Bob Dylan Confirms Non-Attendance At Nobel Prize Ceremony

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38003818

I bet the Prize Committee wished they hadn't bothered now....should have given it to Leonard Cohen....at least he would have a good excuse not to turn up.

IMHO, Dylan is a arrogant ***.

[Baldric]

//IMHO, Dylan is a arrogant ***.//

But I'll bet he could afford to retire if he wanted to tbh.
;o)

[DTCwordfan]

so Harold Pinter and Doris Lessing are both arrogant ***, mikey....they didn't show - and the old codger is 75 after all.....a tad inconsiderate, I would propose?

[Mamyalynne]

He's not the first not to attend in person.

//Dylan, the organisation said, felt "very honoured" and wished he could receive the prize personally.//

[Togo]

Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People call say 'beware doll, you're bound to fall'
You thought they were all kidding you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hanging out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging your next meal
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ahh you've gone to the finest schools, alright Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
Nobody's ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you're gonna have to get used to it
You say you never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
A complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ah you never turned around to see the frowns
On the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discovered that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To have on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ahh princess on a steeple and all the pretty people
They're all drinking, thinking that they've got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you better take your diamond ring, you better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him he calls you, you can't refuse
When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you've got no secrets to conceal
How does it feel, ah how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone

[andy-hughes]

I think if Dylan was being arrogant, he would have had one of his ‘people’ email a note over, but he didn’t he hand-wrote a letter to the Nobel Committee citing ‘previous commitments’ and advising how happy he is with his award.

Since Dylan is more or less permanently on tour, he probably has concerts around the time of the ceremony, and quite rightly, is not going to cancel and let his fans down to attend an award evening.

[mikey4444]

First of all, there was complete radio silence from him for days after the announcement, which I can't in any way understand.

Secondly, he could very easily get on a plane and collect the award himself, perhaps on route during one of his many world tours. His age has begger all to do with anything. He hasn't even made any comment himself, preferring to hide behind "his people"

I withdraw nothing from my OP whatsoever.

[Baldric]

//He hasn't even made any comment himself, preferring to hide behind "his people"//

\\The Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel prizes, said it had received "a personal letter" saying he was unable to attend next month's Nobel ceremony "due to pre-existing commitments"\\

[andy-hughes]

Mikey - as I pointed out, and Baldric has re-iterated, Mr Dylan sent a hand-written letter to the Committee apologising for being unable to attend, and confirming his pleasure at the award.

In terms of attending - logistics could easily prevent is attendance - concerts are often one per day for a few days, and then a two or three day break.

If the ceremony date is not on the break, but in the middle of a consecutive run of dates, then that would involve cancellations, and that would be unfair to his fans.

I think that’s reasonable.

He hasn’t written to say he couldn’t care less, or he isn’t bothering to attend, he has other commitments.

[Baldric]

Blimey, I've just supported Andy Hughes, how the heck did that happen?
;o)

[ummmm]

Because you're both right and Mikey is wrong...

[Baldric]

Thanks ummmm,

[ummmm]

Lol....that's the only reason I could think of....

[1581960]

You should have put that under jokes mikey, well done.

[DTCwordfan]

Julian Assange needs a PR manager....maybe we have a candidate for him on here? Step forward, please, mikey.....after all the Nobel committee is Scandinavian, a job lot for the two of them - lol.......

[agchristie]

Yes, I agree with DTC.

Another example was the non-attendance of the 1977 Booker Prizewinner, Paul Scott, who in the November was too unwell to collect his award. On March 1, he died from cancer.

There are simply times Mikey when it is not possible for one reason or another to attend no matter what the expectations are. Do you run Dylan's diary or his general affairs?

His decision, no matter how unpopular, should be respected.

[Togo]

I was hoping that he would do as John Paul Sartre did.

[Zacs-Master]

One of the greatest anti establishment poets graciously refuses to attend a ceremony which is the very embodiment of 'the establishment' and you are surprised? Well done Bob.

[trt]

'' The veteran rock star was awarded the prize "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition"

Sorry, but all this Award, and others like it, is just an excuse for everybody to have a freebie *** up, talk a lot of crap, and see who is wearing the best dress & jewellery.

Just giving my creative new poetic expressions for an English bloke.

Just IMO of course!!!!

[Cloverjo]

I admire people who write songs and compose music. It's a huge talent which very few of us can do. But I don't see how it can be called Literature. I bet Dylan is laughing up his sleeve wondering why on earth he's been awarded it, while still wanting to appear gracious and not let down his fans.