Bob Dylan stinks. Right?

U. R. Stupid wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

If it weren't for the notoriety Dylan accidentally got by controversially using an electric guitar in folk music, nobody would ever have heard of him. And if his recordings somehow existed anyway, and people heard them, they would say they were crap.

This is an uneducated statement. Dylan was very well known before his electric coming out at Newport. Why do you think he was playing that festival to begin with?

Same reason as everyone else playing there - they weren't world-famous pop stars selling lots of records, so they had to work to make a buck.

Pop quiz, no cheating - who else played there? List them all. The ones you can't think of are unknowns to you. To the vast majority of the public, that's everyone there but Dylan and maybe Seeger.

wiggins, your just plain ass wrong. Give it a rest. Dylan was well known for his accoustic stuff before he went electric. It was very controversial at the time. It's really well known and accepted. Nothing to argue.

Bad Wigins wrote:

U. R. Stupid wrote:

This is an uneducated statement. Dylan was very well known before his electric coming out at Newport. Why do you think he was playing that festival to begin with?

Same reason as everyone else playing there - they weren't world-famous pop stars selling lots of records, so they had to work to make a buck.

Pop quiz, no cheating - who else played there? List them all. The ones you can't think of are unknowns to you. To the vast majority of the public, that's everyone there but Dylan and maybe Seeger.

In 1963 Dylan performed "Blowin in the Wind" with ppm and Baez at Newport, 2 years before his electric appearance. I would say were pretty well known. The ppm version went to number 2 on the pop charts in '63. I was in 6th grade at the time and the song got a lot of play.

In 1965 Dylan was by far the biggest star of the folk music world. That's the reason his going electric was a big deal.

He made a lot of money and won several awards while stinking. You wish you could stink like that.

Seriously, you youngins' (anybody under 17) need to

listen to Dylan 62-66 is good vintage for the bard.

As far as stinking? I think he doesn't wear cologne

but uses essential oil fragrances.

As a Nobel laureate, seriously get his book Dylan Lyrics: 1962-2012,

we all may know Dylan as a singer, but when his lyrics are

set in black and white, the poetic magic juices the tongue.

Nice and flabby...roads.

I think all art like music is open to interpretation and taste, but that doesn't mean you can't respect what you don't like. For instance, I hate classical music. But, that doesn't mean I don't respect the talent and complexity that goes into it. Just isn't my thing.

I can see why people can't get past his voice to see the genius of Dylan. But, I'd challenge anyone to read the lyrics of Every Grain of Sand, Chimes of Freedom, or It's Alright Ma, and not respect the talent that these lyrics show.

I think his catalog is nothing less than profound. When crap happens in the world or even in my personal life, I can usually find meaning in a Dylan song that relates to it, much like others can find meaning in the bible. For instance, on 9/11 I couldn't get Dylan's message from "With God on Our Side" out of my brain ... the theme that evildoers always think that God is on their side when they are doing their acts. Even Judas thought God was on his side.

My own view is there are a handful of songwriters in the recorded music era that have produced songs that will still be sung 200 years from now. Beyonce will be forgotten quickly. But, Dylan's music will be sung for a very long time.

I my opinion he might be the most overrated musician of all time - in the true sense of "overrated" / critical acclaim.

r.u. serious wrote:

portsea57 wrote:

It's amazing how many - obviously "younger" - people can not see the total picture. He changed lyrics forever. And, as a previous poster said, he is one of the most admired artists - by his peers - in the history of rock.

And, again, he can sing very well...or used to be able to. For example, his version of "The House of the Rising Sun" from his first album is amazing, and highlights The Animals' vocalist's lack of subtlety .

"lack of subtlety", eh?

As a vocalist, Eric Burden is about three gazillion light years more memorable than Dylan.

Memorable? What's memorable about an Englishman singing in a phoney, pseudo American accent and lacking any subtlety in his delivery. Dylan builds up the tension in the song - The House of the Rising Sun" - beautifully, whereas Burdon is shouting before the end of the first verse. To be fair to Eric, he was probably told by Mickie Most to hit the vocal hard from the start to grab the listeners attention.

Burdon is just another Brit singing American, and, things haven't changed. Take Adele! Very London working-class when she speaks, but sounds American when singing.

Of course, it could be argued the the Blessed Bob, himself, "created" a voice that doesn't match his small town Minnesota background.

But, Bob is a genius, and we forgive him almost anything.

How many of you have ever tried to write poetry? It's extremely hard to rhyme (like Dylan does) without it sometimes sounding awkward or manufactured. Dylan usually pulls it off. Now put it to music.

He's had his share of bombs, but most of it is really good. Sometimes great.

