Bob Dylan

I agree with Radicalnan. As they didn't consult him about winning this prize, he is not obliged to respond. They should have approached him first.
And why should he accept, thank, and come to the prize giving, Diddy1? Dylan doesn't need his work to be acknowledged by this self-promoting, and not always wise, organisation with its dubious roots and questionable judgement; his work speaks for itself.

I'm not really surprised by his reaction. My daughter and her family saw his live show recently and, at the end, he just walked off the stage without a word. No-one knew whether the performance was finished or not...People just trickled away as they gradually accepted that that was it!

I do think Bob, like many other performers, should have retired years ago. My daughter said the show was pretty awful, and the people sitting in front of them all fell asleep. Quite a few of the audience crept away whilst he was still singing. (Doesn't apply to all older stars, of course - the same daughter saw Paul Simon perform live a few months ago and said he was brilliant.)

Having said that, I have to out myself as a Dylan fan since my early teens. Some of those songs still stir my blood when I hear them - like "Hattie Caroll," "Chimes Of Freedom", "God On Our Side," "Hard Rain", "Idiot Wind", "Shelter From The Storm"...Too many to mention, in fact. I'm happy he has been given the Nobel prize, as I imagine that his writing has a lot of significance for a great many people. I can't imagine that it's going to start a trend, and I expect that next year's award will be a more conventional choice.

Thank you Jess M for the words. The only lines I have ever heard from the Dylan one is "Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone" - the rest is noise. I admit I do like some of his songs - usually sung by someone else when I can hear the words. Poetry? sometimes. Nobel Prize-worthy? I don't think so.

The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.

I always remember that conversation, although I cannot remember who the conversants were, when Henry Kissinger won the Nobel Peace Prize:

"He might just have well have been awarded the Nobel prize for physics."

"What does Henry Kissenger know about physics. Oh…"

Thanks JessM for the words from Joni's wonderful anthem, Blue. When I heard that Bob had won, I smiled but wondered why Joni or Leonard Cohen missed out. I'm surprised that anyone is surprised by Dylan's response, or lack of it. He's always done exactly what he wanted to hasn't he. He was so influential to a generation, his words are fantastic, his voice is unmistakable.

It's ironic though, that he was chosen when Joni and Leonard were available.

Can't understand why no-one has mentioned that fine piece of poetry "Must Be Santa"! Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without it.

He is known to be elusive, reclusive and generally "off the wall" so his non reaction comes as no surprise. I'm a long time fan but do think he should have acknowledged.

He gets my vote for Every Grain of Sand alone and if you don't like his voice Norah Jones does a beautiful version.