"Bob Dylan is about to publish a remarkably candid, long-awaited memoir. He gave us the first excerpt, and we sat down for an extraordinarily wide-ranging talk."
On newsstands tomorrow. Click the man in the cowboy hat.
Topics to argue about Monday morning: Best Dylan Song? Best Dylan Album? Is Dylan The New Gwen Stefani?
Related Listening: Jokerman In Europe (Live In Austria 6/14/84)
Posted at 6:35 PM
Tags: Bob Dylan
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OMG....he is so fucking GAY. GAY. I mean he fucked over how many chicks? And didn't he fuck pervert NAMBLA member Alan Ginsburg??
Ew.
And Jakob's mother Suze, he beat her up.
And Joan Baez, he totally fucked her over so badly she became a dyke! (True story). And she continued to write about him...still probably does.
Bob Dylan - old fogie...YUCK....mysognist woman hater bi guy.
Score = -5
He sure was awesome in that victoria's secret commercial.
I'm still not sure if I understood his presence in it though.
Was he supposed to make us buy more bras?
Was he just there becuase his song was?
Did he wander onto the set?
Well, I guess if Bob Dylan loves lingerie, then I do too.
(wouldn't it be funny if Newsweek made a limited edition cover, where half of them had Gwen on the cover and the other half Bob? collect them both!)
Score = 0
bitchythebeotch- i dont even know what to say. oh wait- shut up.
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OMG, Bob DYLAN sucks!!!!!
Dont post this crap on your site Scott we need to hear about hott NEW BANDS not old man crap. thank you!!
Score = -5
Dylan may be a totally distorted individual, there's not changing that now...but his music has always been alright. some tunes better than alright...but maybe we shouldn't know anything about him.
Score = 0
ps that was a crappy article btw msnbc+newsweek=mediocre journalism
Score = 0
Be kind to Bob Dylan. This guy is responsible for some serious music. Show some damn respect, you hooligans.
Score = 2
Best Dylan record?...Blonde on Blonde's the most influential, Blood on the Tracks the most moving, and Nashville Skyline the most dreamy. It all depends on the mood you're in...
As for best song, that's even harder...Masters of War; Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands; Don't Think Twice, It's All Right; It's All Over Now, Baby Blue; Tangled Up In Blue; Visions of Johanna; Just Like a Woman...
Score = 0
Hey, what about Slow Train Coming?! Oh, wait, I thought you said "Best Christian Album." My mistake.
Score = 1
Seriously. Show some goddamn respect for the man. He's responsible for some of the best music of the last fourty years. He's responsible for influencing some of the best singer/songwriters ever. He proved you didnt need to look like like an adonis to be a commercial mainstream success, and you didnt need an incredible voice to be the best in the business. It's pretty obvious that you young whippersnappers need to learn some manners and respect for the man and the music that has inspired covers by Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Dave Matthews, the Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam, Eric Clapton, PJ Harvey, U2, Yo La Tengo, Elvis Costello, Jeff Buckley, The White Stripes, Billy Bragg, Wilco, and Ben Lee.
So step back from the man.
Score = 0
ah, the future of music is completely doomed. even the first wave of real punk rock didn't diss BOB FUCKING DYLAN. it's one thing to be ignorant, but ignorant plus stupid is the kind of combination that brings racism to the world. think you or anyone will be listening to your franz ferdinand records in FORTY YEARS?
not
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Does anyone know if their mailman is mysoginist? Does anyone care to find out about the deviant social behavior of the airline pilot who delivers your loved ones safely to you? If Artists take on such a personal and biographical presence in the delivery of their art to you, you're wasting your time being a sociohistorian. Aren't artists a vehicle for the fans and only personally accountable for their actions to themselves, family, and friends?
Score = -1
I have some bad news....Bob Dylan sux...
