Dylan on 60 Minutes

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: PoppaGator
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 09:21 AM

Amen, Whistle Stop.

I found Bob interesting enough, and am surprised at how much negative reaction I found here on the morning after. Perhaps it's a matter of expectation; I wasn't hoping for any earth-shattering pronouncement -- maybe some others were.

To me, the single most interesting moment was when he admitted that the fantastic wellspring of inspiration that was once so accessible to him is long gone. He quoted a few very intense lines of "It's Alright Ma" as an example of what neither he nor anyone else could come up with today. ("You go write something like that!")

He has undoubtedly become more of a craftsman as a songwriter since his incendiary youth, and has probably gotten better at producing melodies, but that amazing rush of words -- well, it's all over now.

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: GUEST,Whistle Stop
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 09:09 AM

Well, I guess I'm in the minority (with George for company); I thought Dylan was honest, direct, and as interesting as ever. Bradley could have come up with some more interesting questions, but I guess we have to reconize that the show was aimed at a broad 60 Minutes audience, so the tired stuff about Dylan being the "Voice of a Generation" kind of had to be in there.

I thought Dylan's comments about no longer being able to write songs like the early ones (It's Alright Ma, Hard Rain, etc.) were fascinating, and completely honest. He could have made all sorts of claims about his new songs being the same, or just as significant, or whatever, like you might expect a guy in his position to do. Instead, he was honest and said he can't write songs like that any more, and that he's somewhat mystified by how those songs came to be. As another long-time songwriter (not claiming to be in the same league as Dylan) who has gone through writing cycles of my own, I thought his comments were amazingly insightful, and the weariness with which he made them showed how this is an issue he has wrestled with over time ("I can't write like that any more, but I can do other things," said with as much hope as he could muster). In fact, there was a lot of weariness in his remarks, and his delivery; I don't think this was done for effect, I think that's just who he is these days. And given the life he has led, I can understand why he would be pretty roadworn by now.

I'm not sure what other people were expecting that left them disappointed, but I was glad for a chance to hear him talking directly about who he is, what he does, and what it means to him. I also eagerly devoured his book, and hope he follows through on writing the next volumes.

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 08:34 AM

Ed Bradley does have a good background in music and in interviewing musicians. But I can't say I was impressed by the questions. It looked like he might have surfed the web looking for clues. I mean, how tired and ridiculous is the question "How do you feel about being called the voice of your generation"?

The Bob played cultivated the icon and image building game back in the day--built that "mystique" thing that surrounds him, yet now claims he didn't have anything to do with it, it was all media fabrication and overhype.

I'd have to agree with the overhype thing.

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 01:52 AM

I think Bob respects Ed Bradley and his background in music and as a lover of jazz who had his own jazz program on public radio even while he did 60 Minutes every week. It's nice to know that the one asking the questions knows what he's talking about---has heard your music over the years and has done his homework.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: GUEST,awayfromthecookiejarDrWord
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 01:40 AM

Michael ~ Thanks for the thread. Would otherwise have missed the broadcast.



twelve out of 500 is roughly two and a half percent

For the author/composer, the "pat on the back" is regarded as, more or less, precisely that.

like lh, I don't watch the tube, but I did tune in.
Seems pretty comfy in his skin, which he didn't the one time I heard/saw him live in Winnipeg.
cheers
dennis

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: Snagger
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 12:20 AM

I thought the interview was interesting in that he was far more direct in answering the questions than I thought he would be. He responded like someone who feels like worn leather. He`s been handled, branded and worn. Sometimes, when the guard comes down whats left from the scars of life disappoints.
George

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: GUEST,Cluin
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 12:15 AM

Jeremiah, were you on the CanFolk e-mail listserve when the members collaborated on a spoof of "Times" in reaction to the commercials a few years ago? I used to have a copy of it around here somewhere, probably on my old computer or a floppy. I'll try and hunt it up.

Another commercial use of a song that leaves me scratching my head these days is the use of "I Believed in Father Christmas" by Bell Canada to sell cellphone service, etc. Didn't any of those boardroom dorks listen to the whole lyric to that song before they okayed it?

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 12:06 AM

Well, people do silly things, but it IS his song...

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 12:02 AM

Love much of the man's music. It's his creation and I guess he's "paid his dues". But he lost me completely when he licensed "The Times They Are A-Changing" for a frikken Bank of Montreal commercial.

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 11:50 PM

People are disappointed 'cause they were "looking for clues". He's just a musician like you or me...

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: Francy
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 11:48 PM

In all the years and all the songs and all the words and all the people listening to Dylan, and all the people that went before him and had an influence on his musical life....I don't see a speck of "humility" in Bob.......And to me that's what sets him behind people like Pete Seeger and Malvina Reynolds and Huddie Leadbetter and Woody.........As you may surmise i don't have a lot of praise for Bob Dylan....................Frank of Toledo

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 10:13 PM

Well, I'm sure the Dylan cult was hoping for A Sign.

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: number 6
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 09:26 PM

It was Bob. What did we expect.

'Something's happening here, and ya don't know what it is. Do you Mr. Jones'.

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 09:22 PM

You know?

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 09:21 PM

Another one weighing in with a big yawn. But I am amused at the irony of his intense desire to leave Hibbing behind, yet still sounding the Minnesota Ranger, despite all the miles and years between him & his hometown.

The Bob is A Bore.

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: GUEST,Dave Ruch
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 08:35 PM

As a big fan, I was disappointed in the interview, and surprised by how disconnected & lifeless Dylan came off. Does this guy enjoy ANYTHING, or have any sense of humor? I felt that too many of the questions were ones for which I already knew what his answer would be. I would have loved to hear him talk about the here and now - what does he enjoy doing when not on the road? What does he listen to?

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 08:21 PM

Hmmm. Gee. Well, I didn't see it. I forgot. Anyway, I basically don't watch TV.

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 08:17 PM

One of the most boring interviews I have heard. Self serving and boring---oh, he wrote the songs in a trance and now disowns them. Sure. The fellow who said he was Woody's disciple when it suited him. The fellow who changed his name for artistic reasons and now says he was just born into the wrong family with the wrong name.

The piece about the Western Wall was almost creating a vomit moment.

What he left out was that press agentry helped him a lot after it was seen that his music and his persona had "legs".

That said, I think his music is great. His persona--the opposite.

Hopefully, we will remember a peer of his. Phil Ochs. Would he have gone down this route? We will never know. Did he write material he stood behind? You bet.   Was he a better disciple of Woody G.---melodically NO--substance--a resounding YES.

Could Phil write ballads in addition to the topical---surely. Dylan's comments about him not withstanding.


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 07:53 PM

I must be getting old. He sounds like a horse's ass who has learned nothing in 40+ years. Except for his very last statement made with some humor.
SINS in body armor.

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: michaelr
Date: 05 Dec 04 - 07:44 PM

Tonight!
The teaser showed BD saying "...people thought I was drunk or a weirdo or something..." so presumably he'll refute those notions?

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 04:49 PM

Yes, I can't wait to see the Bobster on TV!

Subject: RE: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: mike_in_st_c
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 04:45 PM

Yes indeed. I plan to set up the vcr and tape it while I'm at work.

Subject: Dylan on 60 Minutes
From: michaelr
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 02:46 PM

Tomorrow on CBS! Check your local listings.

Cheers,
Michael