Comments on: The Unfalsifiable Genius of Bob Dylan

By: Bill Burns

Bill Burns — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:55:35 +0000

@Steven – Agreed, except for the ‘gifted columnist’ bit. I’m also gratified you point out that the proceeds indeed are going to a good cause.

http://www.bobdylan.com/#/news

Ok, now a sip o’ the Kool-Aid(tm) to the non-cult members:

Dylan’s been entirely honest about the sources of his songs. Ferguson’s apparently never heard of “Love & Theft,” which 2001 album title is a direct reference to the time-honored practices of all folk and folk-inspired musicians (really almost any good ones). They love what they ‘steal’ and ‘steal’ what they love.

Yes, Dylan’s put out some clunkers, but to appreciate _why_ he issued “Self Portrait,” you have to know the backstory about the album. There is one, and it is truly a case of “something is happening here, but (Ferguson) don’t know what it is.”

Yes, Dylan’s well known for giving the proverbial one-finger salute to pretty much anyone, including his fans from time to time. If _you_ could barely step outside your door without being mobbed or harassed or worshipped, I guarantee it’d change the way you deal with people, too. If you want to fool yourself into thinking otherwise, go right ahead. There’s simply no musician/artist living today who’s been set on a pedestal like Dylan has, particularly by folks who’ve never gotten past the fact that he either doesn’t write sugary pop rock like Boston or sing like Smokey Robinson, and they never will.

/rant off

By: Steven

Steven — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:02:19 +0000

TO be quite charitable, Andrew Ferguson may be a gifted columnist. But he’s no musical expert. To be plain, he sounds like an idiot.

I’m sure he’s studied Harry Smith’s Folk Anthology in order to understand what Dylan is about.

He seems to think that pop music is the only standard of music, and since Dylan isn’t pop, he isn’t a good musician.

Ferguson, if you don’t like Dylan, don’t listen.

Dylan is no deity, but I really don’t think he’s merely taking advantage of his audience. But he could be. Especially since the proceeds of this record went to feed the poor.

By: Mark Freer

Mark Freer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:27:40 +0000

There’s not much middle ground with Dylan, you either love him or hate him. Ferguson is a hater, that’s his choice. Dylan’s album’s Slow Train and Saved had a real impact on me as a young Christian, I still listen to them. I bought the Christmas CD and enjoyed it, I laughed many times. If you don’t like Dylan’s voice listen to The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan, performed by several gospel singers and groups. If these songs don’t move you your just a grumpy critic. I’m taking my 18 year old daughter to see Dylan Friday night in Detroit.

By: Geoff Dennis

Geoff Dennis — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:51:18 +0000

I’m a big Dylan fan, and have been for years. I have tremendous respect for the impact he had on music and an entire generation. His influence probably will not be repeated, as there are few musicians who are as universally loved as Dylan was . . . and I said was loved. Dylan’s voice is only one part of the musical package. He has written some of the most brilliant rock/folk music that has ever been written. I would say that Dylan’s voice is like a strong cup of black coffee – some will love it, some will hate it, and for most it’s an acquired taste. To some his voice is bitter, to others, there is beauty in this unusual taste. When all is said and done I will likely buy he new Christmas CD.

By: Doug Phillips

Doug Phillips — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:21:45 +0000

Sounds to me like Dylan is to making music what McLaren is to doing theology.

By: Niles

Niles — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:18:40 +0000

I’m a fan of Dylan’s early work, no doubt about it. I wonder if he just forgot how to cough? Just listening to the samples on Amazon I was brought to full on coughing on his behalf…

Another thought: Perhaps if he did an scratchy acoustic version of all of those songs, it might go better with his voice, or lack thereof. All the shiny background music contrasts his scruffy, spotty vocals.

By: James

James — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:04:14 +0000

A cat getting skinned would sound better. The CD will make a great white elephant gift!

By: This One is for My Fixer: The Unfalsifiable Genius of Bob Dylan | iamjonnyking.com

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:54:07 +0000

[...] Nano-Blog link here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/11/04/the-unfalsifiable-genius-of-bob-dylan/ [...]

By: Stan Ermshar

Stan Ermshar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:22:57 +0000

Does anyone know if Bob Dylan renounced his Christian faith? Or was he ever a Christian? Certainly there were some albums at one time that had very good Christian lyrics.

Stan

By: Matt Francisco

Matt Francisco — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:16:24 +0000

Well it certainly wouldn’t be the first time that he’d blatantly published a record in hopes that people would think it was heinous (Self Portrait)…

Maybe the genius in this album was taking songs that were already terrible (okay, not all, but gracious… is anyone going to die on a hill to convince me that “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “Silver Bells,” “Here Come Santa Claus,” and, my father’s least favorite song of all time “Little Drummer Boy” are good songs?)… and putting them in their proper arrangements…

I sincerely think the album is a Dylan post-Christian joke, though not an especially amusing one.

By: Chuck Beem

Chuck Beem — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:56 +0000

I used to really hate Dylan. I’ve softened a bit- he wrote a handful of fantastic songs. I wish he had stopped there.

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:25:57 +0000

I’ve heard it, and this review is kind. It really is that bad–so bad that I thought it was a joke when I first heard it.

By: Brent

Brent — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:22:18 +0000

Hater.

By: Thom Bullock

Thom Bullock — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:40:48 +0000

As someone who much prefers Dylan’s songs when other people do them, I loved this article. But it makes me wonder how much we do this with pastors/other groups. Not everything Driscoll, Piper, Chandler, or Crossway produce is gold, and there’s a weird culture around them that seems to think otherwise.

By: Damian

Damian — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:35:25 +0000

I’m a big fan of Bob Dylan. But I’m no glassy-eyed devotee. Bob murdered these songs. As for the rest of his catalog, Bob is a gift from God. His lyrics wouldn’t be the same if he had honey in his voice.

By: donsands

donsands — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:33:45 +0000

I stick with “Slow Train Coming”, and his other earlier LP’s.

And I’ll be listening to Nat King Cole, Old Blue Eyes, and Andy Williams this Season, which will be here quite soon.

That’s for the heads up post.

By: Alan Littlejohn

Alan Littlejohn — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:57:31 +0000

I have really liked listening to Dylan over the years. My wife tolerates my listening to him. But I too went and listened to the album samples on Amazon. It is beyond bad, the Hard Rain has fallen on his voice.

By: Eric Schumacher

Eric Schumacher — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:48:07 +0000

I love Dylan.

But, I went and listened to samples on Amazon.

Yeah, it is bad.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:42:07 +0000

How, in the name of anything remotely aesthetic and slightly beautiful, could anyone in their right tonal minds possibly think that Dylan is a gifted vocalist?

My ears are covered!!

Horrifically yours,
A retired musician

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:33:36 +0000

I don’t think Beethoven tried to sing the 9th.

By: Gordon Cheng

Gordon Cheng — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:27:30 +0000

Ah, that’s cruel.

Remember that Beethoven was deaf by the time he composed his 9th Symphony, and we don’t hold that against him, do we?