Of course, it all depends on what people mean by 'good' singing. Personally I find that lots of singers with 'perfect' voices leave me cold. For me it 's all about what the singer does with his voice to make the listener feel the emotions of the songs. I think that Dylan engages beautifully with this song from his current tour and that, wobbly notes and all, makes me, at least, feel what he's singing about. I find it very moving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUMuzXOAYEA
as far as I can recall, this is the first time I have ever seen or heard Dylan singing a song that is not his own composition, or at least one which he has adapted and modified as his own
There are a few albums that are almost entirely covers: Good as I Been to You - 1992 World Gone Wrong - 1993 Christmas in the Heart - 2009 Shadows in the Night - 2015 Fallen Angels - 2016
Of course, it all depends on what people mean by 'good' singing. Personally I find that lots of singers with 'perfect' voices leave me cold. For me it 's all about what the singer does with his voice to make the listener feel the emotions of the songs. I think that Dylan engages beautifully with this song from his current tour and that, wobbly notes and all, makes me, at least, feel what he's singing about. I find it very moving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUMuzXOAYEA
as far as I can recall, this is the first time I have ever seen or heard Dylan singing a song that is not his own composition, or at least one which he has adapted and modified as his own
There are a few albums that are almost entirely covers: Good as I Been to You - 1992 World Gone Wrong - 1993 Christmas in the Heart - 2009 Shadows in the Night - 2015 Fallen Angels - 2016
I can only repeat my own personal experience of seeing him at the Hop Farm a few years ago.
He mumbled his way through the set. I couldn't understand a word of it. It was bloody awful.
Great songwriter though!
We saw Neil Young there a few years ago and felt the same about the sound quality. I thought it was more to do with the sound set up and the wind dissipating the sound than Neil's voice, maybe the same with Dylan? On a different note, my friend dated/showed him the sights of Birmingham on one of his early visits. Her dad was Mayor of Birmingham and she was asked to 'occupy' Dylan whilst staying there. Wish I had known her then, lucky girl.
A musical genius and without equal - quite simply the greatest songwriter/poet of the 20th century.
Great song writer? Certainly. Genius? Quite possibly. Without equal? Not really. It is of course highly subjective; one listeners' great songs will another's old dross. Dylan may be the best (he isn't in my opinion but clearly is in the eyes of many) but to suggest he is without equal is hyperbole to the point of folly and is demeaning to many other greats. Are you seriously suggesting that not one person on the following list, or from any other list of greats, isn't up there with Zimmerman?
Damon Albarn Benny Andersson Chuck Berry David Bowie Johnny Cash Nick Cave Jarvis Cocker Leonard Cohen Hal David Ray Davies Merle Haggard Oscar Hammerstein Eddie Holland Berry Gordy Woody Guthrie Mick Jagger Robert Johnson Stevland Judkins Jerome Kern Jerry Leiber John Lennon Marshall Mathers Paul McCartney Joni Mitchell Stephen Morrisey Prince Nelson Willie Nelson Cole Porter Keith Richards Neil Sedaka Tupac Shakur Paul Simon Patti Smith Richard Stilgoe Bernie Taupin Björn Ulvaeus Tom Waits Roger Waters Kurt Weil Paul Weller Hank Williams Neil Young
Corinna, Corinna (Freewheelin') One Too Many Mornings (Times They Are...) Moonshiner (recorded in 1963, released on the Bootleg Series vols 1 - 3) Spanish Is the Loving Tongue (piano version, B side of Watching the River Flow, 1970) Mozambique (Desire) Blind Willie McTell (recorded in 1983, released on the Bootleg Series vols 1 - 3) Shenandoah (Down in the groove) Ring Them Bells (Oh Mercy) Lone Pilgrim (World Gone Wrong) Not Dark Yet (Time Out of Mind) Moonlight (Love and Theft) Full Moon and Empty Arms (Shadows in the night)
Don't profess to be a musical expert like many on here but in my humble opinion certain voices suit certain songs and give them greater impact as a result.
Most singer song writers know how to perform their own work to convey what they want to say in my view.
Am a Dylan fan. Saw him a few years back at the O2 (have seen him 2-3 times in the past) and his voice wasn't great (some will say has never been) and his audience interaction was non-existant. Wouldn't stop me going again...except the Palladium tickets in October seem to start at £318....which seems a bit oof a piss take!
Am a Dylan fan. Saw him a few years back at the O2 (have seen him 2-3 times in the past) and his voice wasn't great (some will say has never been) and his audience interaction was non-existant. Wouldn't stop me going again...except the Palladium tickets in October seem to start at £318....which seems a bit oof a piss take!
I would probably advise against seeing him. I've seen him countless times over the years and he is my ultimate music God, but seeing him the last time three years ago at Hyde Park along with Neil Young left me feeling sad at how the great man has deteriorated.
I got my tickets for the Palladium on presale for £87. He’s not great in big venues, I also saw him at the O2 and was dreadful, but have seen him several times in smaller venues and the Albert Hall and was superb.
