Is Bob Dylan the Greatest American, Artistic Genius of the 20th Century ?

[protectionist]

Interesting that two of your examples were made famous by other artists while Billy Joel stands on his own performances.

And the other artists who made them famous (ex. the Byrds) did so by making them MUCH WORSE, but in such a way that the commercial music industry would be more accepting, because the public doesn't have to use their brain for them.

The Byrds commercialized version of Mr Tambourine Man doesn't even have 1/2 of the words of the Bob Dylan original - it's a hollow carbon copy, lacking some of the most masterpiece poetry ever written. That's because the Byrds were not looking to produce something artistically worthwhile. The idea was to MAKE MONEY.

 

[Blaster]

My musical knowledge extends to playing 5 musical instruments all on a professional level, across various genres > classical, blues, bluegrass, classic rock, Irish, Italian, Mexican, Spanish guitar, Greek, (violin, mandolin, guitar, piano, harmonica)
And yours ?

I am accomplished with the guitar and keyboards and was in a local rock band.

 

[Blaster]

And the other artists who made them famous (ex. the Byrds) did so by making them MUCH WORSE, but in such a way that the commercial music industry would be more accepting, because the public doesn't have to use their brain for them.

The Byrds commercialized version of Mr Tambourine Man doesn't even have 1/2 of the words of the Bob Dylan original - it's a hollow carbon copy.

The Byrd's version was much more popular than Dylan's original.

 

[Lockback]

Billy Joel was entertaining
Dylan……not so much

Bingo.

 

[OODA_Loop]

I am an accomplished Vuvuzela-ist.

Which, when played correctly, is practically indistinguishable from Bob Dylan's voice

 

[protectionist]

How about Haiku?

I once heard Dylan
Sounded like two cats *******
Yokos better

I'm not too interested in Japanese stuff (except Mona Kimura - the "Barbie Doll Tiger")

 

[protectionist]

I am an accomplished Vuvuzela-ist.

Which, when played correctly, is practically indistinguishable from Bob Dylan's voice

Accomplished what ? neva hoid of it/ lol

 

[protectionist]

Bingo.

For the not very enlightened.

 

[protectionist]

I am accomplished with the guitar and keyboards and was in a local rock band.

Yeah ? Cool. Everybody I know who fits that description, has a few youtube videos of themselves playing their music. I'd like to see yours - post a few.

 

[OODA_Loop]

Accomplished what ? neva hoid of it/ lol

 

[protectionist]

The Byrd's version was much more popular than Dylan's original.

And I explained to you why. Are you paying attention ?
I notice that my post that you quoted, isn't compolete.

 

[Lockback]

For the not very enlightened.

Oh, yes ... because you're so much smarter than the Great Unwashed, right?

 

[protectionist]

Well that will sure give the violin & piano some competition

 

[rightwinger]

Depends on one's conception of "entertaining". I would rate Bob Dylan as about a BILLION times more entertaining than Billy Joel.

Also, if you take 3 songs of Dylan...Blowin in th Wind, Mr Tambourine Man, Like A Rolling Stone, everybody knows them. Ask people what Billy Joel songs they know and it's "Uh....Uh...Uh......give me a minute.

Not even close…
Very few people today listen to, or like, Dylan

How does Tamborine Man compare to Piano Man?

 

[August West]

Depends on one's definition of unlistenable.
Pretty hard to make a case for the word "unlistenable" for a recording artist who has sold over 125 Million records worldwide, and after 64 years, still sells out concerts at age 84.

I didn`t mean to say that Dylan was "unlistenable". I`ve seen him twice in Pittsburgh.

 

[protectionist]

Oh, yes ... because you're so much smarter than the Great Unwashed, right?

Much smarter than those who would say Bob Dylan is not entertaining. My guess is the Dylan bashers have heard about 1% of his songs (if that much), and simply don't know what they're talking about.

 

[protectionist]

I didn`t mean to say that Dylan was "unlistenable". I`ve seen him twice in Pittsburgh.

Your word, not mine.

 

[Lockback]

Much smarter than those who would say Bob Dylan is not entertaining. My guess is the Dylan bashers have heard about 1% of his songs (if that much), and simply don't know what they're talking about.

Well, you have a point there. I've probably only heard about 1% of his songs and I'm a music guy. That's because he can't sing for shit, his chord structures are boring and too many of his lyrics are incomprehensibly dense, sort of like psuedo-intellectual nonsense.

 

[protectionist]

Not even close…
Very few people today listen to, or like, Dylan

Apparently you haven't seen the dozens of reaction videos posted by younger people listening to Dylan for the first time. He now has more fans in their 20s than in their 70's & 80s combined.
That's OK. Ignorance isn't a crime.

 

[lg325]

I like his songs . I enjoy other singers interputation of his work. I never read his book of poetry ,I will give it a read.
I rank Dylan in the same group as Arlo Guthrie.