[split] Blake discussion

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I'm not a musician. But even then, the only thing that Dylan could do was play the harmonica and the guitar, and sort of sing at the same time. The cover versions of his songs are all better than the originals. So it means that his skill lay primarily in song writing.
Then I look at 'Fourth time around' and wonder if, like John Lennon, he's merely the product of Anglo-American boomer navel gazing.....

There isn't a single cover version of a Dylan song that is better than the original. Not even Brian Ferry's album "Dylanesque" comes close—which hurts me to say, of course. But your obvious lack of musical taste aside, I still don't get your point that if something can be imitated the quality of the original thing is by default diminished. Or, even, that the imitation is by default better than the original. In fact, I would posit the opposite and suggest that imitation is always and naturally inferior to the original. It's only the inspiration one derives from original art that may, hopefully, lead to original art. And I don't see how Guernica being easily imitated (anyone with a canvas and black and white oil paints could give a good stab at it) makes it any less brilliant. Basquiat was inspired by Picasso and yet they both paint beautifully, and originally, and I'd be hard-pressed to decide which I'd want on my wall more. Which is why I have both. 



and Dylan wrote 4th Time Around to take the piss out of Lennon



and then Lennon wrote I am the Walrus to take the piss out of Dylan...



and they're all fucking brilliant