Score = -1
BOB DYLAN IS PLAIN AND SIMPLE THE MOST
POWERFULLY CREATIVE, ORIGINAL, MUSICAL ARTIST,
WRITER, POET OF OUR TIME. HIS INFLUENCE IS
INCALCULABLE. HE IS A TRUE REBEL, HE FREED
PEOPLE'S MINDS, INSPIRED MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS
HE SINGLEHANDEDLY CHANGED EVERYTHING WITH HIS
AMAZING SONGS IN MANY DIFFERENT STYLES, HE WAS
ALWAYS TRUE TO HIS ART, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF
OUTCAST HE BECAME TO HIS OWN AUDIENCE, HE IS A MASTER, A GENIUS, HAS RECEIVED VIRTUALLY EVERY
POSSIBLE AWARD AN ARTIST CAN RECEIVE, MANY PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT AS PAUL MCCARTNEY
SAID"DYLAN WAS OUR(BEATLES)GURU, WE WERE FOLLOWING HIS GENIUS", HE WAS A HUGE INFLUENCE ON ALL THE BEATLES, ESPECIALLY LENNON, LENNON \
FELT THAT DYLAN WAS THE ONLY ARTIST ABOVE HIM,
AND MANY PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT DYLAN CAME
TO NEW YORK, WITH JUST A GUITAR, HIS IDEAS AND WORDS AND CHANGED THE WORLD AT ONLY 19, HE WAS
ONLY 23 WHEN HE WROTE"LIKE A ROLLLING STONE",
JIMI HENDRIX IDOLIZED HIM LIKE COUNTLESS OTHERS
HENDRIX TOLD HIS THEN GIRLFRIEND,"TO BE WITH ME
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND BOB DYLAN", HE WOULD FORCE
HER TO LISTEN TO DYLAN, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN
AN ARTIST BEFORE HIM AS TALENTED, NOR WILL THERE EVER BE ONE AFTER HIM, I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE
WHO DON'T GET IT, WE ARE LUCKY TO LIVE IN THE
SAME TIME WITH AS GREAT AN ARTIST AS HIM, AND
ONE TRUE TO HIS ART AS DYLAN, LISTEN TO THE
ALBUMS, TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING, LISTEN TO HIGHWAY 61, BRINGING IT ALL BACH HOME, BLONDE
ON BLONDE, ALBUMS MADE IN A 2 YEAR PERIOD,
DYLAN WAS 22 TO 24 YEARS OLD. LISTEN AND
COMPARE ANYTHING TO THAT, BEFORE THAT HE WAS
CONSIDERED THE GREATEST FOLKSINGER WHO EVER
LIVED, AND HE DID IT HIS WAY, WITH JUST A
GUITAR, IDEAS, AND WORDS, MANY ARTISTS WOULD
LOVE "TO BE BOB DYLAN", LIKE THAT COUNTING
CROWS SONGS SAYS, NOW WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
Score = 1
To-Bitchythebeeyotch, YOU'RE A FUCKING MORON!!!
FULL OF EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG, HATEFUL AND IGNORANT, BOB DYLAN IS NOT GAY YOU FUCKING IDIOT, HE HAS SIX KIDS, JAKOB'S MOTHER IS NOT SUZE YOU DIPSHIT, HER NAME WAS SARA, ALAN GINSBURG WAS A GREAT POET ONE OF AMERICA'S FINEST WHO HAPPENED TO BE GAY, DYLAN, JACK KEROUAC, GARY SNYDER, AND OTHERS WERE KNOWN AS BEAT POETS, THEY WERE TOGETHER FOR ART NOT FOR SEX, YOU MENTAL MIDGET, ARE YOU GAY? NOT THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT, THERE ISN'T, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH HATE, INJUSTICE,AND STUPID IGNORANT FUCKS LIKE YOU WHO PERPETUATE IT, DID SOMEBODY FUCK YOU IN THE ASS AND SCRAMBLE YOUR SMALL(IF ANY) BRAIN? IF EVERYONE THOUGHT LIKE YOU THEY WOULD DEMORALIZE MICHELANGELO TOO, YOU DUMB FUCK, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT?, HE WAS GAY, ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME ALL HIS ART IS WORTHLESS NOW? BECAUSE HE WAS GAY, YOU STUPID FUCK, OR MAYBE YOU DON'T NEVER HEARD OF MICHELANGELO BEING AS IGNORANT AS YOU ARE, BEFORE YOU SPEW ANY MORE DIARREA FROM YOUR MOUTH, GO BACK AND STUDY SOME MUSIC HISTORY, LEARN HOW TO COUNT TO TEN MAYBE, RECITE THE ALPHABET, TRY TO LEARN THE RECIPE FOR ICE CUBES, BECAUSE WHEN ONE SPEAKS ONE SHOULD KNOW SOMETHING, YOU KNOW NOTHING, WHOEVER YOU ARE, GO BACK TO THE HOLE YOU CRAWLED OUT OF, THIS IS AMERICA, WE DON'T NEED ASSHOLE LIKE YOU HERE, BOB DYLAN IS THE GREATEST LIVING LEGEND, GREATEST FOLK, ROCK AND ROLL ARIST, AND MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGWRITER AND MUSICIAN IN HISTORY, LEARN IT, STUDY IT, BREATH IT, LISTEN TO IT AND DO SOMETHING YOU HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE--THINK, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GREAT ART DOES, THAT IS WHAT GREAT POETS DO, THEY ARTICULATE, THEY INSPIRE, THEY QUESTION, THEY CHALLENGE, THEY CHANGE OUR PERCEPTION, AND THAT IS WHAT DYLAN HAS BEEN DOING SINCE HE BURST ON THE SCENE,THINK, YOU STUPID, IGNORANT FUCK!!!!!
