Print Magazine
Brussels Morning Newspaper
Friday, June 9, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • About Us
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Newspaper
  • Home
    • About Us
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
Home Culture and Society

Legendary Dylan delights Belgian audience with a sell-out concert

Martin Banks by Martin Banks
16 October 2022
in Culture and Society
Legendary Dylan delights Belgian audience with a sell-out concert

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Bob Dylan performs as part of a double bill with Neil Young at Hyde Park on July 12, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for ABA)

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The man many call the greatest songwriter of all time is back on the road with his “never-ending” tour – and the legendary Bob Dylan wooed his legions of fans in Belgium with a terrific performance.

It was his first concert in the country in over five years but it was well worth the wait.

With the cheapest tickets at just over €100 at Forest National – no small price to pay in these lean times – expectations were high of the great man.

But one thing you can always be sure of at a  Dylan gig is that something like 95 per cent of the audience would be quite content if he just appeared before them for a couple of hours and mumbled gibberish.

Actually, the first Dylan concert this writer attended, back in 1980, unfortunately, fell into that category. It was not, shall we say, one of Bob’s finest.

But, even though there is a kind of strange God-like status surrounding Dylan for many of his followers, he most certainly did not disappoint with a 90-minute or so set on Saturday.

Yes, much of what leaves his mouth is somehow lost by the time it reaches the intended recipients (this might have something to do with the acoustics as much as his now hugely diminished vocal powers) but that is not really the point at a Dylan gig.

One really does feel quite privileged and honoured to be in the same “room” as a man solely responsible for some of the most wondrous songwriting ever.

He enters totally without fanfare and, initially, was actually hard to spot on stage as his tiny figure is lost behind a piano with its back to the audience at which he’s sat.

But, of course, the minute those (in)famous vocal cords burst into action you know he is really there among the (quite excellent) five other musicians on stage.

He proceeds, with barely a break, to plough through song after song, the majority receiving extremely polite if slightly reserved applause.

You really do get the sense that most (rather like this writer) are really just waiting to hear one of the great man’s great classics.

If so, this particular audience was to go home a tad disappointed as none of them really came. But that is Dylan for you – he is most certainly his own man and you get the feeling he does not really give a damn what an audience may want – he will just do his own thing anyway.

So, instead of Highway 61, Desolation Row or Tangled up in Blue, we got That Old Black Magic (covered by, among others,  Sinatra and Rod Stewart) which, frankly this writer at least was quite astonished to hear at a Bob Dylan gig. You’d have thought it.

No matter, the old maestro performed it well and it was all rather enjoyable.

And that, for me, was the big difference between Dylan of the early 1980s and today – he is very, very polished these days and, like a good vintage, he really has aged well.

Combined with the subdued, mellow and dimmed stage lighting you could actually be forgiven for thinking you’re watching some schmaltzy cabaret crooner, albeit very ageing, rather than this great figure of the rock industry.

Maybe that is what you should expect from someone who is now 81 and whose career spans quite an incredible 60 years. Indeed, a cursory glance of the audience suggests the average age of most present is circa the mid-60s.

Dylan himself hardly moves, save from sitting down (though just occasionally) when not singing at the piano.

But Dylan is not only (for me) easily the best of all time but someone who clearly, even now, really never stops pushing himself to the limit (how much longer he can actually do this at his age is another question entirely).

This is a very polished, sleek and impressive performance, not least by some clearly highly talented accompanying musicians.

We live in very troubled times and it is warmly reassuring to sit and listen, albeit for just a short while, to hear Dylan sing of love and beauty, as he did here.

Much of the set is given over to tracks from his Rough and Rowdy Ways album two years ago, his 39th studio album. That record made the beloved entertainer the first to chart at least one album per decade in the Billboard Top 40 from the 1960s to the 2020s.

Arguably, he saved the best here to last with a beautiful and melancholic song, Every Grain of Sand, from that sadly under-rated 1981 album Shot of Love.

After more than 90 minutes, the Nobel Prize laureate finally speaks to his adoring fans (well, at least a few mumbled words) and introduces his backing band.  And then the piece de resistance – out comes the harmonica for a final blast.

There’s no encore (and he doesn’t take up the guitar once here) but never mind. There is always the new book, “The Philosophy of Modern Song” that is coming out on November 8.  It’s his first book in nearly 20 years and comes six years after he was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature.

For those able to visit it, there is also a new “Bob Dylan Centre” in Tulsa which houses and exhibits exclusive cultural treasures created and owned by Mr Zimmerman. 

If this is the last time a Belgian audience sees this truly great musician/songwriter/poet/artist/Pulitzer Prize recipient we can say just one thing: So long Bob, you enriched our lives no end.

Tags: Bob DylanMain-SliderOpinion section
Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn

About Us

Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

Category

  • Ambassador’s Corner
  • Belgium News
  • Brussels
  • Commission
  • Council
  • Culture and Society
  • Diplomacy
  • Economy
  • EU Institutions
  • Europe
  • Europe With Transparency
  • Features
  • Health & Fitness
  • In Depth
  • Member States
  • Middle East Eye
  • Opinion
  • Our pick
  • Parliament
  • Place de la Bourse
  • Southeast Europe
  • Sustainable Perspective
  • The American Angle
  • The Macro-Economist
  • Uncategorised
  • US Elections
  • World

More info

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Cookies Policy
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Jobs

Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Brussels Bubble
    • Parliament
    • Commission
    • Council
  • Wider Europe
    • Member States
  • World
  • Business & Society
  • Europe With Transparency
  • Culture & Society
  • Policy Talks
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Southeast Europe
  • Print Magazine

Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT