Monday, May 11, 2009

Bob Dylan kicks Miley Cyrus' butt

Last week, Bob Dylan became the oldest artist to have an album debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Dylan is 67, and Together Through Life is his second consecutive album to debut at #1. In 2006, his Modern Times also debuted in the top spot.

Miley Cyrus' Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack is parked at second.

This has to rank as one of the strangest pairings to hold the top two spots.

Dylan is a legend who continues to produce music as vital as he did 40 years ago. Miss Cyrus is the latest teen sensation, and her music will likely not be remembered in the year 2049.

I do not mean that as an insult to her, but her flavor of bubblegum music usually does not last long. Then again, I could be wrong. She may become one of the leading artists of her generation.

When it comes to these things, I am rarely a good judge of future events.

4 comments:

Mister Jimmy said...

Nobody does it better. From Blood On The Tracks, one of my all-time favorite songs from one of my all-time favorite albums:
"I see a lot of people
As I make the rounds
And I hear her name here and there
As I go from town to town
And I've never gotten used to it, I've just learned to turn it off
Either I'm too sensitive
Or else I'm gettin' soft."

Chris Martin said...

Mr. Jimmy, you might consider checking out Dylan's web site (www.bobdylan.com).

It has some neat stuff on it.

Joltin' Django said...

I'm not the world's biggest Bob Dylan fan; but I will admit that I always follow Marty S's admonition to "turn it up" when Dylan's singing "Baby Let Me Follow You Down" on The Last Waltz.

One thing that's always brought me Serenity Now, whenever I've had to hear 'bout some Flavour of the Month (like Miley Cyrus) selling a bazillion LPs, is this:

Long after we're all gone, folks will still be listening to, and appreciating the hell out of, Robert Johnson, Sinatra, The Beatles, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, the Stones, Johnny Cash, et al.

When Miley Cyrus is Bob Dylan's age, there ain't gonna be a single soul on earth who will (a) want to hear her sing anything, or (b) think of her as an important musical figure.

As an aging musician, that brings me just a little bit o' peace ...!

Larry J. said...

Bobby Dylans birthday is next week. Hope he has a healthy and happy one.