I've tried to "get" Bob Dylan, but I can't get past the fact that he sounds like a knackered old mule slowly expiring in the noonday heat.
The only way I can rationalise his appeal is by concluding that some people like listening to Dylan in the same way that other people like being hogtied and sodomised with baseball bats.
I also strongly suspect there is a large subset of people who like to do both.
― PhilK, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 08:39 (sixteen years ago) link
fuck off.
― J.D., Wednesday, 1 August 2007 10:34 (sixteen years ago) link
Sodomy is great! Why don't you try it?
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 11:17 (sixteen years ago) link
Is that jeffk's brother or something?
― Pashmina, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 12:03 (sixteen years ago) link
His 'Theme Time' radio show is so good. I want to listen to more and more of it. He's a smart, competent and highly amusing presenter without relying on anyone else.
― blueski, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 12:08 (sixteen years ago) link
Its like i keep telling people "theres an important and crucial difference between having a good voice and being a good singer. Take Bob Dylan and Michael Bolton. One is a great singer with a terrible voice, the other has a fine voice, but is a terrible singer."
OTFM
― Jazzbo, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 12:53 (sixteen years ago) link
Mark Ronson remix of Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine) on the Today programme on Radio 4 this morning. And Zane Low yapping about it. Ugh.
― ledge, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 12:59 (sixteen years ago) link
-- PhilK, Wednesday, August 1, 2007 4:39 AM (5 hours ago) Bookmark Link
Clearly, you only enjoy the latter.
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 13:56 (sixteen years ago) link
Sorry, but you really *opened yourself up* for that.
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 14:03 (sixteen years ago) link
What I like most about BD isn't his voice or his lyrics (though some are very good) but the melodies he wrote. I haven't broken down what makes them work but even or especially with many of his most obvious, familiar songs like "Just Like a Woman" and "Blowin' In the Wind," the melodies just seem perfectly crafted and essential, like I can't imagine a world without them. Usually I need to get past his voice to get to them though. Often, I got into the songs via other people's covers of them.
― Sundar, Wednesday, 1 August 2007 14:56 (sixteen years ago) link
― Badder Meinhof Syndrome (libcrypt), Friday, 30 January 2009 04:44 (fifteen years ago) link
Haha what just happened. I lol'd at the last few moments.
― ╓abies, Friday, 30 January 2009 04:58 (fifteen years ago) link
I found this embedded and at first I thought it was a caricature.
― Badder Meinhof Syndrome (libcrypt), Friday, 30 January 2009 05:04 (fifteen years ago) link
horace freeland judson is a historian of molecular biology
― paper plans (tipsy mothra), Friday, 30 January 2009 06:06 (fifteen years ago) link
Horace Freeland Judson OTM
The film's producer Pennebaker does not believe the tirade was planned, but notes that Dylan backed off, not wanting to come across as being too cruel. However, Judson believes the confrontation was contrived to make the sequence more entertaining. "That evening," says Judson, "I went to the concert. My opinion then and now was that the music was unpleasant, the lyrics inflated, and Dylan, a self-indulgent whining show off".[5]
― Joe Bob 1 Tooth (Hurting 2), Friday, 30 January 2009 06:11 (fifteen years ago) link
more on horace:
horace judson was my prof!
i guess whatever judson wrote was never published, but pennebaker claims to have a copy.
