The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #116506   Message #2503124
Posted By: GUEST,Hitchin John
27-Nov-08 - 04:44 PM
Thread Name: Bob Dylan on RS 100 Best Singers list!??
Subject: RE: Bob Dylan on RS 100 Best Singers list!??
All the lists are somewhat bogus - which is the best fruit - strawberry or apple?

But with a pinch of salt you can just enjoy fuming over how your favorite has been overlooked or their suprisingly high placing in the list.

Anyway Bob Dylan - Great singer - why not in the mid sixties no one else could deliver his songs as he did. From Masters of war to Mr Tambourine man to Like a Rolling Stone he used what he was given in a unique and evocative manner. Although it is clear Joan Baez had great clarity of tone, for me she rarely even threatens to deliver the definitive version of any of Dylan's songs.

It is also clear that while some songs may have been written with other people in mind. Bob has never written a song he didn't think that he could sing.

Given also the wave of imitators who borrowed from his delivery as well as his writing - surely while not possessing a great natural voice, he was a great singer - it ain't what you've got - it's what you do with it!