Score = -2
OMG SlIpKnOt is sooooooooo mutch betta than bob dilan. omg nasa is awesome 2, n my mom duznt let me lisn 2 dilan cuz he moks jesus - G-D BLESS HIM - liek omg
Score = -1
To BG, Steve, and bitchybitch or whoever the hell you are, and any other Bob Dylan non-afficianados, first of all BG, are you a MORON or what? mentally challenged?, anyone who is as stupid as you certianly has no opinion of merit on anything, nevermind Bob Dylan, go back to school, get an education of some kind before you make a feeble attempt to communicate with the real world, it's called literacy, you know the English language, diction, spelling, grammar, how big is your drool cup? take some smart pills, but please don't attempt to talk about anyone else in the human race, especially someone as literate and genius as Bob Dylan(he is nominated to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature you flybrain)you are not worthy to critize anyone in your decrepit, mentally challenged condition, to Steve and Bitchybitch, go back and read some music history, study, learn, try to understand something more complex than tic-tac-toe and videogames, Bob Dylan is a genius, a God of an Artist, an Icon, a Visionary, a Rebel, he invented re-invention of oneself, he is a one-man nuclear explosion of creativity and original thought that will reverberate forever in this world, the waves he rocked are still moving and will never stop, his impact cannot be measured, you are only too ignorant and imbecile to comprehend real art with substance, pity on you, pity on you, your assignment is to go listen to
"Highway 61 Revisited", "Bringing It all Back Home" and "Blonde on Blonde", and hear and feel the power of the words, the imagery, metaphors, symbolism, he was just 23 when he did Highway 61, 22 when he did Bringing It All Back Home, these are just 3 of about 50 albums, ask Bono, David Bowie, Tom Petty, McCartney, Grateful Dead, or anyone who is anyone in the REAL MUSIC WORLD, who is the greatest, most influential artist of all time, they'll all say one name, Bob Dylan**************
Score = -1
BG, owe you a small apology, the critique I gave you was meant for Grant Dowell, not you, but you too are misguided and also a moron in your own right!!!
Score = 0
I like Dylans legacy and everything he has done for Rock & Roll. I think I liked him most in the 60's early 70's era when he was still trying to fuck Marianne Faithfull, who was Micks bitch at the time. I like how he never sold out and went corporate. He lived a pretty quiet life, and he never tried to shove himself down peoples throats. But I did see him this last summer when he was touring with Willie Nelson, and dammit, it was almost painful to listen to, not because it was bad, but it was so raw and so real. Hes a pretty cool cat.
Score = 1
Grant, if Slip Twats so good, then why do they need about 15 fuckers on stage, and why do they dress like they were extras from the Texas Chainsaw movies?
Score = 2
Bob Dylan SUX
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I love Dylan as a writer more than I do as a performer, but all in all i think he really does deserve some respect for what he has given us in terms of music and poetic thoughts. Atleast he has more to talk about besides bitches, money, and how bad his parents treated him. Youngsters today just dont have the brains to be able to appreciate Dylan and the generation that spawned him. Yes your parents were cool once too. I am so jealous of my parents, because they actually got to live through that era. Put away your Slip Knot and Ashlee Simpson, and maybe you can be cool too someday.
Score = -1
I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS FOR YOU BG AND FILTHY ANIMAL, YOU BOTH SUCK!!!!!!! GO LISTEN TO HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED, WHICH DYLAN MADE WHEN HE WAS 22, EVERYONE ELSE WAS SINGING TEENY BOPPER SONGS, DYLAN IS GENIUS, HE CHANGED THE WORLD YOU LIVE IN ARTISTICALLY, SOCIALLY, POLITICALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, HE WAS THE CONSUMATE SOLO ARTIST, THE CONSUMATE REBEL, HIS AGE NOW, HIS VOICE, HIS LOOKS ARE IMMATERIAL, IS JOHN LENNON OR JIMI HENDRIX OR JIM MORRISON ANY LESS GREAT BECAUSE THEY ARE DEAD? OR ANY GREAT ARTIST? GREAT ART IS TIMELESS, FORTUNATELY YOU ARE NOT, YOU WILL DIE 1 DAY AND YOUR IGNORANCE WILL GO ALONG WITH YOU, BOB DYLAN WILL LIVE FOREVER, WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT HIS GREATNESS, VISION, AND CREATIVITY COMMENCED AN EXPLOSION OF CHANGE IN THE WORLD, HE INFLUENCED EVERYONE TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES, TO THINK DIFFERENT, TO NOT FOLLOW THE HERD, HE IS THE GREATEST ICON WE HAVE, THE GREATEST LIVING LEGEND THAT EXISTS, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW ANY HISTORY, "KNOW YOUR SONG BEFORE OYU START SINGING", YOU KNOW NOTHING!! AND FURHTERMORE GO FUCK YOURSELF, BECAUSE BOB DYLAN IS GREAT!!! YOU SUCK!!!,BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER, GO LISTEN TO MICHAEL JACKSON, LENNY KRAVITZ, OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, OR KISS, BEASTIE BOYS, OR JESSICA SIMPSON OR BRITNY SPEARS OR NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, MAYBE YOU CAN HANDLE THEM INTELLECTUALLY, FUCK YOU!!!
