Dylan not going to Nobels

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Bob Dylan tells Nobel prize committee he will not go to Sweden for ceremony




Swedish Academy that awarded him 2016 Nobel literature prize says ‘other commitments’ prevent singer from collecting it in person








Bob Dylan performing at The Hop Festival in Paddock Wood, Kent, in 2012. Photograph: Ki Price/ReutersHannah Ellis-Petersen
Wednesday 16 November 2016 11.32 ESTLast modified on Wednesday 16 November 2016 12.35 EST

  • Bob Dylan
    has told the Nobel prize committee he will not be attending the ceremony in Sweden to pick up his accolade.
Dylan was named winner of this year’s Nobel prize for literature in October for his vast body of lyrics and poetry but has since been reluctant to publicly acknowledge the honour.
The 75-year-old’s silence led him to be labelled “arrogant” by one member of the Nobel academy, and a brief message on his website that he was the “the winner of the Nobel prize for literature 2016” was taken down the next day.
It took two weeks for the singer and songwriter, who has a notoriously troubled relationship to his own fame, to accept a call from the permanent secretary of the academy, Sara Danius. He told them he had been left “speechless” by the honour and later said in an interview he would “absolutely” attend an award ceremony “if it’s at all possible"




However, in a personal letter to the academy, Dylantold them “he wishes he could receive the prize personally, but other commitments make it unfortunately impossible.”
He underlined that he feels “incredibly honoured by the Nobel prize,” they added.
The Swedish Academy said it “respects Bob Dylan’s decision” but stressed it is “unusual” for a Nobel laureate not to come to Stockholm to accept the award in person.
Dylan is not alone in not attending the ceremony. Novelist Doris Lessing was too old, playwright Harold Pinter was in hospital and writer Elfriede Jelinek had crippling social phobia. Nonetheless, the academy noted: “The prize still belongs to them, just as it belongs to Bob Dylan.”
As this year’s Nobel laureate, Dylan is required “to give a lecture on a subject connected with the work for which the prize has been awarded”. The lecture should be given before, or no later than six months after, the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm in December.


Click here Making the award announcement in October, Danius the academy “hoped the news would be received with joy, but you never know.”


She compared Dylan’s work to that of ancient Greek writers Homer and Sappho. Asked about the comparison, Dylan said: “I suppose so, in some way. Some [of my own] songs – Blind Willie, The Ballad of Hollis Brown, Joey, A Hard Rain, Hurricane and some others – definitely are Homeric in value.”
The decision to award Dylan the Nobel prize was not without controversy. The French Moroccan writer Pierre Assouline described the decision as “contemptuous of writers” while Irvine Welsh, the author of Trainspotting, said that although he was a Dylan fan, “this is an ill-conceived nostalgia award wrenched from the rancid prostates of senile, gibbering hippies”.

Will Self also called on Dylan to follow the example of the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and turn down the prize.
However, before he died, Dylan’s songwriting peer and friend Leonard Cohen said that no prizes were necessary to recognise the indelible mark records like Highway 61 Revisited had made on popular music. “To me,” he said, “[the Nobel] is like pinning a medal on Mount Everest for being the highest mountain.”



 
One of the tenets of the Kennedy Center Honors is that the honoree must come for the entire weekend of events:

Dinner at the State Department on Friday, Luncheon at the Kennedy Center on Saturday and the main event Sunday evening at the Kennedy Center.

More than a few have not agreed and didn't play. In fact it took Sir Paul McCartney a few decades to find the time. Bruce took his time as well.

Bob is Bob and he is like a . . . .

 
Unfortunately on this one, there probably is more than meets the eye. Remember he is 75 and has had histoplasmosis, hospitalization with severe chest pains and some of his songs suggested serious depression. Just speculation but this all was probably a complete surprise for him and he may feel 'shy' or ill prepared for a world spotlight?
 
Unfortunately on this one, there probably is more than meets the eye. Remember he is 75 and has had histoplasmosis, hospitalization with severe chest pains and some of his songs suggested serious depression. Just speculation but this all was probably a complete surprise for him and he may feel 'shy' or ill prepared for a world spotlight?

Bob may be 75, but he ain't no old man. My guess is he's already committed to a tour schedule in another part of the world.

Here's his 2016 schedule:


