MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Bob Dylan wins Nobel Prize for Literature

william z · 10-27-2016, 01:02 PM

Krazykiwi - That may be the tradition in Sweden, but I don't think it is the tradition in the USA or most of the world. I know of a few poems that have been set to music, but not very many.

Here is a view of the difference between poetry and song lyrics (not mine, but this is my view also):

"Since the invention of the printing press, poetry is delivered mainly to the eye. Lyrics are delivered mainly to the ear."

As you probably know, Dylan surfaced in the early 1960's at the time of the short-lived "folk revival" that made "folk songs" very popular for a short time. He recorded 3 albums at that time, the first which contained only 2 of his original songs. If I remember correctly, the next 2 albums were mostly his own compositions and one of them "Blowing In the Wind" became a minor mainstream hit; that was really the song that made his reputation. The whole folk song thing was embraced by the "counter-culture" in the USA that also came into being at that time, the "flower children" and "hippies" who were anti-war and anti-establishment; Dylan was their hero and kind of their spokesmen. He inspired some other similar songwriters and performers who never gained anywhere near the popularity that Bob Dylan did.

He felt he was being used, manipulated and constrained by both the folk and the protest movement, so after that he switched to rock. Whether or not any of his songs after the early ones are great poetry or not I have no idea, never having listened to them.

In Sweden song lyrics may be poetry, to me they are not. I do not think Dylan's lyrics are especially good; certainly not worthy of a Nobel Prize for literature. His songs have won awards - for songs.

I suspect Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for political reasons, something like Obama was awarded the Peace Prize, which left observers mystified.

10-27-2016, 01:02 PM	#224
william z Connoisseur Posts: 56 Karma: 4622408 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: B.C., Canada Device: Kobo Touch	Krazykiwi - That may be the tradition in Sweden, but I don't think it is the tradition in the USA or most of the world. I know of a few poems that have been set to music, but not very many. Here is a view of the difference between poetry and song lyrics (not mine, but this is my view also): "Since the invention of the printing press, poetry is delivered mainly to the eye. Lyrics are delivered mainly to the ear." As you probably know, Dylan surfaced in the early 1960's at the time of the short-lived "folk revival" that made "folk songs" very popular for a short time. He recorded 3 albums at that time, the first which contained only 2 of his original songs. If I remember correctly, the next 2 albums were mostly his own compositions and one of them "Blowing In the Wind" became a minor mainstream hit; that was really the song that made his reputation. The whole folk song thing was embraced by the "counter-culture" in the USA that also came into being at that time, the "flower children" and "hippies" who were anti-war and anti-establishment; Dylan was their hero and kind of their spokesmen. He inspired some other similar songwriters and performers who never gained anywhere near the popularity that Bob Dylan did. He felt he was being used, manipulated and constrained by both the folk and the protest movement, so after that he switched to rock. Whether or not any of his songs after the early ones are great poetry or not I have no idea, never having listened to them. In Sweden song lyrics may be poetry, to me they are not. I do not think Dylan's lyrics are especially good; certainly not worthy of a Nobel Prize for literature. His songs have won awards - for songs. I suspect Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for political reasons, something like Obama was awarded the Peace Prize, which left observers mystified.