Philosophy Now Forum

Gary Browning considers the ideas and emotions expressed in Bob Dylan’s songs and writings.

https://philosophynow.org/issues/157/The_Philosophy_of_Modern_Song_by_Bob_Dylan

He wrote awe-inspiring songs. What else needs to be said?

He wrote good songs. Others wrote good songs too. However, I think Dylan's songs were more social/political and therefore became embraced by the political class. People who want to listen to something other than that might listen to someone else's music.

Personally, I can't get beyond his squawky voice. I prefer artists who can sing better. Hendrix did a phenomenally better rendition of All Along the Watchtower than Dylan could ever do.

Willie Nelson is a great songwriter as well, however, he doesn't pretentiously go around writing books titled "Philosophy of Modern Song". The day Nelson is lionized in the music industry will be a surprise, not that Nelson would even care about something like that. He's more concerned with his own mortality these days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk55FA6_xkM

I get the impression that music immortality wouldn't mean much to Nelson.

I have no idea what you're talking about, Gary. Bob was a great vocalist and Frank even let em make a guest appearance in Flakes.

https://youtu.be/cXH5Wy_8BbY?feature=shared

Robbie Robertson’s The Weight’ was great, as great as Dylan’s stuff.


Just a passing note

vegetariantaxidermy wrote: ↑Thu Aug 31, 2023 9:57 pm He wrote awe-inspiring songs. What else needs to be said?

Joni Mitchell wasn't impressed
And she's the best.

^^^ i think that's the first proper judgement you've exhibited the entire time you've been here, and I must agree.

Not just a great songwriter, but possibly the best becuz Jaco once graced the stage with her.

promethean75 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:29 pm ^^^ i think that's the first proper judgement you've exhibited the entire time you've been here, and I must agree.

Not just a great songwriter, but possibly the best becuz Jaco once graced the stage with her.

Dylan was better at that but take heart, he won a Nobel Prize, which he properly prioritized with his actions. For example:

That’s Positively Fourth Street.
https://genius.com/Bob-dylan-positively ... eet-lyrics

“I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment
I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You’d know what a drag it is
To see you”

*

Yeah, Pastorius. He was fortunate to hook up with Weather Report and Mitchell ... because only so much can be done with a bass.

promethean75 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:29 pm ^^^ i think that's the first proper judgement you've exhibited the entire time you've been here, and I must agree.

Not just a great songwriter, but possibly the best becuz Jaco once graced the stage with her.

Mitchell also employed him as collaborator on some tunes, well, as bass player and no doubt she gave him some free rein because he wasn't exactly ... bass-o-matic. Ahaha.

*

Weather Report
Palladium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohAvkux ... 35&index=7

I discovered this album (Heavy Weather) when it was new and I wore out the vinyl. Such familiarity robbed a lot of the freshness, but not this. This is as beautiful as the first time, from Jaco in the beginning and then finally the transition when it flows into Wayne Shorter’s notes of hope.

Shorter was also on some of Mitchell's albums. She is a far better musician than Dylan.

Walker wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:18 am ... because only so much can be done with a bass.

tell that to Lemmy

-Imp

But did u know that jaco was a foul mouthed Mexican redneck thug drunk who was fixin to beat John Mclaughlin's ass one time?

https://youtu.be/Xu2O0Dd8rEI

promethean75 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 2:52 pm But did u know that jaco was a foul mouthed Mexican redneck thug drunk who was fixin to beat John Mclaughlin's ass one time?

https://youtu.be/Xu2O0Dd8rEI

Yeah, life. I heard that Chet Baker recorded and performed so much in order to pay for his habits that activated his music. Rough life. They say some bad guys knocked out all his teeth so he had to re-teach himself how to play so he could make a living. Then he just wore out his body but the music always stayed fresh, like when he was young, but I heard the bad people eventually took even that from him.

West Coast Cool
Chet Baker – Time After Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ybMVHeJZ7w

Gary Browning's article seems to miss an important point about Dylan's songs and their cultural effect and power. They are all infused with biblical values. In so many instances they are restatements of religious tropes. If there were any fount from which he most drew I don't think it could be described as so much philosophical as it was religious.

The cut off point for considering Dylan (for Browning) seems to have been in Dylans early material, but it disregards the later phase (unless I missed something).