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(CNN) The 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan,
for "having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."

https://www.thelocal.se/20161013/live-s ... ature-2016

The times, they have a-changed.

Great to hear. It's nice to see a change of thinking.

Wrote some great songs but not
for the nasal noises he made into a mike.
Peter Paul and Mary,along with Joan Baez
made him popular.

Anthin.

Nothing against Bob Dylan but - Nobel prize for LITERATURE???? Steeeee rewth!

Clarifying my position on this award, I am in full agreement with it. We can award literary prizes until we are blue in our faces, but in reality, it was time for "And now for something completely different". It's not just the literary work, it's also the contribution to the literary or other related fields that is important. And for those caught up in the "times" back then,
Dylan was a voice for us.

One of the best tunes I ever played live at all the gigs I performed at in the late 60's with my rock group (that's "rock group", not "folk group") was Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone', a great 6 minutes of slow dance tune that was just fun to play.

Dylan supposedly shocked the purists in the crowd that time at Newport '65 by, without any forewarning whatsoever, going electric. There is much controversy as to exactly who was and why any booing took place, but one fact remains: He himself lived up to his very own lyrics in "The Times They Are A-Changing".

And this: The next literary prize should go to Peter Sinfield, the lyricist for early King Crimson, whose lyrics were extremely poetic, if I may use that term to describe them.
"Night her sabled dome scattered with diamonds, fused my dust from a light year", a small example; the rest of his works I found rather well composed. If you've ever had the experience/occasion to compose lyric'd music, and I have, you know how difficult it is to coordinate the lyrics with the melody line structure. Sinfield's approach to lyrics composition brought out some very cool lyric lines indeed.

Peter Paul and Mary,along with Joan Baez
made him popular.

Back in 1961 I was going to college at NYU downtown and saw skinny Bob Zimmerman (not yet Dylan) open for Peter, Paul & Mary at The Fat Black Pussycat grotto in Greenwich Village. I didn't think much of him at the time and still don't like most of his stuff...other singer/songwriters of the time spoke more to me, but I have to admit that he has a way with words. There have certainly been writers and poets of far lesser impact who have won this award so I would say his is well deserved.

Ahhhh, culture. It certainly does change.

I think that an award can only be presented to reflect the appreciation of the judges, AND the times.

Perhaps that's why I feel so little connection with so many culture based awards. It's probably been 30 or 40 years since I agreed with an Academy Awards pick.


Looking back I see that, while Dylan was important to those times, there were many more who influenced me more than he. Both lyrically and musically.


Here's a test that you can not possibly fail - Ask yourself who's music would you want to be played at your funeral?

Dylan, although I liked many of his songs, isn't even near the top of the list.

OldAirmail wrote:
Here's a test that you can not possibly fail - Ask yourself who's music would you want to be played at your funeral?

Dylan, although I liked many of his songs, isn't even near the top of the list.

I love music. I spend at least 20 hrs a week totally devoted to music.

I consider myself very fortunate though, for in Dylan's own words I can quote. " The ladder of my music has no top and no bottom."

Dylan song for my funeral? Absolutely yes..Many to choose from too. They are listed in alphabetical order.

There at are probably some songs people like but never knew was written by Dylan.

The other good news this past year, (for me at least), is that Damon Albarn from Blur having been awarded an OBE. The work and collaborations, ( with Gorrilaz) he has done with other artists from around
the world is well deserving.

Somebody mentioned Joan Baez...? Diamonds and Rust. Penned by her, a stunning piece of literature, no matter how you look at it.

(There is something amiss with my Dylan ladder quote...anybody can correct me?)

Jan

That's what I meant by "... you can not possibly fail".

Each of us has songs/music that is more important to us, than other works. Even rap and opera, both of which I, for the most part, strongly dislike, will have people to whom "that" is the greatest achievement of humanity.


Thinking about an exception to opera.

ANYTHING by Luciano Pavarotti is exceptional.

When it comes to Music; Johann Sebastian Bach has, and always will, float my boat...!

There's a Chap worthy of the Nobel Prize for Music!

Paul.... ...!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JQm5aSjX6g

Practice this on your piano.... ....>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXMVkQ70I88

Yeah, Bach can be good too.

Here's Bach's Violin Concert E-Major. Without a LOOONNnnggg commercial to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vUqDZ2fMBI

OldAirmail wrote:Yeah, Bach can be good too.

Here's Bach's Violin Concert E-Major. Without a LOOONNnnggg commercial to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vUqDZ2fMBI

..and lets not forget Pachelbel's Canon in D...>>>

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085678/

Paul..... ....!

re and lets not forget Pachelbel's Canon in D...>>>

Boring fact no.1

Academicians hate it. For one thing, it's not a Canon, it's a Passacaglia. A Canon is more akin to the modern "round" e.g. Row row row the boat etc.. and the Pachelbel doesn't do that.

Pay attention at the back.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37740379

Seems Mr Dylan is not impressed.

Cheers
Rich

Nothing derogatory is this, but I don't find that out of character for him.