Score = -2
I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS FOR YOU BG AND FILTHY ANIMAL, YOU BOTH SUCK!!!!!!! GO LISTEN TO HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED, WHICH DYLAN MADE WHEN HE WAS 22, EVERYONE ELSE WAS SINGING TEENY BOPPER SONGS, DYLAN IS GENIUS, HE CHANGED THE WORLD YOU LIVE IN ARTISTICALLY, SOCIALLY, POLITICALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, HE WAS THE CONSUMATE SOLO ARTIST, THE CONSUMATE REBEL, HIS AGE NOW, HIS VOICE, HIS LOOKS ARE IMMATERIAL, IS JOHN LENNON OR JIMI HENDRIX OR JIM MORRISON ANY LESS GREAT BECAUSE THEY ARE DEAD? OR ANY GREAT ARTIST? GREAT ART IS TIMELESS, FORTUNATELY YOU ARE NOT, YOU WILL DIE 1 DAY AND YOUR IGNORANCE WILL GO ALONG WITH YOU, BOB DYLAN WILL LIVE FOREVER, WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT HIS GREATNESS, VISION, AND CREATIVITY COMMENCED AN EXPLOSION OF CHANGE IN THE WORLD, HE INFLUENCED EVERYONE TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES, TO THINK DIFFERENT, TO NOT FOLLOW THE HERD, HE IS THE GREATEST ICON WE HAVE, THE GREATEST LIVING LEGEND THAT EXISTS, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW ANY HISTORY, "KNOW YOUR SONG BEFORE OYU START SINGING", YOU KNOW NOTHING!! AND FURHTERMORE GO FUCK YOURSELF, BECAUSE BOB DYLAN IS GREAT!!! YOU SUCK!!!,BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER, GO LISTEN TO MICHAEL JACKSON, LENNY KRAVITZ, OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, OR KISS, BEASTIE BOYS, OR JESSICA SIMPSON OR BRITNY SPEARS OR NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, MAYBE YOU CAN HANDLE THEM INTELLECTUALLY, FUCK YOU!!!
Score = -1
I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS FOR YOU BG AND FILTHY ANIMAL, YOU BOTH SUCK!!!!!!! GO LISTEN TO HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED, WHICH DYLAN MADE WHEN HE WAS 22, EVERYONE ELSE WAS SINGING TEENY BOPPER SONGS, DYLAN IS GENIUS, HE CHANGED THE WORLD YOU LIVE IN ARTISTICALLY, SOCIALLY, POLITICALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, HE WAS THE CONSUMATE SOLO ARTIST, THE CONSUMATE REBEL, HIS AGE NOW, HIS VOICE, HIS LOOKS ARE IMMATERIAL, IS JOHN LENNON OR JIMI HENDRIX OR JIM MORRISON ANY LESS GREAT BECAUSE THEY ARE DEAD? OR ANY GREAT ARTIST? GREAT ART IS TIMELESS, FORTUNATELY YOU ARE NOT, YOU WILL DIE 1 DAY AND YOUR IGNORANCE WILL GO ALONG WITH YOU, BOB DYLAN WILL LIVE FOREVER, WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT HIS GREATNESS, VISION, AND CREATIVITY COMMENCED AN EXPLOSION OF CHANGE IN THE WORLD, HE INFLUENCED EVERYONE TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES, TO THINK DIFFERENT, TO NOT FOLLOW THE HERD, HE IS THE GREATEST ICON WE HAVE, THE GREATEST LIVING LEGEND THAT EXISTS, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW ANY HISTORY, "KNOW YOUR SONG BEFORE OYU START SINGING", YOU KNOW NOTHING!! AND FURHTERMORE GO FUCK YOURSELF, BECAUSE BOB DYLAN IS GREAT!!! YOU SUCK!!!,BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER, GO LISTEN TO MICHAEL JACKSON, LENNY KRAVITZ, OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, OR KISS, BEASTIE BOYS, OR JESSICA SIMPSON OR BRITNY SPEARS OR NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, MAYBE YOU CAN HANDLE THEM INTELLECTUALLY, FUCK YOU!!!
Score = -2
Bob Dylan hasn't an ounce of talent. His voice is absolutely horrible and his lyrics are utterly childish. It amazes me that people see him as a legend. This is a guy who found a niche in the 60's and people have elevated him to legend status since. I mean, this guy couldn't get a job singing at a Holiday Inn based upon his talent if he were to start out today. Without a doubt, the least talented celebrity in the world. Another example of the mindless masses following along like sheep.
Score = -1
Hey Dylan hater, you're a fucking moron, obviously know nothing of music history, there is the world before Dylan and after Dylan, he changed everything singlehandedly, is the consumate solo artist, a true rebel, why is he so great? because he made it possible for people to think out of the box, he had the balls, creativity, and genius to be unlimited in his personal expression, he broke all the previous rules, had the guts to make his music with no rules, he gave people a voice and inspiration to question, to express, to think when everyone else was still singing about Bobby loves Suzy, you are a fucking idiot, he was the only artist that John Lennon felt was artistically above him, you are obviously not a musician or creative in any way, have you ever written a song or tried? Dylan's influence and impact is incalcuable, music would have been so boring if he never came along, there is no artist after him who is not directly, indirectly, consciously, or unconsciously been affected but him, are you intelligent enough to comprehend that sataement? perhaps I should sing it in sugar coated fashion like ABBA so you can decipher it, you are 1 stupid fuck, to the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the Who, David Bowie, U2, the Stones, Grateful Dead, Elvis Costello, Springsteen, Tom Petty and millions more he is a God, they can't be wrong and you're right, furthermore you stupid fuck, the definition of good singer is not the quality of their voice, it is what they can convey, you know emotion, depth, the human condition, he is a master, you are the amateur who hasn't a brain enough to appreciate real art, Dylan is the Pablo Picasso of rock and roll as Bono said, why don't you go to listen to your Kiss cds, or maybe AC-DC, or Metallica now they can really sing, have great voices, and their music is really deep too, yep its poetry allright, wouldn't you say, you stupid fuck? before you speak again, go back to blues, rock and roll, folk, gospel, and roots music school, you're obviously a loser...
