Someone notable (but I was told this anecdote by my father in law and have forgotten who it was) said he loved any Bob Dylan song, as long as it was sung by anyone other than Bob Dylan.
Journal of controversial ideas
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
where once I used to scintillate
now I sin till ten past three
now I sin till ten past three
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
His songwriting is fine, is singing is execrable. One of my BFFs from highschool loves Dylan beyond compare (to the point of seeing every show in Sydney and Melbourne that Dylan put on while touring Australia), I've never been able to admit it to him.
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Re: Journal of controversial ideas
You know that's Allen Ginsberg in the background, I hope?
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Re: Journal of controversial ideas
I have no strong opinions about Marmite. If we didn't have any other spread in the house, and the alternative was dry toast, I'd probably eat some. But on the other hand, I'd never buy it for myself, and I don't think I'd notice if they stopped making it.
In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them. The human body was knocked up pretty late on the Friday afternoon, with a deadline looming. How well do you expect it to work?
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Re: Journal of controversial ideas
Totally agree.
I can't stand the singing of Bryan Ferry, David Bowie or Benjamin Britten either.
Perit hic laetatio.
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
How about Glenn Gould?Boustrophedon wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 7:50 pmI can't stand the singing of ... Benjamin Britten either.
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
Hmmmbmforre wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:59 amHow about Glenn Gould?Boustrophedon wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 7:50 pmI can't stand the singing of ... Benjamin Britten either.
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ETA 5/8/20: I've been advised that the result was correct, it was the initial interpretation that needed to be withdrawn
Meta? I'd say so!
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Re: Journal of controversial ideas
It's noticeable that Keith Jarrett is like that in his improvised piano work, but yet he recorded the Goldberg Variations and the Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues gruntlessly.
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Re: Journal of controversial ideas
Possibly controversial opinion. Keith Jarret's The Köln Concert is very over rated.
Yes, it has some pleasant moments. But it goes on and on and is self indulgent. The good bits could probably have been distilled into three or four much shorter tracks.
Yes, it has some pleasant moments. But it goes on and on and is self indulgent. The good bits could probably have been distilled into three or four much shorter tracks.
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No idea, not heard of him, he would seem to be a pianist, did he sing?bmforre wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:59 amHow about Glenn Gould?Boustrophedon wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 7:50 pmI can't stand the singing of ... Benjamin Britten either.
Perit hic laetatio.
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Re: Journal of controversial ideas
I disagree about the first two, don't know about the third.Boustrophedon wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 7:50 pmTotally agree.
I can't stand the singing of Bryan Ferry, David Bowie or Benjamin Britten either.
I would add Amy Winehouse's voice to the list although the songs are OK. To me it sounds like she's about to be sick all the time.
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
Believers: "Burn the Agnostic!"snoozeofreason wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 7:28 pmI have no strong opinions about Marmite. If we didn't have any other spread in the house, and the alternative was dry toast, I'd probably eat some. But on the other hand, I'd never buy it for myself, and I don't think I'd notice if they stopped making it.
Unbelievers: "Have you tried feeding them hemlock instead of burning?"
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Re: Journal of controversial ideas
Hemlock would be more environmentally friendly.dyqik wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 11:19 amBelievers: "Burn the Agnostic!"snoozeofreason wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 7:28 pmI have no strong opinions about Marmite. If we didn't have any other spread in the house, and the alternative was dry toast, I'd probably eat some. But on the other hand, I'd never buy it for myself, and I don't think I'd notice if they stopped making it.
Unbelievers: "Have you tried feeding them hemlock instead of burning?"
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
That's only controversial in that it's entirely uncontroversial. Most overrated musician/songwriter ever.
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I disagree. He's a great song writer. He's second only to Lennon and McCartney for the number of other artists that have covered his work. It might not be to your taste, but it is very popular.
But Dylan is the one artist for whom the covers are reliably better than the original. He was never any good as a singer or guitarist.
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
I didn't say he was bad, just overrated. He was awarded the Nobel prize for literature, and yet his songs are just kind of OK. Well, some of them are. Many are just word salad, and there are very many far better songwriters around. I think that the reason he's so covered is (a) age & (b) any cover is pretty much guaranteed to be better than the original (unless it's a primary school class playing blowing in the wind on recorders).Woodchopper wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 1:41 pmI disagree. He's a great song writer. He's second only to Lennon and McCartney for the number of other artists that have covered his work. It might not be to your taste, but it is very popular.
But Dylan is the one artist for whom the covers are reliably better than the original. He was never any good as a singer or guitarist.
