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johncomic: (BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad)
[personal profile] johncomic
Bob Dylan has a new album out, which means the media will be awash with another flurry of idolatry. So I may as well trot out my usual crankery for such times:

Dylan is routinely touted as one of our greatest songwriters. When such a claim is elaborated, it usually goes on about the insightfulness and groundbreaking nature of his lyrics. My point, which I never seem to hear mentioned by anyone other than myself, is this:

lyrics are not songs. Songs are songs.

Dylan rarely writes music. He is not a melodist. I'm not saying he has never written a melody -- I'm not even saying that he has never written a good melody -- but such writings are few and far between for him. The majority of his works consist of vague sing-speak. I'll also pick on Leonard Cohen as another example of a composer who is lionized as a great songwriter because he is a great lyricist, but who also sing-speaks his way through non-music.

To miss the point that writing a good melody with good harmony is a part of writing a good song is just... I dunno, it's wrong, that's all, it's just wrong.

I mean, why not declare any good poet -- or anyone who has a compelling way with prose -- as being “a great songwriter”, then? If the music doesn't matter, then why do we even need music in order to have songs?

Whatever: people will do what they do and like what they like. I will most likely stay huddled over in my corner, where I still believe that even a great piece of instrumental music can be a great song.

Date: 2012-09-14 08:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ginsu.livejournal.com
Whereas I'm saying he has never written a good melody.

Date: 2012-09-14 08:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] johncomic.livejournal.com
Gimme time, I could maybe dig up one?

Date: 2012-09-14 08:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] johncomic.livejournal.com
How about http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06rGW0AQGiY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06rGW0AQGiY)?

Date: 2012-09-14 08:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ginsu.livejournal.com
Eh.

He's also an admitted plagiarist.

Frank Zappa's "Flakes" comes to mind whenever I think of Dylan.
Edited Date: 2012-09-14 10:31 pm (UTC)

Date: 2012-09-15 05:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] johncomic.livejournal.com
How about when you think of Fatboy Slim? :P

Date: 2012-09-17 12:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rono64.livejournal.com
Heck,
Having worked for both gents, I have to say they are cool to deal with.
And Leonard Cohen provided me with one of the funiest Moments in my career as a Stage Hand.
That's my 2 cents, I like both of 'em.

Date: 2012-09-17 10:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] johncomic.livejournal.com
Gee, Ron, I'm not saying don't like 'em -- I'm just saying they routinely receive effusive praise for doing things they don't actually do. I'm perfectly okay with people praising them for what they do do!

Date: 2012-09-19 11:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sboyko.livejournal.com
I get the gist of what you are saying but I would say that not all poems can be songs, therefore not all poets can be songwriters.

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