Joni Mitchell on Bob Dylan: 'He's a plagiarist'

[Voronwë the Faithful]

[vison]

I share Voronwë's assessment of Dylan as an artist. I'd say without hesitation that Dylan is the greatest popular artist of the last century. I wouldn't try to argue about influence, though. It's just a subjective opinion, based on what I perceive as the enormity and uniqueness of his gift.

I don't get it.

But it doesn't matter. Tastes vary and that's a wonderful thing.

[Frelga]

Taste is subjective but both popularity and influence can be quantified and measured.

[JewelSong]

Dylan was a great lyricist...a poet. He happened to set many of his poems to music and many of his tunes are catchy. Almost ALL his tunes are very simple, musically - three chords, tops. Many people (folk and acoustic artists, mostly) copied this style...which, of course, was "copied" from songs from other folk singers, going back hundreds of years. Dylan made it popular and as an influence to the folk revival that happened in the US, he is certainly on the top of the list. His songs have been covered by hundreds of other artists.

As far as a great musical influence in other genres...I do not think so.

[vison]

See, this is where I disagree. I don't think Dylan's lyrics are good poetry at all. They might be great lyrics when sung, but as stand-alone-lyric poetry, not so much.

I remember vividly when Dylan took up the electric guitar. Some of his more rabid folk fans burned his records in disgust.

[Aravar]

Bob Dylan reminds me of Terry Pratchett's comment (roughly remembered) about:

"A nasal whine that tells you that folk song is about to be committed"


(Still. I know one good folk song. It lasts for weeks)