Score = 0
JJ you must be an old fucking ass faggot who likes to listen to dylan while getting a dirty sanchez by a bunch of midgets. Dylan is over overrated and you obviously have no opinion yourself since you just copy the opinion of others like Lennon or anyone you listed. They gave him the grammy in 97 out of pity.
Score = -1
DYLAN IS THE GREATEST ARTIST OF THE LAST MILLENIUM AND ONE OF THE GREATEST MINDS AS WELL, PITY ON ALL THOSE WHO HAVEN'T THE IQ, THE INTELLECTUAL EQUIPMENT TO COMPREHEND ANYTHING MORE COMPLEX THAN JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE OR JESSICA SIMPSON OR FOR GOD'S SAKE BRITNEY SPEARS. DYLAN'S ART IS NOT JUST MUSIC, IT IS LITERATURE. IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE EASY OR TRANSPARENT, IT TAKES THOUGHT TO APPRECIATE IT AND INFINITE THOUGHT IT PROVOKES. TO FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HIS PLACE NOT ONLY IN MUSIC HISTORY, BUT ALSO IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR AN ARTIST OF HIS STATURE TO BE OVERRATED, THAT WOULD BE LIKE SAYING THAT LEONARDO DA VINCI WAS OVERRATED, OR MICHELANGELO WAS OVERRATED. HE IS A ROLLING STONE THAT NEVER STOPPED REVERBERATING THE WORLD'S WATERS OF EXPRESSION, FREE THOUGHT, AND CREATIVITY. TO QUOTE HIM, "ARE BIRDS FREE FROM THE CHAINS OF THE SKYWAY?", CAN MINDLESS PEOPLE WITH NO ARTISTIC SENSIBILITY OR INTELLECT BE FREE FROM THE CHAINS OF THEIR OWN INTELLECTUAL LIMITATIONS? THEIR OWN STUPIDITY? I THINK NOT, IT IS AN INFINITE LOSS TO NOT COMPREHEND SOMEONE AS GREAT AS DYLAN, AND NOT UNDERSTAND ART AND HISTORY AT ALL, I HAVE PITY ON ALL OF THEM...
Score = 0
bob rulz... not how do u fags like shit luike bob? peace out nigga. isaiah
Score = -3
i loves me some bobby-d. he jesus, jesus wasn't nearly a kool though. Bob is the greayest writter even. shaksspeak and all those hombre aint got shit on bobby. mike
Score = -2
The greatness of Bob Dylan, the originality, the power of his uniquely genuine art, the stoic individuality, the unbeleivable creativity, the courage to express freely and also be true to himself, the incalculable influence, the musical intellectual, cultural, political, social, and artistic impact throughout the world since he came on the scene at only 19 is completely unique in world history and will never be repeated, never will an artist of this colossal vision, impact and influence come into the world again, the lone troubadour, the consummate solo artist, poet, performer, seer for the common man, articulator of expression for the ages, artistic chameleon, everchanging yet always distinct, he is a treasure, a gift, doing his art for its own sake and for the benefit for all the rest of us, no matter who you are as a performer, artist, politician, famous person or not, or musician of any kind, or when you were born, or whether you know who he is or why he is so great, or whether you like him or not, you have been influenced by him, afffected by him, in some way, either directly or indirectly, great artists change the world, and they change other artists, he changed me forever, no one has changed the world artistically more than Bob Dylan, he is simply the greatest artist and legend of the last 100 years and more...
finally, a true genius can be written about constantly, hundreds of books written about him, with constant attempts to define and label, to comprehend, to control, he is exalted, studied, imitated, scrutinized; but an even greater genius can never be defined no matter how many books are written about him, no matter how many articles, no matter how many critics, Bob Dylan is such a great genius and an artist that he defies definition, a gift to the world.. TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS HERE, KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, WATCH ON SEPTEMBER 26 AND 27 ON PBS, THE NEW MARTIN SCORSESE FILM ABOUT ONLY 5 YEARS OF BOB DYLAN'S CAREER, 1961-1966, IT COULD ONLY BE ABOUT 5 YEARS OF DYLAN'S CAREER BECAUSE THE WHOLE PICTURE IS TOO BIG TO PAINT, THE CANVAS TOO WAY SMALL, PEACE TO ALL
Score = 1
There seem to be two camps here - 1. he sux, 2. he changed music forever. LOTS of people changed music in the 60's - the 60's changed the world and he was an active component AMONG MANY OTHERS. I appreciate so much of what has come out of that time, and I have nothing against the man, but I simply cannot stand the sound of his music. Is that ok not to like it, folks? I love the Beatles, I like some Stones, I like a LOT of stuff ranging all over history - some classical, Billie Holiday, 60's rock/soul/funk, 70's punk/disco/ballads, 80's whatever (birth of hip-hop, the GOOD stuff), 90's alt-anything, 00's wide open spectrum thanks to the internet. I consider myself musically appreciative with a wide range of likes. I don't mind that Dylan exists and great, he's important to a lot of people. This doesn't change the fact that I think his 'music' - just the pure sound of it - grates on me like pulling a wire between my ears. It just simply doesn't sound good or hook me in any way. And don't tell me to 'go back and listen' - I don't need to hear shit over and over again to try and decide that it's not shit - it JUST DOESN'T SOUND GOOD. It's sounds whiny and purile to me. That's my opinion. I would much rather listen to Johnny Cash and Mark Knopfler who also channel many many powerful life energies such as music and politics and history. The difference is that their music is enjoyable whereas listening to Dylan is like discovering a tiny blob of shit in your espresso just as you down it.