Anyone who likes him and has listened to his latest album and heard recordings of his recent US tour will be begging for tickets. I got great tickets at the Palladium for £138.
I think I've said this on this forum before, but I saw him a few years ago at the Hop Farm & honestly, I don't have the words to describe how awful he was.
I struggled to recognise what a lot of the songs were as he mumbled his way through the set.
A great songwriter, but has been a dreadful live performer for a while now
Yes he was awful at the Hop Farm and he's been awful at other times when I've seen him. I remember a run of shows at Hammersmith Odeon in 1990 every one of which was great. The following year at the same venue - he did 4 awful shows and three mediocre ones in a row. In Bologna, one year, he was so bad he could barely find the microphone! But the following evening in Milan he was terrific. With Dylan, that's the price you pay - he is not a slick performer giving an identical performance each time. He explores his backlist every time - sometimes it works brilliantly and sometimes it fails dismally. If you go wanting him to sing the songs as he did on the album you will be disappointed As I said above, the tour that he just finished in the USA was uniformly terrific. It was a show that mostly included the songs from his Rough and Rowdy Ways album with about six songs from earlier in his career. His singing voice is largely shot nowadays but his has developed a sing/speak voice which, when he's on form, can cut to the heart of his songs and convey new insights into his peerless lyrics each time you see him. And he is sing/speaking with clarity and care at the moment (there are examples of this on YouTube - this one will give you an idea if you'd like what he's doing or not
He's definitely a marmite artist but, in my opinion, he's the greatest of my lifetime. I've got tickets for all four of the Palladium shows and I can't wait.
going to see him now would be like gong to see an old masterpiece painting or an ancient treasure exhibition at a museum, or more mundanely, just a sweet nostalgia trip .. you won't be paying to hear great renditions of his greatest songs
I have been an admirer of Dylan from day 1,i finally went to see him at the 02 about 15 years ago,how I wish I had not gone.He just bumbled his way through the set and seemed to me bored with the whole process.He did not pick up a guitar all night,just played the keyboards.My only way out of this was to play some of his music,and some of the great songs he wrote sung by others,and blot this awful show from memory,it worked and my admiration remains un diminished.
I wouldn’t go to see him. A great song writer and, in his day, had an iconic voice but that is long gone now. I’d rather listen to his recordings which are far more polished.
I wouldn’t go to see him. A great song writer and, in his day, had an iconic voice but that is long gone now. I’d rather listen to his recordings which are far more polished.
First saw him at Hammersmith I think. About 15 odd years ago. Thought he was poor. Love his music. One of his songs would be one of my desert island discs. Saw him a couple of times since.
One which has been mentioned is at Hyde Park with Neil young. Neil was incredible, Dylan not. Seen Neil once before at Hyde Park and he was great then with one of my favorite bands the national doing the support who as always were excellent.
Comments
Good as I Been to You - 1992
World Gone Wrong - 1993
Christmas in the Heart - 2009
Shadows in the Night - 2015
Fallen Angels - 2016
But it must be a shame - to him - that a lot of his songs have been done so much better by someone else. Coincidence? Maybe. But maybe not.
He mumbled his way through the set. I couldn't understand a word of it. It was bloody awful.
Great songwriter though!
On a different note, my friend dated/showed him the sights of Birmingham on one of his early visits. Her dad was Mayor of Birmingham and she was asked to 'occupy' Dylan whilst staying there. Wish I had known her then, lucky girl.
https://youtu.be/kxCCNY4A68M
Corinna, Corinna (Freewheelin')
One Too Many Mornings (Times They Are...)
Moonshiner (recorded in 1963, released on the Bootleg Series vols 1 - 3)
Spanish Is the Loving Tongue (piano version, B side of Watching the River Flow, 1970)
Mozambique (Desire)
Blind Willie McTell (recorded in 1983, released on the Bootleg Series vols 1 - 3)
Shenandoah (Down in the groove)
Ring Them Bells (Oh Mercy)
Lone Pilgrim (World Gone Wrong)
Not Dark Yet (Time Out of Mind)
Moonlight (Love and Theft)
Full Moon and Empty Arms (Shadows in the night)
Most singer song writers know how to perform their own work to convey what they want to say in my view.
Currently available on BBC Sounds - an enjoyable listen to me - but to those who speak of Dylan in hushed tones an absolute must.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b06gtk2l
I would probably advise against seeing him. I've seen him countless times over the years and he is my ultimate music God, but seeing him the last time three years ago at Hyde Park along with Neil Young left me feeling sad at how the great man has deteriorated.
I struggled to recognise what a lot of the songs were as he mumbled his way through the set.
A great songwriter, but has been a dreadful live performer for a while now
He's definitely a marmite artist but, in my opinion, he's the greatest of my lifetime. I've got tickets for all four of the Palladium shows and I can't wait.
Saw him a couple of times since.
One which has been mentioned is at Hyde Park with Neil young. Neil was incredible, Dylan not. Seen Neil once before at Hyde Park and he was great then with one of my favorite bands the national doing the support who as always were excellent.