Bob Dylan fans - I don’t get it

[JavaBrewer]

Thank you cant drive 55 (OP) for creating this thread. I was in HS 78-81 and a certain professor was playing Dylan songs and asking for feedback. I am split down the middle, lyrics or music, sometime they merge perfectly. I am more of a lyric guy, poets put to music. Now all those around me have said BD is a poet and I have read some of his outstanding collection and do agree. Now full stop, his voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me. As soon as I hear it I switch off and run for cover. IMO he destroys his lyrics and song writing talent with his voice. Might as well have Yoko Ono sing lead...that bad (for me).

I hold Bob Dylan in an esteemed group of artists. Sad that he felt compelled to sing some of his best stuff.

[LWJ]

I’m sort of right in the middle. I see his genius. I appreciate much of what he accomplished. And, when I saw him live in 87 I thought he was terrible.

So I understand both sides here.

[Baz]

Nashville Skyline was his venture into country. A real classic, whether or not you even like country.

I bought this 45 while still living in Norfolk and in Junior High - and using one of those fold up portable record players......

[craigster59]

Here's one of my favorites. Many versions have been done but Lenny always kills it. If you're not familiar with him, he's the voice behind Alan Parsons Project hits "Wouldn't Want to Be Like You" and "Games People Play". Killer voice...

[stevej37]

[QUOTE=JavaBrewer;11915225] Might as well have Yoko Ono sing lead...that bad (for me).


Hey...Yoko can really belt out some songs. She may not be as good as Dylan, but close.

[Seahawk]

^^^ That was great.

[Superman]

I have heard this before and I guess I can't help someone see Dylan's genius, except perhaps to suggest just reading the lyrics like a poem and imagine it set to music YOU consider evocative. He was a modern day Shakespeare. Neil Young showed flashes of this, and some others. Kurt Cobain. But Dylan told hundreds of LONG stories with his brilliance. He was not a fluke. He fully earned his Nobel Prize.

His singing voice is among the worst I ever heard. And yet, within that, he left some surprises for the musicians.

[Superman]

Thanks, Seahawk, for that video link. It reminds me there are literally thousands of single lines of Dylan lyrics that are brilliant enough to blow your mind. Mine, anyway.

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Here's one of my favorites. Many versions have been done but Lenny always kills it. If you're not familiar with him, he's the voice behind Alan Parsons Project hits "Wouldn't Want to Be Like You" and "Games People Play". Killer voice...

I really enjoyed that one. Has no idea it was Dylan’s.

[berettafan]

Dylan is awful. Grating sound.

But then I also dislike Joplin and think beastie boys (or perhaps Rick Rubin) are geniuses.

And Paul is my favorite Beatle.

[wdfifteen]

Has written so many great songs, but honestly many of them sound better when sung by someone else.
There are sooo many.
This one mesmerizes me. I watch her hand throw those chords and listen to her voice and I am in another world.

[berettafan]

My preferred song on the subject-

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Has written so many great songs, but honestly many of them sound better when sung by someone else.
There are sooo many.
This one mesmerizes me. I watch her hand throw those chords and listen to her voice and I am in another world.

He is the most covered artist, second only to the Beatles.

[cockerpunk]

bob gets filed with tom petty and others in the "better songwriter than singer" file.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

I’m guessing you’re not a Tom Waits fan either..

I like Tom Waits

Don't care for Bob Zimmerman at all, tolerable if someone else sings it. I can't think of a single one of his songs that his is the best version.

It is not a matter of "getting it" and is totally unrelated to his selling his soul to the Devil. I can appreciate the quality of his writing and still dislike it.

He is the Brussel's sprouts of music. Everyone will tell you how great he is.

[911_Dude]

Im a big fan. But I went to a concert of his about 2 years ago. Worst concert Ive ever been to. He didnt seem to notice the crowd, no acknowledgment what so ever. The stage was completely bare, white lights the whole time and the entire band was set up at the back. Bob hid behind a standup piano the whole time. Played one "Classic" song which was so poorly done that I didnt recognize it until most of the way through. Played the last song after a little over an hour and they walked off and were done. I could go on and on. Wife and I were psyched to see him, but never again. His live performance time has sadly passed.

[Tervuren]

What someone explained to me once is because Bob Dylan was different.

[Nordwest]

Dude, sorry to hear that. I've been a fan a long time. Never seen him preform. So much great music..... All along the watchtower....

[serene911]

[Superman]

He's not the greatest stage performer.

I''m not going to make any new Bob Dylan fans with my remarks here but Dylan and Jagger had a famous exchange once at a party. "(I can't get no) Satisfaction" has been considered the most popular of pop songs and Mick Jagger once reminded Dylan that he, and not Dylan wrote it. Dylan's reply? "Yeah, but I could have written it. You could not have written 'Tambourine Man.'" Dylan was correct:

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you

Though I know that evening's empire has returned into sand
Vanished from my hand
Left me blindly here to stand, but still not sleeping

My weariness amazes me, I'm branded on my feet
I have no one to meet
And the ancient empty street's too dead for dreaming

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you

Take me on a trip upon your magic swirling ship
My senses have been stripped
My hands can't feel to grip
My toes too numb to step
Wait only for my boot heels to be wandering

I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
Into my own parade
Cast your dancing spell my way, I promise to go under it

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you

Though you might hear laughing, spinning, swinging madly across the sun
It's not aimed at anyone
It's just escaping on the run
And but for the sky there are no fences facing

And if you hear vague traces of skipping reels of rhyme
To your tambourine in time
It's just a ragged clown behind
I wouldn't pay it any mind
It's just a shadow you're seeing that he's chasing

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you

And take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind
Down the foggy ruins of time
Far past the frozen leaves
The haunted frightened trees
Out to the windy beach
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow

Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky
With one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea
Circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate
Driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you