For the FIRST time in his career, Bob Dylan has a #1 song on a Billboard chart.
"Murder Most Foul," the nearly 17-minute chronicle of the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, debuts at #1 on the Rock Digital Song Sales Chart. pic.twitter.com/Ft4OYdtAi3— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) April 9, 2020
For the first time ever, Bob Dylan’s Murder Most Foul gets No. 1 hit on a Billboard Chart. This is Bob Dylan’s first-ever original song in a period of 8 years to hit position 1. Murder Most Foul song is a 17-minute ballad that talks about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the U.S president in 1963. According to the Billboard, the song is No. 1 in the Rock Digital Song Sales survey. According to the Billboard reports and statistics, the song hit about 1.8 Million streams in the U.S. In addition, it hit 10,000 downloads during the first week. This made it land at No. 5 on Billboards’ Hot Rock Songs chart.
Murder Most Foul Becomes Popular
Since debuting on 26th March, the song has received over 2.7 million views on YouTube. Bob Dylan had also received other success with his song Like a Rolling Stone in 1965 when the track hit No. 2 on the Billboard’s Hot 100 hits. Other successes include Rainy Day Women who got to No. 12 and No. 13, respectively, in May 1966. Bob Dylan’s songs have never hit No.1 on any genre for all that time until now. This is a big achievement for Bob Dylan as well as his fans. Bob Dylan has also experienced some topping success with 3 of his songs; Handle with Care, End of the Line, and She’s My Baby. All these songs hit No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart in the 1980s and 1990s. When it comes to the Adult Contemporary chart, his songs hit No. 1. The Cover of Blowing in the Wind by Peter Paul & Mary as well as Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds topped the Hot 100 back in 1965. Bob Dylan surprised his fans on Instagram by releasing the song late last month. Dylan said that Murder Most Foul was previously unreleased song, which he had recorded a while ago. The following is the quoted statement on Instagram; “Greetings to my fans and followers with gratitude for all your support and loyalty over the years… “This is an unreleased song we recorded a while back that you might interest. Stay safe, stay observant, and my God is with you.” The last album of Bob’s original music was released in 2012. The album Tempest was known as a folk-rock icon. Bob, a Nobel Prize winner, has also released other albums that have American standards. In 2017 he released Triplicate.
Murder Most Foul Explained
The Murder Most Foul, a 17 minutes song features orchestral ballad and elegant piano. The song gives a description of sorrowful details of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The song also has details surrounding the culture of the 1960s and 70s. There is also the mention of Patsy, The Beatles, Stevie Nicks, Glenn Frey, and many more. Murder Most Foul rekindles events from 1963, and its release during this pandemic is a way to show the world that we are living in uncertain times, and people ought to reconnect with such tragic stories. This can really help give us a sense of stability through the chaos. It is clear that Bob Dylan, who played his first noteworthy track in the 1960s, has provided us with a poignant message that aims at showing that it is possible to stick out during difficult times. As you listen to the song, it begins to dawn on you that it is not all about the shooting exactly but to show the power of music in giving a short break in today’s rapidly evolving times. What makes the song so unique is its ability to reveal a series of songwriters and classic songs. It tells the story of changing tides of culture as well as the song that took the country through the worst. Dylan aims at preaching peace in the midst of disruption at the end of the other decade. Bob Dylan paints a picture of a decade that had experienced a lot but later managed to get a footing due to the outpouring of hope and art. This song can be termed as the sharpest latter-day composition. The most interesting thing is that Bob Dylan started off by playing other people’s songs and has since made great strides in the industry to earning The Nobel Prize for Literature in the year 2016. As most people are in lockdown, only glued around the TVs and Radio in order to find solace in this hard time of tragedy, it is clear that the song is a mirror on the present. The songs Hurricane and The Times They Are A-Changing gave Bob Dylan the title “the voice of his generation.” His lyrics showed youthful hope and great enthusiasm. Though Murder Most Foul may not possess similar enthusiasm as these previous songs, it withholds a youthful hope. It plays a critical role in guiding fans and listeners towards positivity at this time when the world is facing challenges. What makes the song to be most loved is its relevance to the current times in the world. It puts the current state into perspective and moves listeners back to previous struggles the world has had. This reminds us that even with the difficulties the world is facing now, it is 100% possible to overcome. Another thing that sets this song apart is its classical style as opposed to his other rock and folk songs that we are used to hearing. Overall, Bob Dylan has not yet lost his skills and knack for relevant writing. The Dylan’s lyrical depth for Murder Most Foul makes a worth a listen.