In times of national struggle, who better to look for comfort and inspiration than the greatest songwriter of all time?
For the first time since 2012, Bob Dylan released an original single entitled “Murder Most Foul.” In nearly 17 minutes, he reflects on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and how the country looked to music for recovery, leading it to be considered an epic piece among many fans.
Although the song may not have the same enthusiasm as “Hurricane” or “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” the 78-year-old singer still uses his lyrics to withhold a youthful hope that once deemed him “the voice of his generation.”
“Murder Most Foul” is no exception to Dylan’s reputation as a political songwriter. During a time when the world faces a challenge, Dylan uses this single to guide his listeners towards positivity.
The song not only touches on the tragedy of President Kennedy’s assassination but also how the country came together afterward, particularly around music, referencing many song titles and musicians from the 1960s.
Dylan ultimately puts the current state of the nation into perspective as he takes the listener back to another struggle once faced and reminds us that today’s difficulties are possible to overcome together.
On Twitter, Dylan released a link to the single along with a message to his fans, in which he wrote: “Stay safe, stay observant, and may God be with you.”
Even after 38 studio albums and 91 singles, “Murder Most Foul” is still unique compared to most of Dylan’s previous music. What sets it apart, besides the obvious lengthiness, is its classical style as opposed to the folk or rock we are used to hearing. Instead of the usual guitar and harmonica, he incorporates a piano and string orchestra to accompany his vocals.
The sound is similar to his 2015 album, “Shadows in the Night,” in which he sang covers of Frank Sinatra songs. Like his single, this album focuses more on Dylan’s vocals without his iconic acoustic guitar. However, “Murder Most Foul” still maintains his excellent storytelling skills while blending with his newer style.
Overall, Dylan’s music has become much more subdued and vocal-based than his early career, yet he has not lost his knack for relevant writing.
Although this song may not have the qualities suited for radio, Dylan’s lyrical depth certainly makes it worth a listen.
[star rating=”4″]
Kaelin • Oct 1, 2020 at 1:45 pm
Hi, I im Aidan Kurt’s sister Kaelin and i am so proud of my brother!
Patrick King • Apr 10, 2020 at 11:38 am
Does anyone still listen to radio for music? When I heard Murder Most Foul was out I just asked Alexa to play it and she did. It’s the perfect size for the modern listener.
Nancy Cobb • Apr 9, 2020 at 7:25 pm
Thanks for the review. I am glad that a young person is taking the time to listen to Bob Dylan. I have noticed a striking similarity between Bob’s song and a song from Eminem’s new album called Darkness. I am wondering if any Eminem fans see that.
Ross Harding • Apr 8, 2020 at 10:23 pm
Good to see a four-star review for the song by my favourite artist. The article doesn’t touch on the overwhelming impression that there was foul play involved on a high level that led to Kennedy’s death, which I think is what hits me most when I listen. I suppose though it’s difficult to broach that subject- and the wider implications of the timing of it’s release- on a media platform.
Bernard Zalon • Apr 8, 2020 at 7:18 am
I find it interesting that many of these reviews talk about how great the song is and how music helped us “heal” from the assassination. I think the point of the song is that we never healed, and that reviews like this one just gloss over the fact that the elephant in the room (song) is that Kennedy was murdered by the same forces (that’s plural) that have caused the millions of deaths and displacements around the world since then.