― paper plans (tipsy mothra), Friday, 30 January 2009 06:16 (fifteen years ago) link
This may be old hat, but I missed it if so...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090814/ap_on_re_us/us_people_bob_dylan By WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press Writer Wayne Parry, Associated Press Writer – Fri Aug 14, 6:29 pm ETRock legend Bob Dylan was treated like a complete unknown by police in a New Jersey shore community when a resident called to report someone wandering around the neighborhood.Dylan was in Long Branch, about a two-hour drive south of New York City, on July 23 as part of a tour with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp that was to play at a baseball stadium in nearby Lakewood.A 24-year-old police officer apparently was unaware of who Dylan is and asked him for identification, Long Branch business administrator Howard Woolley said Friday."I don't think she was familiar with his entire body of work," Woolley said.The incident began at 5 p.m. when a resident said a man was wandering around a low-income, predominantly minority neighborhood several blocks from the oceanfront looking at houses.The police officer drove up to Dylan, who was wearing a blue jacket, and asked him his name. According to Woolley, the following exchange ensued:"What is your name, sir?" the officer asked."Bob Dylan," Dylan said."OK, what are you doing here?" the officer asked."I'm on tour," the singer replied.A second officer, also in his 20s, responded to assist the first officer. He, too, apparently was unfamiliar with Dylan, Woolley said.The officers asked Dylan for identification. The singer of such classics as "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Blowin' in the Wind" said that he didn't have any ID with him, that he was just walking around looking at houses to pass some time before that night's show.The officers asked Dylan, 68, to accompany them back to the Ocean Place Resort and Spa, where the performers were staying. Once there, tour staff vouched for Dylan.The officers thanked him for his cooperation."He couldn't have been any nicer to them," Woolley added.How did it feel? A Dylan publicist did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Friday.
By WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press Writer Wayne Parry, Associated Press Writer – Fri Aug 14, 6:29 pm ET
Rock legend Bob Dylan was treated like a complete unknown by police in a New Jersey shore community when a resident called to report someone wandering around the neighborhood.
Dylan was in Long Branch, about a two-hour drive south of New York City, on July 23 as part of a tour with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp that was to play at a baseball stadium in nearby Lakewood.
A 24-year-old police officer apparently was unaware of who Dylan is and asked him for identification, Long Branch business administrator Howard Woolley said Friday.
"I don't think she was familiar with his entire body of work," Woolley said.
The incident began at 5 p.m. when a resident said a man was wandering around a low-income, predominantly minority neighborhood several blocks from the oceanfront looking at houses.
The police officer drove up to Dylan, who was wearing a blue jacket, and asked him his name. According to Woolley, the following exchange ensued:
"What is your name, sir?" the officer asked.
"Bob Dylan," Dylan said.
"OK, what are you doing here?" the officer asked.
"I'm on tour," the singer replied.
A second officer, also in his 20s, responded to assist the first officer. He, too, apparently was unfamiliar with Dylan, Woolley said.
The officers asked Dylan for identification. The singer of such classics as "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Blowin' in the Wind" said that he didn't have any ID with him, that he was just walking around looking at houses to pass some time before that night's show.
The officers asked Dylan, 68, to accompany them back to the Ocean Place Resort and Spa, where the performers were staying. Once there, tour staff vouched for Dylan.
The officers thanked him for his cooperation.
"He couldn't have been any nicer to them," Woolley added.
How did it feel? A Dylan publicist did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Friday.
― Flea Kuti (PappaWheelie V), Sunday, 16 August 2009 23:02 (fourteen years ago) link
Do cops actually DO anything?
― velko, Sunday, 16 August 2009 23:03 (fourteen years ago) link
missed it by that much
― Flea Kuti (PappaWheelie V), Sunday, 16 August 2009 23:05 (fourteen years ago) link
what is the meanest bob dylan song?
― congratulations (n/a), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:24 (eleven years ago) link
damn – the list is long. Any one of these:
Idiot WindPositively Fourth StreetIt Ain't Me, BabeGotta Serve SomebodyLove in VainNeighborhood Bully
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:33 (eleven years ago) link
question was inspired by idiot wind - "you're an idiot, babe, it's a wonder that you still know how to breathe" is pretty cold
― congratulations (n/a), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:35 (eleven years ago) link
Like a Rolling Stone is pretty mean
― beef richards (Mr. Que), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:38 (eleven years ago) link
the line about books in Idiot Wind is brutal
his cover of the boxer is pretty mean.