Score = -1
Oh my Lord. That is the funniest and most concise summation of why I think Bob Dylan is overrated.
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
Score = -2
All this deifying and demonizing. I've just finished watching the two PBS segments on him. I would like to be able to describe him better. But I'm quite sure I'll never be able to define him.
Score = 1
DyingWithLaughter - thanks
I've been watching the Scorcese bio and my appreciation of this person during this slice of time went up a notch. It's fun and very cool to see a an alt-jew-hipster-underdog-cowboy writing some history during a critical time. It looks like he was having fun doing it too. And a friend of mine today shared some less-played tunes to enlighten me - and for once I heard a couple things where the Bob doesn't sound like a masturbating goat. Cool!
But I'll just -never, never- understand those who call him a God. The groaning odes of undying Dylan worship above remind me very much of the Hasslehoff comments on Amazon, which might also give you a laugh:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005Q8UG
And while I haven't heard it, word on the street is that 'Hot Shot City' is really, really good.
Peace out y'all
-whydylan
Score = 0
Bob Dylan is a genius. I don't know what else to say. He puts everything else to shame.
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You people that are putting Dylan down have no educational background on history. He wasn't only a part of music, but he was apart of the change in society. I'd like him better if I found out he was gay, because that would mean he had all that power while being a homosexual. Homosexuality is completely normal. People are slowly finding out that a LOT of important people are homosexual.
Score = -1
I don't personally like Dylans music but I understand that most people give him credit for being an important musical icon. I still think he is way past his prime and his comment that "no one has made a good album in the last 20 years" simply shows that he has lost touch with reality.
Score = 0
Bob Dylan is frickin brilliant so shut yer pie holes. He single handly saved rock music in the 60s. The man is a legend if ever there was one.
Score = 0
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall.
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Dylan is god. Just cause he didn't have an amazing voice doesn't mean that he didn't inspire more musicians than any other artist, ever, other than MAYBE (probaly not) the beatles,
But the beatles are a different story, they revoulutionized recording, and music in general, not just rock n roll. You hear some beatles stuff that sounds like a rap beat.
But, dylan has probaly single handedly influnced more musicians than any other, and that makes up for his "bad" (it's not really bad, just different) voice.
Also, i hope those of you putting up a fight with this dylan argument realize how dumb these people are who claim he sucks. He's THE BEST. everyone on this string knows it, there's no argument. They just listen to crap, and that's the way it is.
Dylan isn't god, but he met god once.
Score = 0
You guys are simply ridiculous if you think Bob dylan sucks, he is simply the voice! he is a lyrical genius and lived through some of the craziest times, he was one of the first people to use his power and fame to tell the truth about Vietnam, racism and how corrupt people with money are. Give me a break who does that now? the Black eyed peas? ha please the best thing that could happen is that Bob Dylan would write another five hundred songs, release another 43 albums and sell another 57 million records we could only be so lucky to have someone that influential around now. i dont care about how good he sang his messages were simply great stories and messages.
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Bob Dylan is the most beautiful man in the world I think that all you people who talk bad about him will have bad Karma for the rest of your life, I want to grow up and marry him and we will have a wonderful life together. And also all this new music that is coming out is not all that good I mean nothing is catchy and all that heavy metal shit isn't really music. The only good new bands are bands like Beck, Greenday, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Everclear, and good stuff that isn't horrible that makes you want to get a head ache and run away and rob zombie is good too
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" I don't need to hear shit over and over again to try and decide that it's not shit"
Most great music takes multiple listens to appreciate. Some of my favorite albums sounded underwhelming or even repellent after one listen. If it sounded good right away it would probably be nothing more than pop music (which gets old quicker than Dylan's music grows on you). Dylan's voice isn't "bad", his timbre generally isn't pretty and it's unique, and the brain has a natural tendency to be repelled by anything that sounds different, so yes you do have to hear shit over and over to decide it's not shit, because you have to become comforatable with something to judge it honestly. Personally I think Dylan's voice has more character and emotion than pretty much anyone else's. It's not the voice that matters, "pretty" voices are a dime a dozen (I've grown tired of traditional contemporary voices personally, give me Dylan, Waits and Cohen over James Taylor any day of the week), it's how you use your voice and how honest and creative it is that matters. I'll go one further and say that if someone only likes Dylan because of his lyrics they're missing 60 percent of his genius. His melodies, method of production (through the 60's especially) and humor are equally impressive.
