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The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

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Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

?

He's pointing out that the Republicans are objectively the more divisive party in 2016. To be fair, it goes back and forth - 10 years ago I would have agreed with you.

Within the context of the song in 1964, Dylan was also objectively talking about Republicans (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_strategy).

But, as you say, it goes back and forth and in the 19th Century it was the Democrats who were known for this. Neither party has a great history with race.

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#233

I can't help but come back to: A South politician preaches to the poor white man "You got more than blacks, don't complain You're better than them, you been born with white skin" they explain And the Negro's name Is used it is plain For the politician's gain As he rises to fame And the poor white remains On the caboose of the train But it ain't him to blame He's only a pawn in their game. YouTube: https://m.youtube.c…

When I click on link bait I feel like a pawn.

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is about time to officially introduce the 'Reductio ad Trumperum'.

Not quite - as a strategy by Republican politicians (and Democrats before that) it predates Trump by quite a long way.

> it predates Trump by quite a long way

Are you suggesting history existed before I was born?

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#235

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is about time to officially introduce the 'Reductio ad Trumperum'.

Not quite - as a strategy by Republican politicians (and Democrats before that) it predates Trump by quite a long way.

I hear a whooshing sound. Reductio ad Trumperum or something similar (I'm not real 'up' on my Latin grammar) would presumably mean "reduce to Trump." You know, like summing up a complex & nuanced issue in terms of how it supposedly relates to Trump. You're saying people have been doing this -- as a -strategy- mind you -- since before Trump existed?

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The MusicCares speech is great; thanks. An interesting excerpt: I learned lyrics and how to write them from listening to folk songs. And I played them, and I met other people that played them, back when nobody was doing it. Sang nothing but these folk songs, and they gave me the code for everything that's fair game, that everything belongs to everyone. Does Dylan allow bootlegging? Are his songs libre? Does he limit…

> Does Dylan allow bootlegging? Are his songs libre? Does he limit their use or charge royalties? Can I sample one without his permission? I'm not sure of the legal rights involved, but he spent nearly the first half of his speech thanking individual artists for covering his songs, so I'd say it's fair game in his eyes.

Musical covers are allowed under mechanical copyrights.

For live performances, the venue carries an ASCAP license, I believe on an annual rate. I don't know how royalties are attributed to individual songwriters.

For recordings, the recording company is, as I understand, responsible for paying royalties to the songwriter.

Note that songwriters and composers get royalties, but recording artists are typically only compensated for their studio time. This bit of legal context for revenues is a reason for the difference between recording artists (much better deal for the studio) and singer-songwriters (much savvier for the artist).

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#237
post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The other half of rock & roll has got to be hillbilly. And that's a derogatory term, but it ought not to be. That's a term that includes the Delmore Bros., Stanley Bros., Roscoe Holcomb, Git Tanner and the Skillet Lickers... groups like that. Moonshine gone berserk. Fast cars on dirt roads. That's the kind of combination that makes up rock & roll, and it can't be cooked up in a science laboratory or a studio. Consid…

Keith Richards and his school buddy, Mick Jagger, bonded by nerding out over American folk music ('Life' is a fun read), including both rhythm and blues and the kind of hillbilly stuff Dylan refers to. So did Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It's kind of amazing how rock and roll became so much greater when it was exported and imported.

For the Stones, specifically the blues.

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#238
post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the time since Dylan started signing black people went from having very limited rights to winning a presidential elections. Obviously, there are many more factors than Dylan at play, and establishing causality, or the lack of thereof, is impossible. But, in my opinion, saying that society has not changed would be a big mistake.

Attributing any of that "progress" to Bob Dylan is a huge reach. He has a lot of fans and reached some segment of the population with his act, but he's basically just another guy peddling records and tap dancing for nickels.

>Attributing any of that "progress" to Bob Dylan is a huge reach.

While that's true, Bob Dylan was most likely the reason behind Hurricane's retrial, so that's something: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_(Bob_Dylan_song)

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#239
post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is. When a society is splintered and the elites try to rule as if they understand the masses, you will have greater strife.

Can you blame them? A large portion of the masses have aligned themselves with a con man.

The Republican Party failed to field a credible candidate that spoke to Middle America. They, too, were blinded by the elite bubble. Trump saw the weakness and jumped on it.

Re: The Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 awarded to Bob Dylan

#240

Totally 100% well deserved. Just imagine the 13 year old out there discovering "Masters of War" or "Idiot Wind" for the first time today. Their entire point of view is about to change. Mind upon to hitherto unknowable vistas. Ergo, the absolute benchmark of what Great Literature strives to embody. Also worth checking out is Dylan's controversial speech upon receiving the the MusiCares Person of the Year 2015 award. I…

I was probably 13 or so when I bought a "Freewheelin Bob Dylan" cassette out of a bargain bin for maybe a dollar. I thought then, and think now, that "Masters of War" was embarrassingly juvenile. I mean, come on:

  And I hope that you die
  And your death’ll come soon
  I will follow your casket
  In the pale afternoon
  And I’ll watch while you’re lowered
  Down to your deathbed
  And I’ll stand o’er your grave
  Til I’m sure that you’re dead
Really right up there with "Suicide is Painless". And rhyming deathbed and "you're dead" is an awkward classic finish. I wouldn't bother opining this way but that dumb song's reputation is truly bizarre.
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