Posted on 05/24/2020 8:39:24 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
We remember Robert Zimmerman, who was born in Minnesota on this day in 1941. We know him as Bob Dylan.
As far as I know, Dylan has been quiet lately. He seems to be enjoying retirement and having the rest of us listen to his songs. (By the way, May is another anniversary of Dylan's second album, the one that included "Blowing in the wind.")
Dylan did win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016. Eventually, he accepted the award, but his trip to Stockholm was typical Dylan, as I recall reading in The New Yorker:
When he finally showed up in Stockholm, during an April tour stop, to receive the Nobel medal, he looked more like a cat burglar than a laureate, sneaking into the private prize hand-off through a service door, wearing a hoodie, leather jacket, and gloves.
Maybe he should have done a solo rendition of "Boots of Spanish Leather" with that outfit! On second thought, maybe he should have asked Joan Baez to do it.
I never really liked Dylan singing his own songs, although "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Like a Rolling Stone" are obvious exceptions. Nobody can sing those two songs like Dylan. I love The Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man," but Dylan is Dylan.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
His age finally fits his singing voice... LOL
Tambourine Man,done by both the Byrds *and* Judy Collins,are classics.My Back Pages by the Byrds...ditto.And of course there were others.
I read once that in writing Tambourine Man he was influenced by a film called La Strada...which is my favorite film of all time.All the more reason to see it as my favorite song of all time!
Here's one thing he has been doing in retirement:
https://www.needsomefun.net/bob-dylan-iron-works-mood-swings/
That reminded me of and was like a memory lane trip through my old 1776 Dairy Farm barn in New England.
I recognized many items, tools, gears, sprockets and pullys from vintage farm equip.
Interesting stuff although I am not a fan of trashing antiques to make art.
To each is own
His best album, by far, is Time Out Of Mind from 1997.
Grammy’s Album of the Year 1998.
Dylan was and is an American original. He seems to elicit strong feelings pro and con, but he also probably is just puzzled by that. Anyone who has an interest in him should by all means watch No Direction Home a lengthy documentary/interview/bio by Martin Scorsese. BTW Dylan is still putting out studio albums.
Dylan put out several new songs recently ahead of a new album set for June release and the writer says, “As far as I know, Dylan has been quiet lately”.
Dylan does not like being a political or religious icon, thats for sure.
The guys who were his best friends growing up said he wanted to be Elvis, but he didnt have the presence for that. He took the beatnik route.
Some songs nobody sings like the writer.
Mr. Tambourine Man and Tomorrow Is A Long Time are classic Dylan.
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/la-strada-1994
from link:
When Fellini died, the critic Stanley Kauffmann wrote: ... “During his lifetime, many fine filmmakers blessed us with their art, but he was the only one who made us feel that each of his films, whatever its merits, was a present from a friend.”
I’ve often wondered if La Strada wasn’t the true beginning of the women’s movement...
When Leon Russell got discouraged over his aging (to the point of becoming a bit neurotic), Dylan talked him off his couch and back on tour for a spell. Leon passed away last year, but he had a few gravelly notes left in his voice, and was still master of the keys and how a song should sound.
I hope someone can do the same now for Dylan.
Best version was by William Shatner. Crazy. Far out man!
Just as fresh today as the day he wrote it. Which is pretty amazing when you think about it...
A poetic and musical genius. Happy Birthday, Bob!
PS Before my now fully grown sons grew to appreciate his music, they called him “The Asthma Dude.”
For a laugh look up his Christmas album.
Rainy day women #12 & #35 ( everyone must get stoned), Don’t think twice it’s all right my fav Dylan’s songs.
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