'Lamest Nobel win since Obama': How Twitter reacted to Bob Dylan's Literature Prize win

US music legend Bob Dylan, whose poetic lyrics have influenced generations of fans, won the Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday, the first songwriter to win the award in a decision that stunned prize watchers.

The 75-year-old was honoured “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”, the Swedish Academy said.

The choice was met by gasps and a long round of spontaneous applause from journalists attending the prize announcement. The folk rock singer had been mentioned in Nobel speculation over the years, but was never seen as a serious contender.

Speculation prior to Thursday’s announcement had focused on Syrian poet Adonis and Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o as possible recipients, but reactions to the surprise choice of Dylan were mostly positive. The Academy has been known to push the limits of the definition of literature, honouring Winston Churchill in 1953 for his wartime speeches.

“Sometimes it’s someone unknown whom few have read, and sometimes they pick someone who has popular appeal,” said Swedish music journalist Stefan Wermelin.

“But this is the first time the prize has gone to a musical form of expression and in that genre Dylan is totally in a class of his own.”

But Per Svensson, culture writer at Swedish regional daily Sydsvenskan, described the choice “incredibly depressing” and a “Trumpification” of the prestigious prize to appeal to the masses. And some of the reaction on social media was also biting.

BREAKING 2016 #NobelPrize in Literature to Bob Dylan “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition” pic.twitter.com/XYkeJKRfhv

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 13, 2016

Congratulations to one of my favorite poets, Bob Dylan, on a well-deserved Nobel. https://t.co/c9cnANWPCS

— President Obama (@POTUS44) October 13, 2016

Fellow musicians were jubilant and nostalgic

Congratulations Bob for getting the Nobel prize. What an achievement !@bobdylan

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) October 13, 2016

Congratulations Bob! You made all our lives better. Thank you for the warning about what was to come (Subterranean Homesick Blues)@bobdylan https://t.co/yfBXEQ5hF1

— 🕉🇺🇦🟦Stevie Van Zandt☮️💙 (@StevieVanZandt) October 13, 2016

Bruce @springsteen: "Bob Dylan is the father of my country." Read the full excerpt from 'Born To Run' https://t.co/Pka3Zlr4Jr pic.twitter.com/JGvpGzYjbY

— Legacy Recordings (@SonyLegacyRecs) October 13, 2016

Many congratulations to @bobdylan on the Nobel Prize for Literature!

— George Harrison (@GeorgeHarrison) October 13, 2016

Ringo I would like to congratulate Bob Dylan winning the Nobel prize for literature peace and love Bob 😎✌️️🌟💖🎶🎵👏☮️

— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) October 14, 2016

"Yes to dance beneath a diamond sky with one hand waving free..." for this alone Bob Dylan deserves the Nobel Prize https://t.co/62ZXuabPpb

— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) October 13, 2016

And all the songwriters go 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 https://t.co/ZTcvNv3GZd

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) October 13, 2016

The writers were divided

From Orpheus to Faiz,song & poetry have been closely linked. Dylan is the brilliant inheritor of the bardic tradition.Great choice. #Nobel

— Salman Rushdie (@SalmanRushdie) October 13, 2016

I'm a Dylan fan, but this is an ill conceived nostalgia award wrenched from the rancid prostates of senile, gibbering hippies.

— Irvine Welsh (@IrvineWelsh) October 13, 2016

I am ecstatic that Bob Dylan has won the Nobel. A great and good thing in a season of sleaze and sadness.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 13, 2016

Asked about Nobel for Dylan: inspired & original choice. his haunting music & lyrics have always seemed, in the deepest sense, "literary."

— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) October 13, 2016

This feels like the lamest Nobel win since they gave it to Obama for not being Bush

— Hari Kunzru (@harikunzru) October 13, 2016

A lot of people seemed to like the surprise

Novelists grousing about Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize: green looks hideous on you. #ThereMustBeSomethingHappeningButYouDontKnowWhatItIs #DoYou

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) October 13, 2016

David Remnick celebrates Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize in Literature. https://t.co/p6p7EgJTwB pic.twitter.com/9Q1Vq9Ad7t

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) October 14, 2016

Congratulations to my dear friend Bob Dylan winner of the 2016 #NobelPrize for Literature. His music and lyrics hav…https://t.co/gh18VWfwlB

— Bianca Jagger Nicaraguense por gracia de Dios 🇳🇮 (@BiancaJagger) October 13, 2016

I found out this minute that Bob Dylan, has won the Nobel Prize for literature!! Congratulations to you, Bob! What a great great day!

— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) October 13, 2016

Now I can say I've been in a music video of a Nobel Prize winner. Congratulations Bob! https://t.co/j9rxiVhPyM

— Molly Ringwald (@MollyRingwald) October 13, 2016

Congratulations Bob Dylan.U always been the main man,our poet, & all around cool cat.Are we rolling Bob?You bet we are. Keep it going Bobby

— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) October 13, 2016

While some others seemed to find this funny

I totally get the Nobel committee. Reading books is hard.

— Gary Shteyngart (@Shteyngart) October 13, 2016

*bob dylan voice*
i wooonnnn, a nobel, priiiiiize

— jonny sun (@jonnysun) October 14, 2016

With inputs from agencies