― tylerw, Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:40 (eleven years ago) link
this bit from "Is Your Love in Vain" makes me laugh out loud. He's so damn sincere about it tool
All right, I'll take a chance, I will fall in love with youIf I'm a fool you can have the night, you can have the morning tooCan you cook and sew, make flowers growDo you understand my pain ?Are you willing to risk it allOr is you love in vain ?
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:41 (eleven years ago) link
Don't Think Twice
― 乒乓, Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:46 (eleven years ago) link
would go with Idiot Wind
so cruel
― Force Boxman (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:48 (eleven years ago) link
thinking of the 1964 live arrangement which is just so venemous
http://open.spotify.com/track/0H9ZzwIBJSxOJT3HVuAsjW
― 乒乓, Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:48 (eleven years ago) link
Gotta Serve Somebody
this strikes me as an odd inclusion. who is this mean towards, exactly? this song makes me laugh a lot.
― Force Boxman (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:49 (eleven years ago) link
― Do You Like POLL Music? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:49 (eleven years ago) link
yeah thats what n/a said
― beef richards (Mr. Que), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:50 (eleven years ago) link
aargh, my skimming is not what it used to be.
― Do You Like POLL Music? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:51 (eleven years ago) link
But goodbye’s too good a word, galSo I’ll just say fare thee wellI ain’t sayin’ you treated me unkindYou could have done better but I don’t mindYou just kinda wasted my precious timeBut don’t think twice, it’s all right
― 乒乓, Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:51 (eleven years ago) link
sounds like a crackpot on this song. It's my problem with most of the xtian stuff. It's not what Christ has done for him – it's what he thinks of you for not choosing Christ.
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:53 (eleven years ago) link
yeah it is a funny way to begin his first born again album. "hey i just found the lord a couple weeks ago -- WHY HAVEN'T YOU????"
― tylerw, Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:54 (eleven years ago) link
The song is funny in retrospect, sure. Unlike "Is Your Love in Vain," which is pathetic.
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 8 November 2012 17:56 (eleven years ago) link
yeah my first thought was "idiot wind" too. but i was listening to "like a rolling stone" the other day and that is one bitchy jam for sure.
― idiot man-child (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:01 (eleven years ago) link
"Ballad of a Thin Man" should be on the list.
― Do You Like POLL Music? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:03 (eleven years ago) link
'like a rolling stone' is maybe the best karaoke sound
and the live versions are so venomous
(can't stop using the word venomous today)
― 乒乓, Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:04 (eleven years ago) link
I've been listening to a lot of both Idiot Wind and Pos. 4th St. lately. This is my favorite line:
Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your mouth, Blowing down the backroads headin' south
― how's life, Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:16 (eleven years ago) link
this rewritten live version of if you see her say hello is pretty meanhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZILewH38ASc
Well I know she'll be back someday, of that there is no doubtAnd when that moment comes Lord, give me the strength to keep her out
― tylerw, Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:20 (eleven years ago) link
Idiot Wind seems so much more biting and personal than the more abstract imagery in Rolling Stone imho
― Force Boxman (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:22 (eleven years ago) link
I was going to vote for Idiot Wind and may still but
You hand in your ticketAnd you go watch the geekWho immediately walks up to youWhen he hears you speakAnd says, “How does it feelTo be such a freak?”And you say, “Impossible”As he hands you a bone
― Do You Like POLL Music? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:24 (eleven years ago) link
^^^gay
― Force Boxman (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:33 (eleven years ago) link
You should be made to be wearing earphones, Shakey.
― Do You Like POLL Music? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:38 (eleven years ago) link
So sorry
― Do You Like POLL Music? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:39 (eleven years ago) link
j/k I have always found the gay imagery/subtext of Mr. Jones interesting is all
― Force Boxman (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:40 (eleven years ago) link
BOB DYLAN WAS A HERO TO MY PARENTS' GENERATION BUT HE NEVER MEANT SHIT TO ME
― king louie riel (rennavate), Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:50 (eleven years ago) link
mf him and history mayne
― Do You Like POLL Music? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 8 November 2012 18:51 (eleven years ago) link