From: akp1@kimbark.uchicago.edu (Adam K. Powers)
Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan
Subject: Re: Damage Control
Date: 25 Jan 93 15:02:46 GMT
Reply-To: akp1@midway.uchicago.edu
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Chicago

steve@wet.COM (Steve Meloan) writes:

>My question is, does anyone out there think that there is something "not 
>right" about today's Bob Dylan (the man).  I'm referring to his disoriented 
>manner and facial expressions at the Grammy tribute (along with any of a 
>number of other recent appearances).  To me, he has the look of someone that's
>somehow "damaged" (a la Brian Wilson).  And don't get me wrong, I'm still a 
>big fan, and intimately familiar with his work, both old and new.  I'm just 
>wondering if I'm the only one that has this impression.  And it's not just his
>demeanor.  I mean, everyone talks about how his singing has always been a bit 
>borderline.  I disagree.  Go out and rent "Don't Look Back."  It's clear, 
>concise, and on key.  All of the above are rarely the case anymore.  His voice
>is now a constricted, nearly atonal, nasal croak.  It still works on certain 
>songs, as does modern era Tom Waits on some of his, but clearly, there's been 
>a major change.  Comments?

I've heard the "he's just not the same" argument from several friends, and
frankly, I don't put any faith in it at all.  Bob Dylan, in whatever state of
mind he appears to be in on stage, is certainly in control of his own life.
I think that the main reason that he often appears to be 'lost' on stage is
that he chooses to block out the audience from his thinking so that he can
perform!  Recalling the words *and* chords to whichever song he has just
decided to play while standing in front of a large audience with bright lights
and TV cameras pointed at him is no easy task.  Most performers compensate
for this by rehearsing extensively so that they have already planned out
*exactly* what to sing, what key, where to stand, etc... so that the audience
believes that the performer is in control of everything going on in front of
them.  Dylan usually 'wings' it.  This often means that he looks like he is
seriously wigged out or just plain confused, especially on TV, since Dylan has
stated his discomfort with TV appearances anyway.  The Grammys were a good
example - he was expected to give a superlative performance on cue, while
confronted with Jack Nicholson calling him 'Uncle Bobby' and a silly bio-pic
shown overhead.  I seriously doubt that he had prepared anything to say ahead
of time.  Letterman wasn't much different - with all those musicians hamming
it up behind him, thinking, "I'm on TV jamming with Bob Dylan!" he probably
just got distracted and wandered off-key.  Sometimes it works, though;
Letterman '84 certainly wasn't bad, even though he couldn't find the right
harmonica, and he was certainly in control at the Tribute show - from what I
understand, the encore wasn't planned (maybe that's why the PPV broadcast cut
out early) but it was one of the best moments of the show.  No, I don't think
that Bob has lost any mental capability; I just think he doesn't try to play
up to his audiences by prefabricating his appearances.

As for his voice... Well, you have to admit that he's lost a lot of his range
and clarity, but, hey, he's 51 and has been smoking for decades.  Even if he
stopped smoking, he could never regain that _Nashville Skyline_ voice again.
I think that he deliberately 'roughened' his voice early on to sound a little
older, a little less pretty, and a little more like a blues singer.  Now that
his voice is truly weathered, he *does* sound a lot like a blues singer.
"10,000 Men" on _UtRS_ and much of _Oh Mercy_ make me think that even more.
Dylan's voice may be ragged and barely intelligible at times, but he still
can sing with a good deal of passion when the moment is right.

						-Adam K. Powers
						akp1@midway.uchicago.edu
Newsgroups: rec.music.dylan