Dad went to a few about 5 years back but I never had the inclination to join him.
Wish I had bothered now as The Zimmerman isn't going to become more coherent with age.
I think he is actually singing better now than he was five years ago when he was really not very good. He is singing a lot of songs originally sung by Sinatra and that is making him make more of an effort.
Perhaps oddly because I like the slightly bizarre in my music, I was never a fan or even an occasional listener. But I listened to Modern Times on a Virgin flight and bought the album. As said earlier, it is a fine album. Nonetheless he remains a "hit & miss" singer - some good, some dross.
Hes written some good songs (when covered by others), but cant stand his awful nasal whining, and how everyone treats him with such mesiac reverence. He was also one from memory, who stank at Live Aid along with the foghorn impersonating Patti Labelle.
Hes written some good songs (when covered by others), but cant stand his awful nasal whining, and how everyone treats him with such mesiac reverence. He was also one from memory, who stank at Live Aid along with the foghorn impersonating Patti Labelle.
I remember seeing an animated short called Mesiac. It was quite good and it's theme kind of makes sense in your post
A musical genius and without equal - quite simply the greatest songwriter/poet of the 20th century.
Great song writer? Certainly. Genius? Quite possibly. Without equal? Not really. It is of course highly subjective; one listeners' great songs will another's old dross. Dylan may be the best (he isn't in my opinion but clearly is in the eyes of many) but to suggest he is without equal is hyperbole to the point of folly and is demeaning to many other greats. Are you seriously suggesting that not one person on the following list, or from any other list of greats, isn't up there with Zimmerman?
Damon Albarn Benny Andersson Chuck Berry David Bowie Johnny Cash Nick Cave Jarvis Cocker Leonard Cohen Hal David Ray Davies Merle Haggard Oscar Hammerstein Eddie Holland Berry Gordy Woody Guthrie Mick Jagger Robert Johnson Stevland Judkins Jerome Kern Jerry Leiber John Lennon Marshall Mathers Paul McCartney Joni Mitchell Stephen Morrisey Prince Nelson Willie Nelson Cole Porter Keith Richards Neil Sedaka Tupac Shakur Paul Simon Patti Smith Richard Stilgoe Bernie Taupin Björn Ulvaeus Tom Waits Roger Waters Kurt Weil Paul Weller Hank Williams Neil Young
Of course, it all depends on what people mean by 'good' singing. Personally I find that lots of singers with 'perfect' voices leave me cold. For me it 's all about what the singer does with his voice to make the listener feel the emotions of the songs. I think that Dylan engages beautifully with this song from his current tour and that, wobbly notes and all, makes me, at least, feel what he's singing about. I find it very moving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUMuzXOAYEA
A musical genius and without equal - quite simply the greatest songwriter/poet of the 20th century.
Great song writer? Certainly. Genius? Quite possibly. Without equal? Not really. It is of course highly subjective; one listeners' great songs will another's old dross. Dylan may be the best (he isn't in my opinion but clearly is in the eyes of many) but to suggest he is without equal is hyperbole to the point of folly and is demeaning to many other greats. Are you seriously suggesting that not one person on the following list, or from any other list of greats, isn't up there with Zimmerman?
Damon Albarn Benny Andersson Chuck Berry David Bowie Johnny Cash Nick Cave Jarvis Cocker Leonard Cohen Hal David Ray Davies Merle Haggard Oscar Hammerstein Eddie Holland Berry Gordy Woody Guthrie Mick Jagger Robert Johnson Stevland Judkins Jerome Kern Jerry Leiber John Lennon Marshall Mathers Paul McCartney Joni Mitchell Stephen Morrisey Prince Nelson Willie Nelson Cole Porter Keith Richards Neil Sedaka Tupac Shakur Paul Simon Patti Smith Richard Stilgoe Bernie Taupin Björn Ulvaeus Tom Waits Roger Waters Kurt Weil Paul Weller Hank Williams Neil Young
I hated the nasal sound but the lyrics, the depth of imagination, the spiritual aspect and the ability to play musical instruments represented pure Genius plus he encouraged young people to find their voice. . Happy birthday.
His 'Chronicles' book is excellent. A kind of fake biography. Like Tom Waits his voice is now an acquired taste but the words are nearly always good. Weirdly he doesn't always pick the best songs for his albums. Try listening to 'Blind Willie McTell' on youtube and you'll see what I mean.
His 'Chronicles' book is excellent. A kind of fake biography. Like Tom Waits his voice is now an acquired taste but the words are nearly always good. Weirdly he doesn't always pick the best songs for his albums. Try listening to 'Blind Willie McTell' on youtube and you'll see what I mean.
Have a listen to 'Tonight At The Arizona' by the Felice Brothers, very similar to some of Dylan's stuff
Lots of his stuff isn't easy on the ear, but some real classics too. I think 'The times they are a changin' is one of the greatest songs ever written. Was fantastic in the opening Watchmen credits too - as good a film opening as you will ever find IMO.
His 'Chronicles' book is excellent. A kind of fake biography. Like Tom Waits his voice is now an acquired taste but the words are nearly always good. Weirdly he doesn't always pick the best songs for his albums. Try listening to 'Blind Willie McTell' on youtube and you'll see what I mean.