4/4/16Tokyo, Japan - Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuyadetailsset list
4/5/16Tokyo, Japan - Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuyadetailsset list
4/6/16Tokyo, Japan - Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuyadetailsset list
4/9/16Miyagi, Japan - Tokyo Electron Hall Miyagidetailsset list
4/11/16Osaka, Japan - Festival Halldetailsset list
4/12/16Osaka, Japan - Festival Halldetailsset listreview
4/13/16Osaka, Japan - Festival Halldetailsset list
4/15/16Nagoya, Japan - Century Halldetailsset list
4/18/16Tokyo, Japan - Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuyadetailsset list
4/19/16Tokyo, Japan - Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuyadetailsset list
4/21/16Tokyo, Japan - Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuyadetailsset list
4/22/16Tokyo, Japan - Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuyadetailsset list
4/23/16Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo Dome City Halldetailsset list
4/25/16Tokyo, Japan - Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuyadetailsset list
4/26/16Tokyo, Japan - Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuyadetailsset list
4/28/16Yokohama, Japan - Pacificodetailsset listreview
6/4/16Woodinville, Washington - Chateau Ste. Michelle Winerydetailsset listreviews
6/5/16Woodinville, Washington - Chateau Ste. Michelle Winerydetailsset listreviews
6/7/16Eugene, Oregon - Cuthbert Amphitheaterdetailsset listreviews
6/9/16Berkeley, California - Greek Theatredetailsset listreviews
6/10/16Berkeley, California - Greek Theatredetailsset listreviews
6/11/16Santa Barbara, California - Santa Barbara Bowldetailsset listreviews
6/13/16San Diego, California - Humphreys Concerts By The Baydetailsset listreview
6/14/16San Diego, California - Humphreys Concerts By The Baydetailsset list
6/16/16Los Angeles, California - Shrine Auditoriumdetailsset listreviews
6/19/16Morrison, Colorado - Red Rocks Amphitheatredetailsset listreview
6/21/16Kansas City, Missouri - Starlight Theatredetailsset listreviews
6/22/16Lincoln, Nebraska - Pinewood Bowl Theaterdetailsset listreview
6/24/16Highland Park, Illinois - Raviniadetailsset listreviews
6/25/16Indianapolis, Indiana - Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Parkdetailsset listreviews
6/26/16Nashville, Tennessee - Carl Black Chevy Woods Amphitheater at Fontaneldetailsset listreview
6/28/16Kettering, Ohio - Fraze Paviliondetailsset listreviews
6/29/16Toledo, Ohio - Toledo Zoo Amphitheatredetailsset listreviews
6/30/16Lewiston, New York - Artpark Mainstagedetailsset listreview
7/2/16Lenox, Massachusetts - Tanglewood-Koussevitzky Music Sheddetailsset listreviews
7/3/16Mashantucket, Connecticut - Foxwoods Resort Casino-Grand Theaterdetailsset listreview
7/5/16Vienna, Virginia - Wolf Trap-Filene Centerdetailsset listreviews
7/6/16Vienna, Virginia - Wolf Trap-Filene Centerdetailsset listreviews
7/8/16Queens, New York - Forest Hills Stadiumdetailsset listreviews
7/9/16Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - Sands Bethlehem Event Centerdetailsset listreviews
7/10/16Atlantic City, New Jersey - Borgata Casino Event Centerdetailsset listreviews
7/12/16Canandaigua, New York - Constellation Brands–Marvin Sands Performing Arts Centerdetailsset listreview
7/13/16Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - The Mann Centerdetailsset listreviews
7/14/16Boston, Massachusetts - Blue Hills Bank Paviliondetailsset listreviews
7/16/16Portland, Maine - Thompson's Pointdetailsset listreview
7/17/16Gilford, New Hampshire - Bank of New Hampshire Paviliondetailsset listreviews
10/07/16Indio, California - Empire Polo Clubdetailsset listreviews
10/13/16Las Vegas, Nevada - The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas- The Chelseadetailsset listreview
10/14/16Indio, California - Empire Polo Clubdetailsset listreview
10/16/16Phoenix, Arizona - Comerica Theatredetailsset listreviews
10/18/16Albuquerque, New Mexico - Kiva Auditoriumdetailsset listreviews
10/19/16El Paso, Texas - Abraham Chavez Theatredetailsset listreviews
10/20/16Lubbock, Texas - City Bank Auditorium (CANCELLED)details
10/22/16Thackerville, Oklahoma - WinStar World Casino and Resortdetailsset listreview
10/23/16Tulsa, Oklahoma - Brady Theaterdetailsset listreview
10/25/16Shreveport, Louisiana - Shreveport Municipal Auditoriumdetailsset listreview
10/26/16Baton Rouge, Louisiana - River Center Theatredetailsset listreview
10/27/16Jackson, Mississippi - Thalia Mara Halldetailsset list
10/29/16Huntsville, Alabama - Von Braun Centerdetailsset listreview
10/30/16Paducah, Kentucky - Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Centerdetailsset listreview
11/1/16Louisville, Kentucky - Kentucky Center for the Performing Artsdetailsset listreview
11/2/16Charleston, West Virginia - Clay Centerdetailsset list
11/4/16Durham, North Carolina - Durham Performing Arts Centerdetailsset listreview
11/5/16Roanoke, Virginia - Berglund Performing Arts Theatredetailsset listreview
11/6/16Charlotte, North Carolina - Blumenthal Performing Arts Centerdetailsset listreview
11/9/16Knoxville, Tennessee - Tennessee Theatredetailsset list
11/10/16Columbia, South Carolina - Township Auditoriumdetailsset listreview
11/12/16Asheville, North Carolina - Thomas Wolfe Auditoriumdetailsset listreviews
11/13/16Chattanooga, Tennessee - Tivoli Theatredetailsset list
11/15/16Birmingham, Alabama - BJCC Concert Halldetailsset list
11/16/16Mobile, Alabama - Saenger Theatredetails
11/18/16Jacksonville, Florida - Moran Theaterdetails
11/19/16Clearwater, Florida - Ruth Eckerd Halldetails
11/20/16Fort Myers, Florida - Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Halldetails
11/22/16Orlando, Florida - Dr. Phillips Centerdetails
11/23/16Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Broward Center for the Performing Artsdetails

 
So when he said he would go, he didn't know his schedule for next Year?

