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Germaine Greer on Morrissey

posted by davidt on Wednesday July 02 2008, @05:00AM
An anonymous person writes:
Cambridge English lecturer Germaine Greer compares Morrissey favourably to Dylan in today's Guardian (UK)...

Why do people think Bob Dylan was a great lyricist? That creep couldn't even write doggerel - The Guardian

---
S J Banks writes:
After slagging odd Dylan and praising Blake Germaine decided to eulogise Morrissey in her last paragraph:

When Morrissey sings a Morrissey song, he knows exactly what colour every part of every word is meant to be, and whether it crosses the rhythm to build up tension, or cannons into it to gain emphasis. If Morrissey repeats a line, he may vary it in a new context, or he may keep it exactly the same, as he does with "Every day is like Sunday", because part of the point of the song is the anguish of monotony as perceived by hapless youth - but the music catapults the repetition towards us like a javelin. The music does what the words alone cannot do. To present the words without the music is to emasculate them.
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  • I always knew Germaine was a great woman. Brave,outspoken,controversial.Remind you of anyone..?
    Anonymous -- Wednesday July 02 2008, @05:36AM (#306509)
  • What a horrible woman. Ok, so she says some nice things about Morrissey, I'll take that. Who the hell is she though to slag off possibly the greatest lyricist of all time? Bob Dylan is a legend, someone who's music is inspirational, influential and will last for generations. A true genius, there should be no attempt to compare Moz and Dylan, in there own ways they are lyrical geniuses.
    So I wish that for once in her life she'd just keep her damn crap opinions to herself
    Anonymous -- Wednesday July 02 2008, @06:58AM (#306521)
  • Ms Greer doesn't see that it's those of Dylan's fans who are pretentious and illiterate who are to blame; I doubt Dylan ever wrote to Ms Greer begging to be recognized as a genius.

    He was a great songwriter and a hugely influential singer. I doubt Hendrix would ever have sung were it not for Dylan's influence.

     
    kissmyshades -- Wednesday July 02 2008, @02:04PM (#306594)
    (User #12542 Info)
  • "I would eventually like to turn into Germaine Greer" Morrissey 1985

    I have to admit that despite some of her outrageousness for its own sake ( yes Ms Greer I understand, but it isn't 1968 any more ) in such comments as that which paired the phrase "wholesale liquifaction" with Sappho - surely the greatest poet in history? - this is an incisive and well-written article, quite entertaining indeed and certainly right on the money as far as Morrissey's lyrical genius is concerned.

    My!! A poorly constructed sentence.

    Then again 'words is fine....' - GG's grammar is almost as bad as mine or am I just being pedantic and old-fashioned?

    Morrissey is the greatest lyricist of all time.

    Why did Marc Bolan want to be/see himself as a Dylan? His lyrics just as wacky ( and admittedly, though it pains me to say it, sometimes tacky )as those quoted in her article.

    I know Bohemian young men from Manchester to New York who are full of endless praise for Bobby Zimmerman and my teacher made me want to know and understand but still I just don't see it.

    Yes, I am blind........and if GG is anything to go by, perhaps I should be proud of the fact.
    mllederousset -- Wednesday July 02 2008, @11:12PM (#306633)
    (User #21274 Info)
  • is the greatest (English Speaking) lyricist of all time in my opinion. I'm a fan of Morrissey and Bob Dylan among many others, but early Leonard Cohen albums affect me more than either of these two. He sounds completely honest and is a brilliant documenter of the human condition in it's various positions...

    (You should all get "New Skin for the Old Ceremony")

    Too bad his (backing) music got really bad around the time he lost his voice (mid-80's), but even the newer songs at their core are still very well written. Just poorly chosen instrumentation / production. I hope Rick Rubin kidnaps him before it's too late!

    -Micro P
    Anonymous -- Thursday July 03 2008, @01:52PM (#306694)
  • I can't believe some of you are so blind you actually think Morrissey is a better lyricist than Bob Dylan.

    Boring, repetitive, derivative? Words that someone who never listens to Dylan, except maybe for the few songs repeated on the radio, would use. And words that one could easily use for Morrissey, though I personally would not. Dylan changed styles relentlessly throughout his career, constantly challenging his audience - which is more than I can say for Morrissey who, as much as I love him, has been writing the same type of lyrics for over twenty years.

    Most of the people who claim Dylan is overrated never really listened to him and are just adamant about going against the mainstream. It's like people who claim the Beatles aren't a good band. Or the type of fan that will turn on a band once they become successful.

    Morrissey is a great and unique lyricist. But he doesn't even come close to Dylan. That's not even my opinion, it's fact. If you don't like Dylan or he's not your type of thing, fair enough. But that doesn't mean Morrissey is better. That's just stupidity.

    And on Germaine Greer:
    "It's not verse, not even doggerel. Nor is it prose, because it doesn't make sense."
    So they're bad lyrics because they don't fit into any of your pompous categories? Sounds like the ramblings of an old hag who is scared of change.

    Peace out twats.
    Anonymous -- Friday July 04 2008, @08:20AM (#306729)

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