He works to put that edge in his voice. Listen to the album "Nashville Skyline." He has a smooth voice when he wants.

I went to see Roger Water's "The Wall" when I was around 19 (2008 ish). While they were setting everything up, they blasted some old Dylan songs for a half hour. Because I was younger, I hadn't heard much of Dylan before, but I remember enjoying it much more-so than the concert.

old guy 72 wrote:

How many of you have ever tried to write poetry? It's extremely hard to rhyme (like Dylan does) without it sometimes sounding awkward or manufactured. Dylan usually pulls it off. Now put it to music.

He's had his share of bombs, but most of it is really good. Sometimes great.

He works to put that edge in his voice. Listen to the album "Nashville Skyline." He has a smooth voice when he wants.

I respect your opinion but don't share it. I don't think his poetry is good. I mostly don't agree with what he's trying to say. His voice sucks beyond belief and his musicianship is not even average. A well-rounded failure in my book. But that's just my opinion. Obviously a lot of people like his stuff. But then again a lot of people like the WWE and the Kardashians.

John Utah wrote:

old guy 72 wrote:

How many of you have ever tried to write poetry? It's extremely hard to rhyme (like Dylan does) without it sometimes sounding awkward or manufactured. Dylan usually pulls it off. Now put it to music.

He's had his share of bombs, but most of it is really good. Sometimes great.

He works to put that edge in his voice. Listen to the album "Nashville Skyline." He has a smooth voice when he wants.

I respect your opinion but don't share it. I don't think his poetry is good. I mostly don't agree with what he's trying to say. His voice sucks beyond belief and his musicianship is not even average. A well-rounded failure in my book. But that's just my opinion. Obviously a lot of people like his stuff. But then again a lot of people like the WWE and the Kardashians.

Ah, but the " lot of people who like him" contains the vast majority of the greatest names in rock history.

And, as to his poetry, Andrew Motion ( former UK Poet Laureate ) describes Bob's 'Visions of Johanna' as containing "simply the best song lyric ever written".

portsea57 wrote:

John Utah wrote:

I respect your opinion but don't share it. I don't think his poetry is good. I mostly don't agree with what he's trying to say. His voice sucks beyond belief and his musicianship is not even average. A well-rounded failure in my book. But that's just my opinion. Obviously a lot of people like his stuff. But then again a lot of people like the WWE and the Kardashians.

Ah, but the " lot of people who like him" contains the vast majority of the greatest names in rock history.

And, as to his poetry, Andrew Motion ( former UK Poet Laureate ) describes Bob's 'Visions of Johanna' as containing "simply the best song lyric ever written".

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and everyone has their opinion.

John Utah wrote:

portsea57 wrote:

Ah, but the " lot of people who like him" contains the vast majority of the greatest names in rock history.

And, as to his poetry, Andrew Motion ( former UK Poet Laureate ) describes Bob's 'Visions of Johanna' as containing "simply the best song lyric ever written".

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and everyone has their opinion.

Well, you could say that you don't like Beethoven, and that would be your opinion, but your opinion would stink.

portsea57 wrote:

John Utah wrote:

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and everyone has their opinion.

Well, you could say that you don't like Beethoven, and that would be your opinion, but your opinion would stink.

If you are comparing Beethoven to Bob then you are unqualified.

John Utah wrote:

portsea57 wrote:

Well, you could say that you don't like Beethoven, and that would be your opinion, but your opinion would stink.

If you are comparing Beethoven to Bob then you are unqualified.

Could Beethoven sing "The House of the Rising Sun" better than Bob? Could he come up with the beautiful imagery in " Visions of Joanna", although, to be fair, I don't think Bob's Piano Sonatas are anywhere near as good as Ludwig's.

portsea57 wrote:

John Utah wrote:

If you are comparing Beethoven to Bob then you are unqualified.

Could Beethoven sing "The House of the Rising Sun" better than Bob? Could he come up with the beautiful imagery in " Visions of Joanna", although, to be fair, I don't think Bob's Piano Sonatas are anywhere near as good as Ludwig's.

My dog can sing better than Dylan. You've heard him, right? He's like some novelty gimmick. He's so incredibly bad that people think it's good?

You tipped your hand awhile back Utah when you admitted you don't like Dylan's politics. He could sing like Tony Bennet and you'd still be poo-pooing him, no?

John Utah said "My dog can sing better than Dylan. You've heard him, right? He's like some novelty gimmick. He's so incredibly bad that people think it's good?"

Well, the problem her is, on one side with a bunch of people who may be tone deaf and have no music ability, and on the other side, great contemporary musicians and writers who are in awe of the guy. Bob that is.