STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

blubirde · Chanel

This generation's Bob Dylan

subwolley · Kate Spade

Interesting topic idea. My

: I don't think there is anyone in this generation that stands out period. You can't convince me other wise. I can't even stand to listen to any modern music at all.

Maddie · Coach

I always hear Ryan Adams or Conor Oberst, but I'm far from being sold on either of them. I like both of them, but they can't compare to Dylan.

I would almost say Jeff Tweedy, but he's so much his own thing. A woman? Neko Case? Chan Marshall? John Darnielle for lyrics, but his music is not at all as good as Dylan.

That said, I always get pissed off whenever anyone says someone is "the next Dylan" because I just don't think there ever will be another Dylan.

Metric · Gucci

I don't think there can be a next Dylan, just like there can't be a new Beatles or a new Rolling Stones. They broke the mold and were unique for their time. They were heavily influenced by what was happening at that time (ie: young people thinking they could change the world; Vietnam war; equal rights movement) and the music is a reflection of that.

Music now kind of sucks in comparison. Modern music is disposable. No one will care about Jessica Simpson, The Black Eyed Peas etc in 30 years like we love Dylan, Led Zeppelin etc now. That's sad in a way. But at the same time I don't think we (young people) are as motivated or as revolutionary as my parents generation were.

just my

relrel · Marc Jacobs

Metric wrote:

I don't think there can be a next Dylan, just like there can't be a new Beatles or a new Rolling Stones. They broke the mold and were unique for their time. They were heavily influenced by what was happening at that time (ie: young people thinking they could change the world; Vietnam war; equal rights movement) and the music is a reflection of that. Music now kind of sucks in comparison. Modern music is disposable. No one will care about Jessica Simpson, The Black Eyed Peas etc in 30 years like we love Dylan, Led Zeppelin etc now. That's sad in a way. But at the same time I don't think we (young people) are as motivated or as revolutionary as my parents generation were. just my

My two cents as well, in response and in general:

I don't quite understand the question-this generation's Bob Dylan- what exactly does that mean? Somebody who songs and lyrics are full of political angst, someone who makes a huge impact, somebody who sings with the same type of voice, somebody who...etc? Metric is totally right, the singers/bands of that time were heavily influenced by what was happening...just as anyother musician or anybody really. You, me, the guy next door, we are all influenced by what is going on around us- both in terms of politics, civil rights, feminism (both of which are still happening!) and as well as what is going on with the music industry.

What went on 40 years ago isn't what is going on now- one of the biggest differences in the music industry, IMO. Music, and the ways that people listen to and hear about new music just isn't the same. I personally think that if MTV was around when Dylan (and his peers like Janis and Jimi) they wouldn't be played on MTV, they wouldn't be played on major radio stations-- and nowdays that is where a great majority of people listen to new music and so perhaps Dylan wouldn't ever had come to such a huge popularity. Does that make sense?

That being said...I do think that there are musicians who are singing about thier political (and other) views and singing about them in ways that make people stand up and take notice- they just aren't having thier songs played in heavy rotation where most of American can listen. It has to be searched out. A couple of people who I actually think who are on Dylan's scale with political lyrics and such are actually rap/hip hop artists like Lateef and the Chiefs/The Maroons (thinking of the album Ambush) or Mos Def or even Public Enemy back in the day. I actually think that Bob Dylan's impact on the "revolution" and his strength of his convictions can be seen within "underground" rap/hiphop music. They definetely aren't folk like Dylan and definitely don't sound like him...but the feeling of change is the same.

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

I don't think there can be another Dylan either, for the same reasons Metric listed. What he was creating really broke through in such a huge way that it could never be equalled, and the same goes for the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elvis... Have you seen that Scorsese documentary on Dylan, "No Direction Home"? I've only listened to him a little but it's such a great film, and so inspiring.

boobaby · Kate Spade

relrel wrote:

I actually think that Bob Dylan's impact on the "revolution" and his strength of his convictions can be seen within "underground" rap/hiphop music. They definetely aren't folk like Dylan and definitely don't sound like him...but the feeling of change is the same.

I have given this topic much thought over the years (because I'm a geek like that), and I always felt that if there ever is someone who makes an impact socially, politically, etc. or captures a generation the way Dylan did, it will probably be in rap/hip-hop. Some of my friends get mad at me when I say this, but that is because they really don't listen to rap and they only hear the Top-40 songs. I could explain this better if I wasn't so brain-dead from my bad day, but rap is the most popular genre of music, it speaks to a generation, and often it tells a story and/or sheds light on an issue, much like folk music. Only kids don't want to listen to folk music. So if Kanye West raps about the diamond trade and greed or Eminem raps about voting and the war, this will have a much greater impact on young people than somebody on stage with a guitar and harmonica.

-- Edited by boobaby at 23:51, 2006-07-25

blubirde · Chanel

I'm definitely not opposed to the idea that rap/hip hop might be where the next voice is at (or is or was).

I personally don't believe there can ever be another Dylan, so to speak, but I do believe each generation has a voice - it could be a musician, a writer, a poet, I suppose even a public figure of some sort. Dylan was unique in that he embodied all of these. I mean, scholars study his body of work like they do Shakespeare's (although not in quanity). That doesn't come around every day.

I don't think that Dylan's popularity is what made him so special. I don't think it is his musical ability either (I happen to enjoy his voice but there are others who think differently). I think it was his ability to communicate the pulse of his generation. So who does that now?

I don't know the answer but everytime I hear a song that moves me, Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah for instance, I wonder, is this it? Is this the person? (I only picked JB's song because I listened to it earlier today.) I wondered about Conor Oberst also, like Maddie, but it can't be him.

Anyway, I'm curious to see everyone's thoughts on this subject.

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

Definitely not Dylan-esque, but I really think that James Blunt is an incredible musician and all around talented.

Metric · Gucci

What about Ben Harper? I think he's incredible. He's a brilliant musician and very politically inspired, he has that poetic spirit. I think he is very Dylan-esque.

erin · Chanel

i agree that i don't think there can be another dylan, but i feel ani difranco is kind of close. (or at least was. i haven't listened to her newer albums since little plastic castle)

Kincali · Dooney & Bourke

Hmm, I think there are different ways to look at this. Along with rap I would throw in Seattle sound. Comparisons to Dylan to me would be Eddie Vedder or Thom Yorke. I just watched a special on Dylan and I don't think he wanted to be a generation's anything lol.