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TODAY'S MUSIC SUCKS - I FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE KIDS WHO HAVE TO LISTEN TO PURE CRAP!
Mr. Tambourine Man (Bob Dylan)
Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin' 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 wanderin'.
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.
Insane Clown Posse
I stab old people
old ladies, little kids
I don't give a ......
I stabbed a fat guy in the butt.
WOW, GRIPPING
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Norman Mailer once wrote: "If Bob Dylan is a poet, then I am a kangaroo."
In the context of simple-minded pop music lyrics -- sure, Dylan stands out. But by any real standards, he is a degenerate mediocraty.
Look objectively at the revolution that he helped birth. Isn't it obvious that we were better off before?
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It is obvious that we are better off now. As a young person I am proud to live in a country that NOW respects the civil rights, free speech and dignity of all people. I believe Dylan and other singers of that era really had an impact. I am not saying he should be worshipped b/c he has flaws just like the rest of us but Bob Dylan is a great songwriter and he is a true american icon! He has inspired great songwriters from diverse backgrounds like Beck & Lauryn Hill. They have all acknowledged his greatness.
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He's overrated. Sorry. You can bitch and moan all you want to, but there are better artists that came before, during, and after his time. His voice sucks, his lyrics are mediocre at best, and he should have retired a long, long time ago. FFF Marvin Gaye was a better songwriter/singer than he was.
If you are 40 or above, you should have better taste.
If you're 30 or below, go do your homework you hipster indie poser.
Have a good one!
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Bob Dylan said about himself, "I know I'm a heavy dose, like penicillin." He would understand if you found his voice unattractive.
When he first came East to visit Woody Guthrie and try to make it in NY, Woody was quoted after hearing him sing, "I don't know if the boy can write, but he sure can sing!" Which was just the opposite of many others were saying.
I love his voice, but I was raised on it. I had three older brothers who were listening to him from the time I was 6 or 7. I know there are a lot of people who don't like his voice (really voices, he is imitating other singers and sounds on his albums....on the early albums, he imitates Woody and especially Ramblin' Jack elliot.....later he uses a Nashville Crooner style on NAsthville Skyline). If you don't like his voice, try listening to other singers who did his songs.....Jimi Hendrix's All Along the Watchtower, The Birds' or Judy Collins doing Mister Tambourine Man, Rod Stewart did one of his songs on every album. There are many more.
For Dylan fans, check out some of these little remebered classics: The Times They Are a Changin' Album......title song, North Country Blues, When The Ship Comes In. From Another Side of Bob Dylan....I Don't Believe You, Ballad In Plain D. From New Morning....Went To See the Gypsy, Father of Night, If Dogs Run Free, The Day of the Locusts.
Dylan has ADD. It's one of the reasons that his "Chains of Flashing Images" (as he called his songs in the 60's) so powerful. He is a lot like Edward DeVere (the real writer of Shake-speare's works), a short, hyperactive guy who had the resources to unknown collections of literary treasures. DeVere had Goldsmith's Anthologies, Dylan had Izzy what's-his-name's collection of folk records. Most of the Dylan songs of that early era borrow (not steal) from that collection, which allowed him to be so diverse and inventive in rhthym, style, and genre. He was also reading classics, listening to stream of conscious poetry, jazz, etc. And he must have worked his ass off......writing those songs was hard, but memorizing them well enough to give one moving performance ater another, is equally hard. his work is a gift.
You young folks are wise in realizing how influential he was, but you're only getting the surface. His work was mesmerizing, he was singing tomorrow's news in last week's songs for ten years, it seemed he was inventing a whole new ife for us....of course he was really just absorbing what was there and had been hidden. The TV and HiFi revolution were just beginning, and he was out ahead of the changes, taking th blows for us, letiing us know what was coming next. He also reminds me of a 20th century Mark Twain.
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Bob Dylan's greatness can be derived from his lyrics. He truly is rock/pops premier word smith, along with Jim Morrison. Unfortunately, that's where his greatness ends. In the melody writing department, he is not exactly a Paul MaCartney. The chord structures that he utilises are very boring. His guitar playing isn't anything special and he doen't exhibit the most flexible voice either. Maybe he should have been a poet.
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I am forty years old and I knew about Dylan for the first time when Hurricane was advertised on a tv spot of various artists album sometime in the seventies probably the same year his album was released, that means about trirty years ago and I still remember him sitting in a tall chair and singing and playing the guitar wearing his hat and all the rest, but what I know is that in some way my life changed since then and his music and also his influence have been around during all my life.I have listened diferent styles since then even from jazz to heavy going trought reagge, hard rock, whatever and back to Blues, Country Blues and Folk and of course to Dylan, the only one is been there always.I can understand that a lot of people don´t like his music or voice because probably you first have to like blues and old american folk music and people like Guthrie, Leadbelly,L.Hopkins and many others but what is clear is that he has influenced our worldand Lifes since with his Music, Lyrics and also very important way of thinking and expressing himself
And you like him or not I am afraid he will be considered as a genious and a Mith for centuries because if he is already in life imagine once he will be dead(...not before another 30 years)
To finish I just want to say thanks to Dylan for exist and make my life better and mostly now 30 years after discovering him because is now that I am enjoying even more his work since I am studying his music and trying to play it with the guitar and harp making my dream true.I am also glad to live in the same era as him.