Much of CHRONICLES was stolen verbatim from other books.
Lots of his stuff isn't easy on the ear, but some real classics too. I think 'The times they are a changin' is one of the greatest songs ever written. Was fantastic in the opening Watchmen credits too - as good a film opening as you will ever find IMO.
Also the cover of desolation row by my chemical romance for that film soundtrack is pretty damn good. Not one for covers but I really liked this, probably cos of how different it is to the original. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FOuSxal8pf4
His 'Chronicles' book is excellent. A kind of fake biography. Like Tom Waits his voice is now an acquired taste but the words are nearly always good. Weirdly he doesn't always pick the best songs for his albums. Try listening to 'Blind Willie McTell' on youtube and you'll see what I mean.
Much of CHRONICLES was stolen verbatim from other books.
There's nothing new under the sun.
I've got a brilliant book, called "Steal like an artist".
It seems everybody borrows ideas and stuff from each other. They've all been at it .... Bowie, Lennon & McCartney, Picasso, Manet, Monet, etc; more or less everyone, you name them.
I actually like Bob Dylan's own versions of his songs. I accept that people either love or hate them. What I find interesting is at concerts he even 'covers' the Hendrix version of All Around Watchtower. In a simialr vein Neil Diamond often attempts a 'reggae' version of Red Red Wine
Of course, it all depends on what people mean by 'good' singing. Personally I find that lots of singers with 'perfect' voices leave me cold. For me it 's all about what the singer does with his voice to make the listener feel the emotions of the songs. I think that Dylan engages beautifully with this song from his current tour and that, wobbly notes and all, makes me, at least, feel what he's singing about. I find it very moving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUMuzXOAYEA
as far as I can recall, this is the first time I have ever seen or heard Dylan singing a song that is not his own composition, or at least one which he has adapted and modified as his own
I actually like Bob Dylan's own versions of his songs. I accept that people either love or hate them. What I find interesting is at concerts he even 'covers' the Hendrix version of All Around Watchtower. In a simialr vein Neil Diamond often attempts a 'reggae' version of Red Red Wine
His Bobness is quoted as saying that he loved Hendrix's version and always performs it "his way"
So much of what Dylan and the Beatles (who heavily influenced each other) did was groundbreaking, innovative and ahead of the game. The trouble is unless you lived through those times you probably don't appreciate that context. The music is then left to be judged on it's own merits, which ultimately is (arguably) as it should be, but it does these artists a disservice. The Beatles went from Love Me Do (itself innovative at the time) to Strawberry Fields Forever and A Day in the Life in the space of 4 years, with the rest following in their wake. The musical development was down to them and George Martin; the increasing lyrical sophistication was undoubtedly under the influence of Dylan. In turn Dylan went electric because of the Beatles.
So much of what Dylan and the Beatles (who heavily influenced each other) did was groundbreaking, innovative and ahead of the game. The trouble is unless you lived through those times you probably don't appreciate that context. The music is then left to be judged on it's own merits, which ultimately is (arguably) as it should be, but it does these artists a disservice. The Beatles went from Love Me Do (itself innovative at the time) to Strawberry Fields Forever and A Day in the Life in the space of 4 years, with the rest following in their wake. The musical development was down to them and George Martin; the increasing lyrical sophistication was undoubtedly under the influence of Dylan. In turn Dylan went electric because of the Beatles.
That is so spot on.
Thankfully (or not as the case may be) I lived through it.
Comments
Damon Albarn
Benny Andersson
Chuck Berry
David Bowie
Johnny Cash
Nick Cave
Jarvis Cocker
Leonard Cohen
Hal David
Ray Davies
Merle Haggard
Oscar Hammerstein
Eddie Holland
Berry Gordy
Woody Guthrie
Mick Jagger
Robert Johnson
Stevland Judkins
Jerome Kern
Jerry Leiber
John Lennon
Marshall Mathers
Paul McCartney
Joni Mitchell
Stephen Morrisey
Prince Nelson
Willie Nelson
Cole Porter
Keith Richards
Neil Sedaka
Tupac Shakur
Paul Simon
Patti Smith
Richard Stilgoe
Bernie Taupin
Björn Ulvaeus
Tom Waits
Roger Waters
Kurt Weil
Paul Weller
Hank Williams
Neil Young
Happy birthday Bobby.
I've got a brilliant book, called "Steal like an artist".
It seems everybody borrows ideas and stuff from each other.
They've all been at it .... Bowie, Lennon & McCartney, Picasso, Manet, Monet, etc; more or less everyone, you name them.
;o)
"his way"
The trouble is unless you lived through those times you probably don't appreciate that context.
The music is then left to be judged on it's own merits, which ultimately is (arguably) as it should be, but it does these artists a disservice.
The Beatles went from Love Me Do (itself innovative at the time) to Strawberry Fields Forever and A Day in the Life in the space of 4 years, with the rest following in their wake.
The musical development was down to them and George Martin; the increasing lyrical sophistication was undoubtedly under the influence of Dylan.
In turn Dylan went electric because of the Beatles.
Thankfully (or not as the case may be) I lived through it.