Well, we all have our own tastes. I look for songs and singers who:

- move my emotions powerfully
- give me something interesting to think about in their lyrics
- convey a strong intelligence
- hold up some kind of high ideals in their songs
- honor the past musical traditions AND innovate at the same time
- have a certain kind of unique intensity and style

And along that line I have greatly appreciated (in no particular order):

Joan Baez
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Bob Dylan
Leonard Cohen
Jackson Browne
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Lynn Miles
Al Stewart
Ian Tyson
Sylvia Tyson
Odetta
Melanie
Judy Collins
Joni Mitchell
Gordon Lightfoot
Willy Nelson
Emmylou Harris
Loreena McKennit
Neil Young

Now the interesting thing is that (with the possible exception of Joni M., who can be rather caustic about some other performers at times) all these people, when asked, have expressed great appreciation for each other's contributions and creativity in the field of music...and most of them think very highly of Bob's work, while he has also spoken highly of their work in most cases.

That shows good sense on their part. And experience. And maturity. Having done the hard work themselves, they know enough to respect similar hard work by someone else.

Whether you like the performer's style or their voice is a matter of personal taste, but don't think they didn't have to work pretty hard to get there. It is no easy ride, and not for Mr Dylan either.

****

bobad -

If the Dylan porn movie had ever been made, it would have probably been based upon either "Ballad of a Thin Man" or "Wiggle, Wiggle". ;-)

Gay porn in the first case ("the sword swallower walks up to you and he kneels, he crosses himself and he clicks his high heels, and without further ado asks you how it feels, and says "Here is your throat back, thanks for the loan")

or cooking porn in the latter ("Wiggle, wiggle like a bowl of soup!")