Bob Dylan fans: I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT!!!!!

[Taverner]

OK...I used to hate Bob Dylan. Couldn't stand him. Always thought he was overrated, and the only thing I could say about him was that he had an excellent band.

Then I watch the Martin Scorcese documentary about him, and now it all makes sense - and I can't stop listening to his music.

Specifically: Masters of War. I don't think anyone has ever written such a driven, biting anti-war anthem EVER!

[hfojvt]

1. nobody ever said he couldn't write

It is a specialization of labor thing. Some people should write songs and other people should sing them. Isn't that right Bruce?

[ALago1]

2. I actually love Bob's voice

It's got that "everyman" quality to it.

[hfojvt]

5. as I said about people who love Bob Dylan. Love isn't blind

Apparently it's deaf.

But to each their own. Just keep it on the headphones please.

[tigereye]

15. if you watch the documentary it puts his voice in perspective

as well, in light of the folk/protest tradition.

I stand as one who strongly disagrees with ya, BTW, h.

[SteppingRazor]

6. I love it too, but I think it's much better than "everyman"...

Dylan puts so much soul into his vocals. When he wails "Something's... tearing... up your... MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINND!" on the Live:1965 version of "Tell Me Mama," it is righteous.

[fishwax]

9. I agree ... his voice is an interpretive instrument

The sound of his voice is harsher than some people like, but in terms of his ability to hit notes, he's just fine, and in terms of his ability to "translate" the song through his voice, I think he's damn good.

[caty]

3. A singer does not

necessarily have to have a great voice anymore than an actor has to be great looking. It's the emotion and meaning that they put in their craft.

[Arkansas Granny]

11. And who better to put the emotion and meaning into a song than

the person who wrote it even if their voice is not considered to be melodic? There are many singer/songwriters that don't have a particularly good voice, but when they sing their own compositions it just sounds right.

[caty]

13. Exactly!

[SteppingRazor]

4. Welcome to the fold, Brother Taverner...

good to have you in the congregation. Now can I get a Praise Dylan?

[Taverner]

7. Amen brotha

Money doesn't talk - it swears

God I love that line. Says so much in so little...

[SteppingRazor]

8. My favorite Dylan song changes practically weekly, but...

currently it's "Absolutely Sweet Marie," which includes the absolutely awesome line (George Bush take note):

"To live outside the law, you must be honest"

[speedoo]

19. Yeah, good song.

A frequent favorite of mine is "Sad Eyed Lady of The Lowlands". Another is "Visions of Johana".

Blonde on Blonde is a killer album. Almost every song is a freakin masterpiece.

[fishwax]

10. and a hardy welcome from a dylan prosyletizer

i used to have a knack for changing friends' and acquaintances' minds about Dylan :)

Anyway, :toast:

[mulsh]

12. he's a top notch guitar player too.

he is my favorite rhythym guitarist. his voice is extrodinary. just listen to any cd he's produced in the last 15 years, every song a different and effective voicing. kind of like sinatra. and by the way exactly what was bobby doing at that sinatra tribute concert?

[tigereye]

14. that doc. certainly puts a lot of things in perspective

like why he seemed to relish being booed at a show I attended when he went "Christian"....

some great folk and 60s history in that film. I was also thinking about going to see him when he is here next month. A true iconoclast. I think a lot of people who hate him don't really have a good handle on the history and how he was able to synthesize so much folk music and history in such a short time.

[redqueen]

16. was that at the same time he was booed for going 'electric' or 'rock'?

i saw a bit of a documentary about him recently and was floored to see so many fans so angry that he would stray from his folk roots...

[tigereye]

18. no, it was the gospel/born again period

I don't remember the album title. But the music was very good.

He actually laughed at the people booing and played a little bit of "Lay Lady Lay" to taunt them a bit.

[GalleryGod]

17. You're excused.

:shrug:

Marty's docu has served it's purpose.:yourock:

[Hissyspit]

20. Congratulations on catching on!

Seriously - he is indispensable and very rewarding. I own everything he ever did, on CD.

GET THIS BOOK:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312150679/002-8150764-9133607?v=glance&n=283155

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0312150679.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_V56210330_.jpg

Lots of fun to read. Goes recording period to recording period (sort of album by album).

[Hissyspit]

21. "Masters of War" is found HERE:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Hissyspit/47

[mark414]

22. in that case don't forget to catch the woody guthrie documentary

that's on this wednesday on PBS, also part of the american masters series...bob has described woody as his "last hero" and we probably wouldn't know who bob dylan was if it wasn't for woody guthrie...

check your local listings

[Heidi]

23. Congratulations, Taverner!

:thumbsup:

Here's another great Dylan song: "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qEtyi4rcCc&search=%22Bob%20Dylan%22

"The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll"
William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll
With a cane that he twirled around his diamond ring finger
At a Baltimore hotel society gath'rin'.
And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him
As they rode him in custody down to the station
And booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder.
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears,
Take the rag away from your face.
Now ain't the time for your tears.

William Zanzinger, who at twenty-four years
Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres
With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him
And high office relations in the politics of Maryland,
Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders
And swear words and sneering, and his tongue it was snarling,
In a matter of minutes on bail was out walking.
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears,
Take the rag away from your face.
Now ain't the time for your tears.

Hattie Carroll was a maid of the kitchen.
She was fifty-one years old and gave birth to ten children
Who carried the dishes and took out the garbage
And never sat once at the head of the table
And didn't even talk to the people at the table
Who just cleaned up all the food from the table
And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level,
Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane
That sailed through the air and came down through the room,
Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle.
And she never done nothing to William Zanzinger.
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears,
Take the rag away from your face.
Now ain't the time for your tears.

In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel
To show that all's equal and that the courts are on the level
And that the strings in the books ain't pulled and persuaded
And that even the nobles get properly handled
Once that the cops have chased after and caught 'em
And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom,
Stared at the person who killed for no reason
Who just happened to be feelin' that way without warnin'.
And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished,
And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance,
William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence.
Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears,
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now's the time for your tears.

Copyright © 1964

[smoochpooch]

24. You're ideas about music are going to change forever

Dylan's understanding of the English language is unparalleled. I've been hanging out listening to Dylan and had friends who weren't fans suddenly see the light and say, "Wow, that is amazing!". Too be honest, I was a little disappointed in the Scorcese doc. There is so much more to Bob than what was presented. Dylan has gone through many different phases throughout his career- "protest", "psychedelic/folk rock", "country rock", "sad 70's divorce phase", "aged and wise bluesman"- all labels he would no doubt dispute and despise. His albums always seem like he's allowing us to peek into his life at any particular moment. Plus, there is a Dylan album for whatever mood you're in!

[idgiehkt]

25. I think he has really sick charisma

it's a kind of push me-pull me magnetism...I am a huge fan of a couple athletes that have this and when I saw that Dylan doc the other night I understood it. I bet Jesus was like that too, both genders want his behind. I mean, I didn't understand it, per se, the phenomenon of that kind of charisma, but I understood that he has it, which I didn't know before. It's fuckability, I think.