I guess I can see it. posted by item at 4:24 AM on September 5, 2011
Heh. Yeah, I knew that'd get some comments, the "diva" thing. I'm just a sucker for alliteration, is what it is. posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:39 AM on September 5, 2011
So you'd love the historical alleration Baez Bangs Bob. posted by hippybear at 4:43 AM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
So you'd love the historical alleration Baez Bangs Bob.
Nah. Just can't get with Joan's voice, hippybear. Never could. Which is why I didn't include her in this post. posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:52 AM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
You know that moment when your parents make some mistake that helps you realize that they're not gods? They're just people, bigger than you are for the moment, but human.
Anyway, I just want to say thank you, flapjax. I understand now; you're mortal like everyone else. posted by Jpfed at 5:07 AM on September 5, 2011 [7 favorites]
I don't think I was referencing her singing with that alliteration. posted by hippybear at 5:09 AM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't think I was referencing her singing with that alliteration.
Oh, it was quite obvious you weren't. But as this post was about women who've performed Dylan's music, and not about women who Bob Dylan had sexual relations with, I thought I'd keep things on that track. At least for my own contributions to the thread. posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:12 AM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sirens (some sultry) seriously surpass singer-songwriter. posted by BrotherCaine at 5:14 AM on September 5, 2011 [4 favorites]
But yeah, I'm pretty crazy about Chan, I think she's all kinds of great. Well, anyway, the two records I know really well, which are What Would the Community Think and Moonpix. I didn't include her Mobile/Memphis Blues Again cover here though, cause frankly I just thought she was aping Dylan too much: didn't really bring anything new to the table.
Don't take that personally, though, thinkpiece. I'm always glad when people add more links to one of my music threads. posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:35 AM on September 5, 2011
I'm in two minds about Joan Baez. But she did put out a very listenable double album in 1968 composed solely of Dylan songs,Any Day Now. Still put it on from time to time; there are times when Dylan's Love is Just a Four-Letter Word needs an airing in this household. Baez also does a pretty good Restless Farewell. posted by Mister Bijou at 6:03 AM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
That is an awesome performance by Nina Simone. Thank you, flapjax at midnight. For anyone who is interested, Ballad of Hollis Brown: lyrics posted by Mister Bijou at 7:43 AM on September 5, 2011
I can't find it on Youtube, but Eliza Gilkyson's version of Love Minus Zero/No Limit from the tribute album A Nod to Bob is one of my favorite Dylan covers ever, though I really wouldn't call Eliza a diva. posted by Devils Rancher at 7:44 AM on September 5, 2011
I'm just a sucker for alliteration, is what it is.
Alert! Allusions to Alliteration Alienate Aesthetes! posted by Devils Rancher at 7:45 AM on September 5, 2011
Don't know what's up with your links there, bonobothegreat... here's a direct link to the Josephine Baker. Which is really very odd, BTW! Curiously stilted phrasing, and the bombastic delivery and musical arrangement overall are just weirdly inappropriate. She screws up the lyrics here and there, too! Good on her for doing it, though, I guess. posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:34 AM on September 5, 2011
It would be nice if youtube links posted from a mobile device resolved back to the standard browser view, or if the mobile version allowed you to copy/paste non mobile versions of the links. That one annoys me to no end. posted by Devils Rancher at 8:47 AM on September 5, 2011
I didn't include her Mobile/Memphis Blues Again cover here though, cause frankly I just thought she was aping Dylan too much: didn't really bring anything new to the table. Don't take that personally, though, thinkpiece. I'm always glad when people add more links to one of my music threads.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:35 AM on September 5 [+] [!]
To be fair, she did cover it for the soundtrack for "I'm Not There," the very essence of which was aping Dylan. posted by thinkpiece at 10:01 AM on September 5, 2011
strangely reverent, a bit much for some. posted by philip-random at 10:21 AM on September 5, 2011
"Curiously stilted phrasing, and the bombastic delivery and musical arrangement overall are just weirdly inappropriate."
