Please let me preface this with how nice it is that the proceeds from Bob Dylan's new CD, "Christmas in the Heart," go to the charity, Feeding America. Next, I need to say how much I love these songs: "Blowin' in the Wind," "The Times They Are A Changin'," "It Ain't Me Babe," "Like a Rolling Stone," "Mr. Tambourine Man," and one of my all time favorites, "Just Like a Woman." So, I don't want anyone walking away today thinking this was a Bob Dylan bashing.
He is a wonderful lyricist, but Dylan sings as though he's just swallowed a wheelbarrow full of rocks, but on this album, he must have swallowed the wheelbarrow.
This is the time of year the old Christmas tunes start playing at our house. YUP. Even a few weeks before Thanksgiving, the urge hits me to fill the air with my favorite kind of music. YUP. By the time Christmas rolls through, I'm sick of it.YUP ! Sick. Of. It.
So, it is with great anticipation to find out what new 'albums' will be released for the coming holiday season. This one tickled my curiosity, so I took a listen. O!H!!M!Y!G!O!!O!D!N!E!S!S! This is not a Frank Sinatra or a Dean Martin crooning about a White Christmas. It's more like a Bob Dylan croaking Do You Hear What I Hear. . . and me thinking 'not if I can get this volume turned down.'
Little Drummer Boy is one of my childhood favorites that conjures up some happy memories, but listening to this version makes me want to take a drum stick and poke it in my ear.
The more I listened, the more I laughed. It's so entertaining just visualizing Dylan recording these classics.
It also reminded me of last year when my four-year-old granddaughter, Little Miss P, was sitting in my lap at the piano. I was clunking at the keys and we were "singing" together. Finally, she looked up at me with those gorgeous, innocent, brown eyes and simply stated, "Gammy, stop singing. You're scaring my ears."
In the words of a truthful four-year-old, "Bob, stop singing. You're scaring my ears."
Clink the link to listen to "Christmas in the Heart."
Fox news had a segment about his new Christmas album a few weeks ago and I got to hear a few clips. I really love it and am going to purchase the cd for everyone on my Christmas list. Bwaaahhaaaaa!! ROFL! Just kidding. Charity or no charity, this is one music cd that can stay in the stores! Sorry Bob.
Posted by: Church Lady | November 04, 2009 at 07:25 PM
I heard an NPR piece on this on the radio recently, and they played cuts from several of the songs. I thought the same thing you did and about laughed my head off. I do love Dylan, though.
Posted by: Lori | November 04, 2009 at 10:26 PM
I totally agree, but then I've never been a Dylan fan. I think Willie Nelson is in the same category, no matter what song he's singing, they all sound the same.
Posted by: willowtree | November 04, 2009 at 11:05 PM
CHURCHLADY: I was going to ask that you take me off you Christmas list.
LORI: I couldn't stop listening to the clips on the link. Each song just got "worser" and "worser."
DubYaT: Oh, I won't tell HansMan what you said about Willie. But then again, I won't tell him what you said about his iPhone pics either...Oh, you know, I will.
Posted by: Swampy | November 04, 2009 at 11:27 PM
Dylan is like that crazy uncle who used to not be crazy so you still love him for what he used to be but often giggle about what he's become.
Posted by: hulagirl | November 05, 2009 at 06:23 AM
Thats too funny, I havent heard it yet but I'm sure it will scare my ears also...love Little Miss P's terminology. I am itching to put my Christmas songs on and I am like you...by the time Christmas rolls around..I am soooo ready to put them away for another year. I tend to like the original recordings, the old standards. Go to my blog today...there is a bit of trivia for you...I am anxious to see if you knew some of the history I posted about.
Posted by: Janis | November 05, 2009 at 07:11 AM
Sorry Swampy...after playing part of one clip, my computer refused to hear any more. It crashed, and if I tried to play another song, it crashed each time. I agree on the songs you listed, I like those, and he is a great lyricist. But when I saw him live it was HORRIBLE, and he was 2/3 of the way through my favorite song by him (Like a Rolling Stone) before I even realized what it was that he was singing! But yeah, nice cause, but this isn't his ideal material. Willie is a classic, but he shouldn't do Christmas carols either. But anyone who got together with Merle and did Pancho and Lefty, and can tell the story of how that came about like he can...that just can't be topped. And if you and Hans know him or ever meet him, tell him he owes me a Martin (guitar)....long story...I bought as many raffle tickets as I could afford (actually I think I spent my grocery money on them), because I'd wanted a Martin FOREVER, and they were giving one away at his concert at Big Sky, but Marley got critically ill, so of course I would not leave her side...so I'm SURE if I'd been there I would have won it. So I think Willie owes me a Martin.
Posted by: Equoni | November 05, 2009 at 01:56 PM
Ya, I didn't get past one clip either..... hilarious in a sad sort of way, isn't it?
Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
Posted by: Di | November 06, 2009 at 01:11 PM
"Gammy, stop singing. You're scaring my ears."
LOVE THAT LINE!
"Dylan sings as though he's just swallowed a wheelbarrow full of rocks, but on this album, he must have swallowed the wheelbarrow."
Greatest non-endorsement evah!!!
xo
Posted by: Robin (Pensieve) | November 07, 2009 at 09:41 AM
bwaaa ha ha ha ha ... scarin her ears. That is toooooooooo funny.
I agree with your Dylan critique.
Posted by: Pamela | November 07, 2009 at 10:03 PM