The Nobel to Dylan. What Blades, Sabina and Joselo think
Bob Dylan has so far not responded to calls from the Swedish Academy, which last week was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature 2016. Since then many have AIDS opinions for or against the granting of the most important award of the letters to the singer American.
Obviously colleagues, those influenced musicians and admirers of the work of the author of "Like a Rolling Stone" have been the most ardent supporters of the decision that surprised those who expected recognition figures like the American Philip Roth or the Syrian Adonis.
Among those celebrating the award Dylan are Ruben Blades, Joaquin Sabina and Joselo of Cafe Tacuba. Let's see what they think.
Can the lyrics of popular music be considered literature?
Ruben Blades
October 13, 2016 - Facebook
The literature prize awarded to Bob Dylan has caused all kinds of reactions. Including complaints from a sector that considers lyrics of popular music should only serve to entertain; to be an exclusive vehicle for escape; that is vulgar and therefore can not be considered as serious intellectual level.
I think that perspective is extremely elitist and therefore biased. Indeed, decades ago we talked about that topic Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Colombian Nobel Literature Prize 1982, and this server, Ruben Blades, Panama and musician.
He was completely in agreement that popular music was able to produce letters and arguments and high literary level. So it was that once wrote that he regretted not having been the author of "Pedro Navaja". Accompanying the possible exaggeration is the undeniable reality of his respect and consideration to the argument and how to present the story of the episode.
From that conversation I proposed several things, to resolve the issue once and for all:
1. I would write a short, original story and edit it to not to exceed 7 minutes;
2. I include one of my albums of "Salsa" but without announcing it was, indeed, a short story;
3. Cantaría short story that spontaneously and instantly ,, without musical arrangement without instruments.
4. Only make a single attempt on the record, that he was honest and the result immediate product of my pure feeling, (without testing or repetition to cover errors).
Gabo, smiling and naughty child that spark in his eyes, only said: "Dale".
And so I did. I wrote a story about fourteen pages originally. For the experiment, I reduced to the description of a part of the plot, occupying only two leaves and a short story, very short, which titled "GDBD" (People waking up under dictatorships) emerged.
Now, please, for purposes of discussion, I urge you to carefully read the story. After reading, please listen to the version "salsa" I did of "GDBD" included in the album Buscando America with Seis del Solar, Elektra label.
After reading the story and heard his recording, please consult their teachers Literature, Spanish Language Academies and the like, and / or send emails to the Nobel Prize for Literature Mario Vargas Llosa asking if GDBD qualifies or not as a short story.
If the answer is yes, then the popular music brings, and can contribute to the genre of world literature.
Avoid the discussion from elitist perspectives. Dylan deserves the award for the quality of their work and the quality have continuously maintained that through experiments and renovations.
My only regret is that the prospect of the Swedish Academy has not been wider. Authors such as Chico Buarque, Brazil, also deserves that consideration. It is not only an excellent composer ( "Construction") but is also a playwright and has published novels very well received.
The argument in favor of the popular musician's contribution would have been more complete had been shared with Chico prize and had thus recognized the musical literary contribution from a major part of non-Anglo-Saxon America.
Ruben Blades
October 13, 2016
Torrential poet, master of chaos
I daresay that the award late
Joaquin Sabina
October 14, 2016 - El País
The Nobel award to Bob Dylan is a happy news. First, because it gives one reason: I have been saying for at least 20 years Dylan is the best poet of America and current English language and also the one that has influenced several generations. So in a way I daresay the award late. Bliss is, thankfully, good: the gesture of the Swedish Academy makes all those who are dedicated to dignify the words in pop feel rewarded us with him.
Secondly, because I think it sends a clear to those who have dedicated themselves for decades to reduce the trade of the popular song to the silly things 'boy meets girl' or banal stories Saturday night message. Since yesterday, our world has been elevated to high culture, and that's fine.
And finally, because somehow closed for me an intimate circle. The first time I heard Dylan was at 18, when an English girlfriend put me at my home in Granada. I did not understand a word of what he said, but it was clear that he was talking to me. His personal way of playing with phonics, spitting the words of frasearlas, got that poet I wanted to be then decided to become a musician. Needless to say, Dylan changed my life.
After studying their music came. I read his letters to consciousness (although I would not have influenced the writing; it is a torrential poet, a master of chaos, I am more academic) and I have about 100 books about him. I listen to all their records, even those who do not like. I have also seen many times in concert live from that distant field with Santana Rayo Vallecano. There have been wonderful evenings and others in which it has irritated me.
And if you ask me if a musician in Spanish could win the Cervantes, the answer is yes. And I have a candidate: Joan Manuel Serrat, who is the master of us all.
Joaquín Sabina is a singer
Nobel
joselo
October 14, 2016 - Excélsior
What a strange and wonderful life of Bob Dylan. Just last weekend I saw in the Desert Trip, the first act of three days of festival and thought what most of the audience: "This guy is a legend." Everyone who played at the festival: Stones, Neil Young, Paul McCartney, The Who and Roger Waters will be a little (or a lot) the work of this singer.
So it was strange that his performance was so sketchy. Although I knew what was going to happen (as I've seen it twice): Bob Dylan presents a show that some doubt call him: show. Plays songs that nobody knows, makes versions of hits beyond recognition, not talk to your audience and it seems that it does not exist for him. One might think even that he is going wrong, but if so, it is obvious that the piano would rise and leave from there on the spot.
Many of the people who were around me started to slip away to the bars and food places. I guess they expected to sing "Blowin 'in the Wind", "Mr Tamborine Man" or "Just Like a Woman". That did not happen. And if any sung, he would have done in a way that no one would recognize.
At the end of the Desert Trip my friends asked me what was the artist who had liked. They answered without hesitation: Neil Young. It was surprisingly pleased that this artist, who had a production "different" from everyone else-no images on the screen, spectacular lights or artificial-fires, the best award show will take. He put a giant teepees on the sides of the stage and the giant screen all used, that brings Roger Waters, was covered by two thirds by a blanket of jute, resembling a huge sack of beans, but the important thing was the music and in attitude. Neil Young played and sang all his hits, starting as folk, country then, to finish with the songs that made the grandfather of grunge, what a distortion of his Gibson! What a sound!
Neil Young, unlike Dylan, spoke to the audience. He sang songs as we all know. He hit an impressive way, even more than any of the other artists who are geniuses for that: Paul and Mick.
I'm not the only one who thinks Young was the best of the first weekend of the festival dubbed Oldchella (Chochella, says my brother Quique). Most people I have spoken agree that the Canadian artist surprised everyone.
But it is undeniable that if Dylan had not existed in the music scene, it is very possible that either Neil Young. In the great family tree rock, Dylan has one of the largest branches, almost almost seems the trunk.
So, today begins the second weekend of Desert Trip, the public will not see only one of the most important songwriters in rock history and music. They will see the Nobel Prize for Literature 2016. Maybe that's why nobody is going to matter what you play or how to behave. Now less than ever.
If Bob Dylan's fame was huge, this award raises the stratosphere. What if you deserve it? I guess so, but do not do to me, I am not to be trusted. I'm a musician who writes songs, and to give this award to Robert Zimmerman's like if I give it to me. We give it to all those who, like me, we like to write songs, we care about finding a topic, a natural form of rhyming, to communicate something with that environment is as old as the song. We like to do music and lyrics two inseparable lovers, sought and complement to exist forever.
And most importantly, it gives me a chance to dream that one day I can win the Nobel too, why not?
