For those who endorse awarding Bob Dylan the Nobel Prize in Literature, the question might be: Why did the Swedish Academy wait so long? For those who oppose: A songwriter?
But there is never an expiration date on the acknowledgment of excellence, and Mr. Dylan is much more than a songwriter. One may quarrel that the award delays what appears to be the inevitable recognition by the academy of novelists Haruki Murakami and Philip Roth, among others, or that a composer for musical theater like Stephen Sondheim is the place to begin if songs are considered literature. But no one who knows Mr. Dylan’s work and its impact on his and subsequent generations of authors and composers can dispute its high quality.
To the point of whether the words to songs comprise literature: It is the rare lyric that can stand on its own without the rhythm the music provides. The irony of assessing Mr. Dylan’s words absent the accompaniment is that he changed popular music by discovering and then exploring, repeatedly and often magnificently, new ways to set distinctive narratives to melody and rhythm as in “Mr. Tambourine Man” or “Like a Rolling Stone.” There is no comparable body of work, regardless of standard of measurement, by any other artist of the rock era.
~ Jim Fusilli, excerpt from Yes, Bob Dylan Deserves the Nobel Prize
Notes:
- Cartoon Source: The New Yorker.
- Blog Title: Bob Dylan’s 1962 hit – Blowin’ in the Wind
- bbc.com: US singer Bob Dylan has been awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature, becoming the first songwriter to win the prestigious award.
Live & Learn 
“The times they are a changing.” No truer words.
LikeLiked by 2 people
(smiling) ❤
Diana xo
LikeLike
And he made it not knowing this is where the wind will blow him…
LikeLiked by 2 people
So true…
What’s money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.
– Bob Dylan
LikeLiked by 3 people
…and that my friend, is what in between is all about.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Smiling. Right there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poetic expression at its best. Well deserved!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!
LikeLike
Well deserved! Dylan is such a gifted song writer. 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is glad the Nobel committee mixed it up a bit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
fabulous 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I posted this cartoon on FBI yesterday…before your post. His words are timeless and I applaud the Nobel committee…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agree Mimi…
LikeLike
Reblogged this on per mare….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing
LikeLiked by 1 person
How great was this?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
yay Bob!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m in love with Bob’s songs. Specially “the times they are a changing” and “blowing in the wind.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. Timeless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. I’m from Scandinavia and I like the idea of expanding the notion of what makes up literature. Wordsmithing that makes an impact. For the better. For humanity. For thinking.
I’m not one for sharp lines, rigid structure, hard categorizing but welcome softer edges and blurred lines between – as in this case – lyrics and poetry. As long as the literature is of quality and has an impact.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderfully stated Elizabeth. I agree. Thank you
LikeLike
Nice Share and Nice Post ..
❤ ❤ LOVE it ❤ ❤
Come and visit my blog ..
https://kenikmatanpria.wordpress.com/category/english-corner/
Thanks u
LikeLiked by 1 person
will do.
LikeLike