Re: I don't think that's it

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In Reply to: I don't think that's it posted by J on July 11, 2006 at 10:39:10:

Good comments Jay... I think that (some of that) performance was on the recent PBS documentary, wasn't it? The thing that stood out to me there (PBS docu), more than anything, was his smarts, humbleness & lack of pretentiousness... beyond his obvious talent & originality. It's a rare thing, especially in these days of third rate, off-the-street, manufactured Idol type celebrities, and second rate pop & rock groups. Dylan did NOT have feet of clay, he was a true genius in every aspect.... talent AND personal character. Quite amazing & rare I think. I've always more appreciated him than been a rabid fan, but I respect him more than ever as the years go by, and that's saying something.
That performance, as excellent as it is, is still a little more from his folk influences than the stuff (more artistic, reaching, poetic, original) he did the next few years. Folk tended to be political anyway, certainly compared to most other forms... you could tell a story with it. To me, it doesn't have the magic of some of the deeper (more introspective) poetic stuff he was yet to write. What's best about this performance is his unique & honest personal style... it has aspects of both the folkies he listened to for years, and the country artists he admired, yet it's HIS song, and HIM getting into our heads & soul. As young as he is there, he's already become a natural musician, and as a performer, a muse of sorts. Luckily for us, he was only getting warmed up.
On Steve Allen... I'd cut him some slack here. He was not (really) anti-R&R etc. As a composer (he's composed well over 1K tunes), he saw many of the early R&R stars as wanting in certain (musical) ways... either talent or character. But, as host of the Tonight Show, he had people like Dylan on (& Zappa in high school) when they were REALLY young, yet was still able to recognize their talented & specialness at such young ages, even if he wasn't into that kinda music.
On Allen & education: Allen also wrote many dozens of books (he was a true renaissance man). One of them is "Dumbth"... it's a serious book about how stupid (so many) of us are (as a society), and how we might change that. Read the intro to the book where he describes what students know (from polls & test data), & don't know... it's shocking, and worse than you'd think. He was apalled, and concerned. Allen (like Zappa later on) saw the culture & society lacking in MANY such basic (educational) ways. He always admired & sought out excellence.... in knowledge (education) or music (art). Unlike Zappa, Allen did many things to try to improve it (foundations, organizations, PBS programming, books, etc). And don't forget than many of his "barbs" against R&R & pop music were in jest... either partly, or to mock. After all, he WAS a comic & comedy writer. He made fun of everyone! LOL. PS: I owe you an e-mail one of these days.. LOL!

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Dylan clip - J 22:41:08 07/10/06 (5)

Re: Dylan clip / Check out Sub. Homesick Blues on that clip... - Guy, 08:11:51 07/15/06 (0)

That gives me goose bumps and to think it's only 42 - audiogatorjim 08:07:00 07/12/06 (0)

Excellent..... - Todd Krieger 00:44:50 07/11/06 (2)

I don't think that's it - J 10:39:10 07/11/06 (1)

Re: I don't think that's it - jack70 13:57:29 07/17/06 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: I don't think that's it - jack70 13:57:29 07/17/06 (0)

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