Well, that's what you get from true, old-timey divas I suppose. Josephine Baker certainly had the authority to proclaim that the times were a' changing. posted by bonobothegreat at 10:25 AM on September 5, 2011
I love Joan Baez, but her many covers of Bob Dylan songs run the gamut from nearly unlistenable to better than the originals.
...and flapjax, I agree with you. Joan Baez has always sounded to me like some nice girl from the suburbs who, try as she may, never came to believe in her soul. Always so earnest, yet needy. There's a reason why the 60s left her version of the folk revolution behind. There just wasn't enough there.
Case in point, her version of It's All now Baby Blue (which I won't link to -- find it yourself if you must). It just feels like such a mis-read ... and all the weirder when you realize it might well have been written about her.
I think metafilter must have conspired to please me. There are 4 posts I absolutely love, before noon. Thanks! This reminds me of the Stones blues covers, also awesome. posted by Buckt at 10:52 AM on September 5, 2011
Let us not forget the mighty Odetta's take on 'Tomorrow Is A Long Time': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPyCJIPtJps posted by DylanHours at 11:39 AM on September 5, 2011
Ooops - my link keeps getting lost. Let's try this again: Odetta's Tomorrow Is A Long Time posted by DylanHours at 12:48 PM on September 5, 2011
Flat use, I am totally down with the covers by DiFranco, favorites them even, but I am not sure anything can really fix that Sophie B. Hawkins link. that was from the Dylan celebration, right? I think the tempo was just all wrong. Just me, though. (but was that Sheryl crow doing background vocals??? Cool!)
Great links, great thread! posted by onlyconnect at 1:55 PM on September 5, 2011
And people can hate on Joan Baez all they want, her takes on Don't Think Twice, It's Alright are some of my favorite recordings by any person. And you don't have to like it, but her a capella Tears of Rage certainly commands attention. posted by wreckingball at 3:50 PM on September 5, 2011
Jpfed writes: You know that moment when your parents make some mistake that helps you realize that they're not gods? They're just people, bigger than you are for the moment, but human.
Anyway, I just want to say thank you, flapjax. I understand now; you're mortal like everyone else.
Heh. Well, I'm flattered (I guess?) that you had seen me as some sort of god and/or parent-figure, but relieved that you are, in fact, aware that I am merely mortal. Me, I've never been one to claim immortality, no sirree bobaroony! But if you'll allow me, just one more time, to don my parent/god hat, I'd like to impart one more shiny little pearl of wisdom to you: there is no "mistake" when it comes to personal taste in music! Yes, it's true, my child! One cannot be mistaken in liking or disliking a particular singer's voice.
I'd like to impart one more shiny little pearl of wisdom to you: there is no "mistake" when it comes to personal taste in music! Yes, it's true, my child! One cannot be mistaken in liking or disliking a particular singer's voice.
except people are WRONG when they disagree with me. posted by philip-random at 4:28 PM on September 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Goddamn, I love Nina Simone.... Totally fantastic. (my favourite nina simone is 'mood indigo;' not a dylan cover, i'm afraid, but totally fantastic.) posted by kaibutsu at 4:46 PM on September 5, 2011
Joan Osborne doing Man in the Long Black Coat .
She owns that song so completely that I forget she didn't write it, sometimes. What a voice. I freaking love that whole album, even the dumb God song. posted by Devils Rancher at 5:21 PM on September 5, 2011
Hardly a diva but here's Eddie Brickell with A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall .
posted by Sailormom at 3:41 PM on September 5
What I love most about the EB cover is the little glissando at
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin'
followed by the pause after
But I'll know my song well before I start singin
That, and the elimination of the world "always" from the line
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden
...well, it just seems right. posted by Robin Kestrel at 5:22 PM on September 5, 2011
I guess I can see it.
posted by item at 4:24 AM on September 5, 2011