MusiCares Speech Bob Dylan - Feb 6, 2015

[MikeFromHolland]

For the whole article, please look at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/02/07/people-bob-dylan-dissed-musicares-speech-merle-haggard-tom-t-hall/23030167/
Published Feb. 07, 2015

Fragment:

'50s songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

"I didn't really care what Leiber & Stoller thought of my songs," Dylan said of the songwriting team who wrote several of Elvis Presley's early hits, including Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel. "They didn't like them. But Doc Pomus did.

"That was all right they didn't like them. 'Cause I didn't like their songs, either.

"Yakety yak, don't talk back. Charlie Brown is a clown. Baby, I'm a hog for you. Novelty songs. They weren't saying anything serious.

"But Doc's songs, they were better. This Magic Moment. Lonely Avenue. Save the Last Dance for Me. Those songs broke my heart. I figured I'd rather have his blessings any day than theirs."

Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun

"Ahmet Ertegun didn't think much of my songs, but Sam Phillips did," comparing two giants of the recording industry. "Ahmet founded Atlantic Records. He produced great records — Ray Charles, Ray Brown, LaVern Baker, just to name a few. There were some great records there. No question about it. But Sam Phillips, he recorded Elvis and Jerry Lee, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. Radical artists that shook the very essence of humanity. Revolution and style and scope, every shape and color. Radical to the bone. Songs that cut you to the bone. Renegades in all degrees. Doing songs that would never decay and still resound to this day. Oh, yeah. I would rather have Sam Phillips' blessing any day."

[Mister Moon]

For the whole article, please look at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/02/07/people-bob-dylan-dissed-musicares-speech-merle-haggard-tom-t-hall/23030167/
Published Feb. 07, 2015

Fragment:

'50s songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

"I didn't really care what Leiber & Stoller thought of my songs," Dylan said of the songwriting team who wrote several of Elvis Presley's early hits, including Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel. "They didn't like them. But Doc Pomus did.

"That was all right they didn't like them. 'Cause I didn't like their songs, either.

"Yakety yak, don't talk back. Charlie Brown is a clown. Baby, I'm a hog for you. Novelty songs. They weren't saying anything serious.

"But Doc's songs, they were better. This Magic Moment. Lonely Avenue. Save the Last Dance for Me. Those songs broke my heart. I figured I'd rather have his blessings any day than theirs."

Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun

"Ahmet Ertegun didn't think much of my songs, but Sam Phillips did," comparing two giants of the recording industry. "Ahmet founded Atlantic Records. He produced great records — Ray Charles, Ray Brown, LaVern Baker, just to name a few. There were some great records there. No question about it. But Sam Phillips, he recorded Elvis and Jerry Lee, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. Radical artists that shook the very essence of humanity. Revolution and style and scope, every shape and color. Radical to the bone. Songs that cut you to the bone. Renegades in all degrees. Doing songs that would never decay and still resound to this day. Oh, yeah. I would rather have Sam Phillips' blessing any day."

Thanks for the post, Mike.

A half-hour speech from 2015 Bob ? Help !

As much as I respect Dylan and his work, he does go off the rails sometimes to put it mildly. This is an example.

To dismiss, or even try to compare, Leiber & Stoller vs. Pomus, Ertegun vs. Phillips, or Haggard vs. Owens, is just childish, ridiculous, and unworthy of somebody of Bob's stature.

Next, please...

[Claus]

I would love to watch that speech. I see nothing remotely controversial here at all. By the looks of it, he is not dissing anyone but Marsha Ambrosius..

Here is the best bit from the article

"Critics say I mangle my melodies, render my songs unrecognizable," he said. "Let me tell you something: I was at a boxing match a few years ago, seeing Floyd Mayweather fight a Puerto Rican guy. And the Puerto Rican national anthem, somebody sang it. And it was beautiful, it was heartfelt, it was moving. After that, it was time for our national anthem, and a very popular soul-singing sister was chosen to sing it. She sang every note. That exists. And some that don't exist. Talk about mangling a melody. Take a one-syllable word and make it last for 15 minutes. http: To me, it was not funny. Mangling lyrics, mangling a melody, mangling a treasured song. No, I get the blame."