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Bob Dylan is so lame and boring it makes me sick. Haey mr taborine man play a song for me...oh gee isnt that so profound! Any person thinking this guy is a genius is gay. Dylan is a bore and would get blown off stage by a million bands you never heard of.
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I've listened to some Boby Dylan songs, and i guess the classic one i like most is 'knockin on heaven's doors' everything else compared to music these days, is just boring. don't start flaming me because i don't like his music, and people saying he changed the music industry single handly...or he is the greatest influence ever...what a lot of american bullshit. People in asia don't even know who the hell he is, so when someone says music industry add the american part, and there's no point arguing that american has a huge market share in the music industry in the entire world, but that doesn't mean they're THE country at all, ignorant people.
So there you have my opinion, Boby dylan does not appeal to my ears, he sucks as a musician to me...as a person, i dont even know the guy or want to know him...as a writer, never read anything of his...as a performer, again old boring stuff, where's the orginilatity and innovation that the world needs. Someone invent a new genre of music and call it alien music...right on.
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Bob dylans music is AWFUL! The worst singer of ALL FUCKING TIME. Sounds like nails on a chalkboard. You wanna hear a great vocalist? Queen, Boston, Elton john, great singers. Dylan couldn't sing for shit.
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It is really amazing to hear people put this guy down. I am a professional musician, 46 years old. I have to say, I would have to agree with Dylan's general feeling that there hasn't been good music for a long time. I think it is beginning to change. There were the exceptions. I think most of the negative comments are coming from the younger crowd. I have to say to them, I do not like a great deal of the music out today. What Bob Dylan was, whether you like it or not, was that he was different, non apologetic, and vital. period! His voice was different by choice. Go find his youtube vids with Johny Cash. Not only does he carry a tune, but the phrasing, the intonation, the vocal tone, all there like a more mainstream singer. His solo style was chosen. And, if you are an artist, you get it. Perhaps if you are uneducated musically, you will have a harder time getting it, or not be able to at al. It is deep stuff. As far as his writing goes..some on here are saying he was nothing special. Are you KIDDING???? There is just no explaination for that kind of a statement other than stupidity of the generation. I don't like the younger generation much. They are generally rude, lazy, self-indulgent, unplugged and narcissistic. I was just a tot when Dylan began, but I got to be around during an amazing time. Like no other. You youngsters should shut up and listen for a change. Learn something instead of mouthing off and staying inside your sad walled minds. Think before you speak. A very old concept that today's kids have no connection to whatsoever.
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Are you retards kidding? At 18yrs old I already recognize that today's music is complete trash. I'll admit Dylan's work after Blonde on Blonde wasn't all that great(except blood on the tracks) but to call him overrated and say he sucks is immensely ignorant of American History. People are constantly complaining about his voice, but come on don't be so superficial, it wasn't about the voice, it was the lyrics and emotion behind it. In my opinion Highway 61 Revisited is the single greatest album ever made, people may disagree but to deny its significance and impact is naive and incredibly stupid. Don't be so stupid and give a bad name to our generation because you prefer the computer made sounds of justin timberlake and tpain and all that shit.
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what do you mean my mother doesnt let me listen to bob dylan cause he mocks jesus? hes a christian...duh. And sorry but slipknot belong to the devil fullstop. So i dont know what your going on about mate. Your probably one of those creepy rednecks whose too obsessed with going to hell.
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you, stupid fuck, shall die along with your bob fucking dylan
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well that was a good long read of passionate comments.
Bob Dylan influenced my generation and the one before mine, but he may not be relevant to today's pop track audience. He is part of album-oriented rock history anyway. Right now I'm listening to World...Wrong and I like the folk roots that refrence some of this earlier work.
There is no point to declare best this and that as we are talking about personal taste.. What is the point of purporting the Nobel Prize and such when the reader evidently doesn't care about art or lyricism.
However, I do think that the inflouential Bob Dylan has influenced song-writing and freedom of expression to the point where whatever the reader is listening to is anchored in there somewhere. Really. "There is nothing new in the world".
Ironically, Dylan is still the angry young man in spite of his age however, he doesn't speak to that angry young man. Live with it and enjoy whatever you like without the screaming caps ranting. Besides, as much as the new listener, brought up in angry times and pop suffocation, may not like Bob Dylan, you can be pretty much assured that the average BD fan wouldn't give a breath to listen to the voices of today. That's the sorry part about this discussion. We live and learn.
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Bob Dylan is so completely overrated. I do not dispute his musical influence, but half of that is contrived by a jew-run media. Good song writer, but not conceptual enough, too prosaic. Totally overrated. Jackson Browne, Glenn Frey are better writers by a long distance.
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