. Very popular vocals and playing style. Almost beach like
- How was the popularity of the song? How successful was it?
- Very well received by younger crowd