Here's a compelling video for any Dylan lovers or musicians or any kind of artists that understand the creative process. Imagine trying to do this with the song still completely new and yet to be recorded and in the presence of some mighty successful peers (at least four that we see) and with all that other business going on around you (like a movie or TV shoot or recording session with photographers and lighting folks and engineers and various workers and etc.). And having to accept the producer's call on whether you did it or not to his satisfaction not yours. Like I said, for me, totally compelling:
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Yeah, there seems to be a lot of things going on during that taping. On the one hand, it's doubtful that anyone in that room had a worse, less attractive voice than Dylan. Yet there was a willingness maybe even a humility (I thought I was seeing a lot of nervousness), to sing in front of Diana Ross, Stevie Winder et al. And on the other side, there was a genuineness to the support and respect that Quincy Jones and Lionel Ritchie were showing him, perhaps for his overall body of work, the good and the not-so-good.
(I just realized I turned the sound down for "Yankee Doodle Dandy" on TCM to listen to this. Such is my own personal interest in anything Bob Dylan is attached to.)
Uniquely perfect. Stevie sure has a lot of genuine respect and patience too! sweet.
Exactly the way I felt K and Jen. Dylan a little self consciously nervous, Stevie gleefully supportive, Quincy like the poppa making sure his kid knows he's proud of him and Lionel getting how what Dylan did will work fine in the context of all those voices. Amazing glimpse into the creative process in such a situation.
Hey man thanks for that. Fascinating. From day one Dylan's voice has an enigma,yet I consider him a great singer. Much like Tom Waits. Oh, and where the heck is Lionel Ritchie these days?
meant to say "has been an enigma"
It's not exactly singing, and I can hear in this what eventually I noticed in his old age the last time I saw him perform, a kind of two note thing he does, seemingly only feeling comfortable with basically those two notes so always seems to be reaching for. Another interesting thing is how his speaking voice, you can hear it on this, is often pretty low and mellow unlike how he chooses (I assume it's partly deliberate) to sing! He is a tribute to finding your own way in whatever you do, that's for sure.
Well there is always "Lay Lady Lay." Who the hell was that?
exact-ed-aly
So fascinating!
Finally had a chance to check this out, wow! Interesting to me that he was reading the words when there were so few to memorize. Love watching creative giants work. Thanks for sharing.
Totally. It looks to me like he had just received the words and was just hearing the music or had just heard it for the first time. It's so familiar to us now it's difficult to put yourself in the position of that melody being though obviously catchy still brand new and basically strange. I'd guess he didn't want to blow the words so held tightly to them, maybe also as a prop to rely on so he wouldn't feel so exposed etc.
Michael, you know I am a Dylan lover and this was the perfect clip today
Suzanne
That makes me happy I posted it Suzanne.
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