Bob Dylan. Discuss
Genius poet - now recognized with the first Nobel prize in Literature of an American contemorary singer. Any country that can bring forth Bob Dylan cannot be all bad!
@kenriley Tru dat! (Practicing my street speak)
My strongest memory of Bob Dylan is of seeing him on tour with Paul Simon so many years ago. The contrast in stage performance is what stands out. Paul Simon had easily 40 people on stage, and covered every square inch. Backup singers, so many instruments, lights, theatrics, elephants (perhaps my memory has embellished a bit). Bob Dylan however had a just 2 or 3 guys with their instruments on a carpet, in the center of an otherwise empty stage. It was by far more powerful and genuine than what we had witnessed before. Not knocking Paul Simon, love his music, but the raw energy of Bob Dylan didn’t need the glam of stage theatrics.
Actors don't write books or plays. Singers don't write songs or play music for the most part. To hear a writer sing his song or read their poetry is a moment. Louie Armstrong didn't have many vocal skills or did Jimmy Durante but their was the song in their Hearts that made them what they were.
Charlie Chaplin did act write and gave us one of the best songs ever ""smile"
In the 60's I had a reel to reel recording of , "Subterranean Homesick Blues", about wore the tape out flipping back and forth trying to write down the lyrics.
@kenriley I never thought of that. I believe you are right.
Love his guitar playing, not a fan of his singing.
He had that song, "Knocking On Heaven's Door."
Check out the cover of dylans (just like a woman )
by richie havens
I've seen him in concert about 50 times on two continents. He's my husband in an alternate universe.
Love Bob Dylan. Friends of mine met him and followed him to a yeshiva in Israel when he was exploring his Judaism roots. I declined to go. Regret it to this day. He is one of the best songwriters of our lifetime. I love his lyrics. BTW this happened back in 1973.
I have a problem with Dylan being called a poet. Not because he is not great but he is a songwriter not a poet. To call him the latter is to denigrate the wonderful art of songwriting by somehow elivating him to poetry. Just as elieteist snobs will say that film is higher than TV and theater is higher than film. Secondly, they are two very distinct genres. Although many artists write both, a song is more than a poem with music. Many poets have had unsuccsessful bashs at songwriting. Ogden Nash and Dorithy Parker spring to mind, can anyone remember any of their songs?
I think Woody Allen said it all in Annie Hall where the hippie chic he is dating recites " just like a woman " as poetry.
I have over 800 Dylan songs in my I Tunes library, he is one of my all time favorites. He was awful when I saw him live, could not understand a word he sang.
@SACatWalker If I have to explain it to you I would have to consider you to be dim.
well...I suppose if you include 3-5 versions of some songs....live, studio, pirated tapes...and include songs that he covers....and include everyone's covers of his songs....you might get to 800.... [ftw.usatoday.com]
Saw him in a small venue in Tulsa OK around 2010. Major disappointment, loud and basically unintelligible. Scratched that one off the bucket list.
I sort of like some of his most well-known songs, but mostly his voice annoys me.