Yeah, probably. Do you know your schedule, right now, for next April 19, May 17, and August 12?

When notified, he said he'd go if he could. Someone probably got back to him with his schedule and told him he was already booked. I don't think that's very far fetched. Do you think Bob books his own tours himself?

What's the conspiracy theory here?
 
Yeah, probably. Do you know your schedule, right now, for next April 19, May 17, and August 12?

Yup. April 19, St Barth. May 17, wishing I was still in St Barth and eyeing the weather for the first cookout of the year. August 12, marking time until my next trip to St Barth.
 
Yup. April 19, St Barth. May 17, wishing I was still in St Barth and eyeing the weather for the first cookout of the year. August 12, marking time until my next trip to St Barth.
Thanks Kevin. I know my schedule for next year too and I'm not even on tour. And I don't even care that he's not going. :musical-notes1:
 
Bob Dylan - Banquet Speech

© The Nobel Foundation 2016.
General permission is granted for immediate publication in editorial contexts, in print or online, in any language within two weeks of December 10, 2016. Thereafter, any publication requires the consent of the Nobel Foundation. On all publications in full or in major parts the above copyright notice must be applied.





Banquet speech by Bob Dylan given by the United States Ambassador to Sweden Azita Raji, at the Nobel Banquet, 10 December 2016.

Good evening, everyone. I extend my warmest greetings to the members of the Swedish Academy and to all of the other distinguished guests in attendance tonight.

I'm sorry I can't be with you in person, but please know that I am most definitely with you in spirit and honored to be receiving such a prestigious prize. Being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature is something I never could have imagined or seen coming. From an early age, I've been familiar with and reading and absorbing the works of those who were deemed worthy of such a distinction: Kipling, Shaw, Thomas Mann, Pearl Buck, Albert Camus, Hemingway. These giants of literature whose works are taught in the schoolroom, housed in libraries around the world and spoken of in reverent tones have always made a deep impression. That I now join the names on such a list is truly beyond words.

I don't know if these men and women ever thought of the Nobel honor for themselves, but I suppose that anyone writing a book, or a poem, or a play anywhere in the world might harbor that secret dream deep down inside. It's probably buried so deep that they don't even know it's there.
If someone had ever told me that I had the slightest chance of winning the Nobel Prize, I would have to think that I'd have about the same odds as standing on the moon. In fact, during the year I was born and for a few years after, there wasn't anyone in the world who was considered good enough to win this Nobel Prize. So, I recognize that I am in very rare company, to say the least.

I was out on the road when I received this surprising news, and it took me more than a few minutes to properly process it. I began to think about William Shakespeare, the great literary figure. I would reckon he thought of himself as a dramatist. The thought that he was writing literature couldn't have entered his head. His words were written for the stage. Meant to be spoken not read. When he was writing Hamlet, I'm sure he was thinking about a lot of different things: "Who're the right actors for these roles?" "How should this be staged?" "Do I really want to set this in Denmark?" His creative vision and ambitions were no doubt at the forefront of his mind, but there were also more mundane matters to consider and deal with. "Is the financing in place?" "Are there enough good seats for my patrons?" "Where am I going to get a human skull?" I would bet that the farthest thing from Shakespeare's mind was the question "Is this literature?"

When I started writing songs as a teenager, and even as I started to achieve some renown for my abilities, my aspirations for these songs only went so far. I thought they could be heard in coffee houses or bars, maybe later in places like Carnegie Hall, the London Palladium. If I was really dreaming big, maybe I could imagine getting to make a record and then hearing my songs on the radio. That was really the big prize in my mind. Making records and hearing your songs on the radio meant that you were reaching a big audience and that you might get to keep doing what you had set out to do.
Well, I've been doing what I set out to do for a long time, now. I've made dozens of records and played thousands of concerts all around the world. But it's my songs that are at the vital center of almost everything I do. They seemed to have found a place in the lives of many people throughout many different cultures and I'm grateful for that.

But there's one thing I must say. As a performer I've played for 50,000 people and I've played for 50 people and I can tell you that it is harder to play for 50 people. 50,000 people have a singular persona, not so with 50. Each person has an individual, separate identity, a world unto themselves. They can perceive things more clearly. Your honesty and how it relates to the depth of your talent is tried. The fact that the Nobel committee is so small is not lost on me.

But, like Shakespeare, I too am often occupied with the pursuit of my creative endeavors and dealing with all aspects of life's mundane matters. "Who are the best musicians for these songs?" "Am I recording in the right studio?" "Is this song in the right key?" Some things never change, even in 400 years.

Not once have I ever had the time to ask myself, "Are my songs literature?"

So, I do thank the Swedish Academy, both for taking the time to consider that very question, and, ultimately, for providing such a wonderful answer.

My best wishes to you all,

Bob Dylan
 
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