[Walter Hale 4]

For the whole article, please look at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/02/07/people-bob-dylan-dissed-musicares-speech-merle-haggard-tom-t-hall/23030167/
Published Feb. 07, 2015

Fragment:

'50s songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

"I didn't really care what Leiber & Stoller thought of my songs," Dylan said of the songwriting team who wrote several of Elvis Presley's early hits, including Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel. "They didn't like them. But Doc Pomus did.

"That was all right they didn't like them. 'Cause I didn't like their songs, either.

"Yakety yak, don't talk back. Charlie Brown is a clown. Baby, I'm a hog for you. Novelty songs. They weren't saying anything serious.

"But Doc's songs, they were better. This Magic Moment. Lonely Avenue. Save the Last Dance for Me. Those songs broke my heart. I figured I'd rather have his blessings any day than theirs."

Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun

"Ahmet Ertegun didn't think much of my songs, but Sam Phillips did," comparing two giants of the recording industry. "Ahmet founded Atlantic Records. He produced great records — Ray Charles, Ray Brown, LaVern Baker, just to name a few. There were some great records there. No question about it. But Sam Phillips, he recorded Elvis and Jerry Lee, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. Radical artists that shook the very essence of humanity. Revolution and style and scope, every shape and color. Radical to the bone. Songs that cut you to the bone. Renegades in all degrees. Doing songs that would never decay and still resound to this day. Oh, yeah. I would rather have Sam Phillips' blessing any day."

Thanks for the post, Mike.

A half-hour speech from 2015 Bob ? Help !

As much as I respect Dylan and his work, he does go off the rails sometimes to put it mildly. This is an example.

To dismiss, or even try to compare, Leiber & Stoller vs. Pomus, Ertegun vs. Phillips, or Haggard vs. Owens, is just childish, ridiculous, and unworthy of somebody of Bob's stature.

Next, please...

Well said Mike and Mister Moon. I reckon the Bobster shouldn't have used the occasion to put down other writers and fellow artists but it would have been more legitimate (and justified) for him to respond to his own critics who throughout the years have put him down such as when he was changing and progressing to other types of music, his voice, decision to remain private, the standard of his live concerts and tours. Shame.

[Walter Hale 4]

This link is the full transcript of his 30 minute speech -
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-grammys-2015-transcript-of-bob-dylans-musicares-person-of-year-speech-20150207-story.html#page=1

[George Smith]

For the whole article, please look at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/02/07/people-bob-dylan-dissed-musicares-speech-merle-haggard-tom-t-hall/23030167/
Published Feb. 07, 2015

Fragment:

'50s songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

"I didn't really care what Leiber & Stoller thought of my songs," Dylan said of the songwriting team who wrote several of Elvis Presley's early hits, including Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel.

Leiber and Stoller wrote "Don't Be Cruel?

Who knew?

[MikeFromHolland]

This link is the full transcript of his 30 minute speech -
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-grammys-2015-transcript-of-bob-dylans-musicares-person-of-year-speech-20150207-story.html#page=1

Thank you!

[MikeFromHolland]

For the whole article, please look at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/02/07/people-bob-dylan-dissed-musicares-speech-merle-haggard-tom-t-hall/23030167/
Published Feb. 07, 2015

Fragment:

'50s songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

"I didn't really care what Leiber & Stoller thought of my songs," Dylan said of the songwriting team who wrote several of Elvis Presley's early hits, including Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel.

Leiber and Stoller wrote "Don't Be Cruel?

Who knew?

According to the text of the whole speech, this wasn't said by Dylan. It was the reporter (as usual) who made the mistake.

[Mister Moon]

For the whole article, please look at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/02/07/people-bob-dylan-dissed-musicares-speech-merle-haggard-tom-t-hall/23030167/
Published Feb. 07, 2015

Fragment:

'50s songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

"I didn't really care what Leiber & Stoller thought of my songs," Dylan said of the songwriting team who wrote several of Elvis Presley's early hits, including Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel.

