Bob Dylan to publish essay collection in celebration of songwriting
Bob Dylan is set to release a celebratory essay collection, dedicated to the art of songwriting by peers such as Nina Simone, Hank Williams and Elvis Costello.
The veteran artist began work on The Philosophy of Modern Song in 2010, which is set to contain over 60 essays in which the 80-year-old musician “analyses what he calls the trap of easy rhymes, breaks down how the addition of a single syllable can diminish a song, and even explains how bluegrass relates to heavy metal.”
According to publisher Simon & Schuster (S&S), the essays are described as “mysterious and mercurial, poignant and profound, and often laugh-out-loud funny. And while they are ostensibly about music, they are really meditations and reflections on the human condition.”
Combined with nearly 150 “carefully curated photos as well as a series of dreamlike riffs”, the collection “resembles an epic poem,” said S&S.
Jonathan Karp, president and chief executive of S&S, said in a statement, “The Philosophy of Modern Song could only have been written by Bob Dylan.”
“His voice is unique, and his work conveys his deep appreciation and understanding of songs, the people who bring those songs to life, and what songs mean to all of us.”
In 2016, Bob Dylan won the Nobel prize for literature, after his lyrics and previous published works have made a lasting impact on music fans and book lovers alike.
The Philosophy of Modern Song is set to be published on November 8th, with an audiobook partially narrated by Bob Dylan in the works as well.
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