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Re: Journal of controversial ideas
The best version of Blowin in the Wind (and great images):tom p wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 1:56 pmI didn't say he was bad, just overrated. He was awarded the Nobel prize for literature, and yet his songs are just kind of OK. Well, some of them are. Many are just word salad, and there are very many far better songwriters around. I think that the reason he's so covered is (a) age & (b) any cover is pretty much guaranteed to be better than the original (unless it's a primary school class playing blowing in the wind on recorders).Woodchopper wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 1:41 pmI disagree. He's a great song writer. He's second only to Lennon and McCartney for the number of other artists that have covered his work. It might not be to your taste, but it is very popular.
But Dylan is the one artist for whom the covers are reliably better than the original. He was never any good as a singer or guitarist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcynRnI7uAo
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Re: Journal of controversial ideas
OK tom p, so I had a word with Robert Z, who obviously knows of your reputation as a critic. He takes on board what you say and will try to do better next time. He just wishes you could have got this information to him earlier, given his age and the number of songs already under his belt.
I suggested he might like to adapt the lyrics of a better songwriter to some of his tunes and we discussed whether
Where the hood, where the hood, where the hood at?/Have that ***** in the cut, where the wood at?/Oh, them ****** actin up? Where the wolves at?/You better bust that if you gon' pull that
might enhance the melody of All Along the Watchtower. Ultimately, we felt that song's virulent homophobia wasn't really Robert's thing, although we know you are very fond of the late performer.
I said I'd report back to you. In parting, he said perhaps you would give Idiot Wind a second listen as he felt it might have something to say to you.
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
I think that captions for figures in papers and reports should be above the figure not below.
Especially if you're reading an online report and the captions are cross-referenced as you tend to jump to the caption at the top of the screen, so the figure would be above the top.
But even if not online. Do you look above Chapter 5 for the story in Chapter 5?
Especially if you're reading an online report and the captions are cross-referenced as you tend to jump to the caption at the top of the screen, so the figure would be above the top.
But even if not online. Do you look above Chapter 5 for the story in Chapter 5?
Have you considered stupidity as an explanation
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Re: Journal of controversial ideas
I just looked it up and lots of Dylan songs were based on traditional ones. There's nothing wrong with doing this and he's not alone but to me that undermines his originality. But then, I am biased and I don't care.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_B ... lier_tunes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_B ... lier_tunes
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
I scroll through to find the interesting figures, then scroll down to see what the figure is about.jimbob wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 3:09 pmI think that captions for figures in papers and reports should be above the figure not below.
Especially if you're reading an online report and the captions are cross-referenced as you tend to jump to the caption at the top of the screen, so the figure would be above the top.
But even if not online. Do you look above Chapter 5 for the story in Chapter 5?
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
You seem to have mistaken me for a fan of DMX, rather than an enemy of boorish loudmouthed arrogant ignorance.causan_dux wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 3:04 pmOK tom p, so I had a word with Robert Z, who obviously knows of your reputation as a critic. He takes on board what you say and will try to do better next time. He just wishes you could have got this information to him earlier, given his age and the number of songs already under his belt.
I suggested he might like to adapt the lyrics of a better songwriter to some of his tunes and we discussed whether
Where the hood, where the hood, where the hood at?/Have that ***** in the cut, where the wood at?/Oh, them ****** actin up? Where the wolves at?/You better bust that if you gon' pull that
might enhance the melody of All Along the Watchtower. Ultimately, we felt that song's virulent homophobia wasn't really Robert's thing, although we know you are very fond of the late performer.
I said I'd report back to you. In parting, he said perhaps you would give Idiot Wind a second listen as he felt it might have something to say to you.
Either way, as a (former) born-again Christian, the poor man's Woody Guthrie (a greater songwriter, and one who could actually sing) is something of a fellow traveler with homophobes, so whilst he might not like such lyrics, I doubt he'd always have bridled at virulent homophobia.
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
I assume the reference is to the extraneous vocal noises Gould made while performing at piano, kind of humming along with himself, which are unfortunately all too audible on some of his recordings.Boustrophedon wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 10:05 amNo idea, not heard of him, he would seem to be a pianist, did he sing?bmforre wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:59 amHow about Glenn Gould?Boustrophedon wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 7:50 pmI can't stand the singing of ... Benjamin Britten either.
It's not a unique failing. A reasonably well-known English conductor has the habit of making percussive ch-ch-ch type noises in time with the music as he conducts. So it's not a good idea to sit too close to the front at his concerts.
I'm not aware of Benjamin Britten singing, nor can I think of anything this is a joke reference to. Maybe there is a confusion with Peter Pears.
Re: Journal of controversial ideas
Bacon. Can't stand it, can't stand the smell of it, can't even look at it in a supermarket.
Non fui. Fui. Non sum. Non curo.
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Re: Journal of controversial ideas
I hope at least some of you are planning to write up these submissions for the journal in question.
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