Leiber and Stoller wrote "Don't Be Cruel?

Who knew?

According to the text of the whole speech, this wasn't said by Dylan. It was the reporter (as usual) who made the mistake.

But it IS Dylan who mentions one "Ray Brown" as having recorded for Atlantic Records, which is, I think, a big mistake.

He is probably thinking of Roy Brown, the writer and original performer of "Good Rocking Tonight", who never recorded for Atlantic. And if he's thinking of Ray Brown, the jazz musician, I think he did not work for Ertegun's label, either.

I've listened to a few of his radio shows as a host, which are a real treat is you like vintage music from the USA, and there are a few clunkers too. For example, when he mentioned that The Spaniels were among the artists in the tour that took the lives of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. It was not The Spaniels, but Dion & The Belmonts, who were in that tour (along with Frankie Sardo). Dylan, should know better about it - he's always claimed he was at the Duluth concert !

Wake up, Bobby !

[NumberEight]

Dylan's talking about the feel of the music.

How can this nitpicking of details have any bearing on his argument?

[Mister Moon]

Dylan's talking about the feel of the music.

How can this nitpicking of details have any bearing on his argument?

Not really nitpicking, because people, for ages, have tended to analyze and sanctify every little thing Dylan says, writes or sings, from every possible angle.

So it's especially annoying, because those wrong details may go unnoticed for some of those who read those lines, who may take it as spelling on the stone.

But anybody can make mistakes, that goes without saying. Even Bob Dylan.

[NumberEight]

Dylan's talking about the feel of the music.

How can this nitpicking of details have any bearing on his argument?

Not really nitpicking, because people, for ages, have tended to analyze and sanctify every little thing Dylan says, writes or sings, from every possible angle.

So it's especially annoying, because those wrong details may go unnoticed for some of those who read those lines, who may take it as spelling on the stone.

But anybody can make mistakes, that goes without saying. Even Bob Dylan.

No-one in their right mind would dispute the assertion that Dylan and his work have been analyzed from every possible angle.

What I don't see is how this nitpicking of details - or whatever you choose to call it - can have any bearing on the validity or otherwise of the point Dylan's making here.

[George Smith]

For the whole article, please look at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/02/07/people-bob-dylan-dissed-musicares-speech-merle-haggard-tom-t-hall/23030167/
Published Feb. 07, 2015

Fragment:

'50s songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

"I didn't really care what Leiber & Stoller thought of my songs," Dylan said of the songwriting team who wrote several of Elvis Presley's early hits, including Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel.

Leiber and Stoller wrote "Don't Be Cruel?

Who knew?

According to the text of the whole speech, this wasn't said by Dylan. It was the reporter (as usual) who made the mistake.

Yup, I saw that and that's why I quoted the whole line: I was attempting to point out some sloppy reporting.

Dylan's entitled to his opinions, though: Lord knows he's had enough opinions expressed about him.

[Mister Moon]

Dylan's talking about the feel of the music.

How can this nitpicking of details have any bearing on his argument?

Not really nitpicking, because people, for ages, have tended to analyze and sanctify every little thing Dylan says, writes or sings, from every possible angle.

So it's especially annoying, because those wrong details may go unnoticed for some of those who read those lines, who may take it as spelling on the stone.

But anybody can make mistakes, that goes without saying. Even Bob Dylan.

No-one in their right mind would dispute the assertion that Dylan and his work have been analyzed from every possible angle.

What I don't see is how this nitpicking of details - or whatever you choose to call it - can have any bearing on the validity or otherwise of the point Dylan's making here.

Dylan always deserves attention, and I greatly respect him and his work, as I said above.

It's only that - nitpicking, or whatever, aside - I'm not sure what his point is on this occasion, making all those silly comparisons and dismissals.

To me, it's a useless piece, a waste of time. Just my opinion, of course.