October 10, 2004
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PEOPLE WHO KNOCK ME OUT
Bob Dylan
As the first volume of Dylan’s long-awaited 3-part memoirs, Chronicles, Volume One, hits the stands, it’s time for everybody to remember the first time they heard the tiny troubador from Hibbing, Minnesota who changed the landscape of music in the early ’60′s. I was in a commune in Pacific Grove, California when Dylan played the first Monterey Folk Festival right next door in 1963 and though I didn’t go to the festival his first album was played nonstop, full-blast for days where I lived. And then it seemed like the hippest thing ever that Dylan and Joan Baez would have a romance. What can I say, the voice is unique, the lyrics powerful (he says he doesn’t like the word “poet”), and the persona mystical. I like that he’s kept his life so private – not because private is important for everyone but because it is for him. And yet, like everyone who felt Dylan belonged to our generation, I can’t wait to read whatever he’s been willing to share about it. The kids of today listen to somebody else, but then most of them don’t vote either. In those days we had Dylan to sing out about the war, along with others of that time. Who is singing out today? I grew up alongside him – and so Bobbie Zimmerman, Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You.
Deep Thought: Somebody told me how frightening it was how much topsoil we are losing each year, but I told that story around the campfire and nobody got scared.
Today I am grateful for: Big Voices
Guess the Movie: “Beginnings are scary. Endings are usually sad, but it’s what’s in the middle that counts. So, when you find yourself at the beginning, just give hope a chance to float up. And it will. ” Answer: Hope Floats, 1998
Winner: merrow_mistral
Polls Today: Kerry 270/Bush 248. Not much happening. Of note in my neighborhood, Oregon is now back to being Strong Kerry, thank god. I got a call from General Wesley Clark saying to see a film on Kerry and to keep it in theaters. It was called something like Going Upriver. I noticed that Michael Moore’s F9/11 is not flying off the shelves at my local video store and that kind of surprised me. The only political signs I see in my neighborhood are Kerry/Edwards signs. What about your neck of the woods?
End of Day: 8:59 pm
+ = Saw Friday Night Lights and it’s a very good Hollywood version of the true story of high school football in Odessa, Texas which was documentarized beautifully awhile back too.
- = What in the hell is the attraction of such violent sports, both to the athletes themselves and to the audience, like me? Hmmm…..
Comments (14)
I love Dylan’s “The Girl from the North Country Fair” on NPR. Heard it two years ago for the first time as my husband and I were doing a bread run for the local shelter. I didn’t recognize it at first because his voice was so clear. My guess for the movie is “Hope Floats” as said by Sandra Bullock.
There are so many ways in which Dylan touched history, and I still rely on Blood on the Tracks to get me through certain moments in my life. We need his music as much now as ever.
I’m in a totally Republican zone (voted fpr every Republican Presidential candidate since they voted against Lincoln in 1864) but still, you can hardly drive down any block without seeing a couple of Kerry/Edwards signs. You can’t drive on any street without seeing Kerry/Edwards bumper stickers. The energy of the Democrats here is shockingly high.
Dylan is a complex and amazingly talented figure..I am not sure if you have read this xanga but this woman Lisa uses Dylan for her Muse Lisa’s Xanga
Yes, I have seen LisaZaran’s page and I can totally relate.
Also, it is Hope Floats, you clever Merrow!
And it looks like all four of our states (according to the EVP) so far – Oregon, California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania – are going Kerry. Isn’t that nifty?
I have always enjoyed Dylan’s concerts. The last time I saw him was when he played an outdoor concert with the Bodeans and Paul Simon about four years ago. When one tells a young person that it is like seeing Jesus, they do not get the connection of a “voice of our era” and I find this rather sad. I do not know who will be the voice of this generation, but I think it will be a political figure. Perhaps Barack Obama. Everything has become so material, and I miss those days where as a generation we searched for the experience beyond. Materialism blinds the imagination in many ways in that the glitter of useless, petty things supercedes the value of experience and critical thinking. There was a failure, somewhere, to communicate this to our children; however, the fact that many young people listen to the Poets/Songwriters of yesterday tells me that our children crave a deeper experience and insight, which is difficult when caught up in modern trappings.
I always enjoy your entries. Peace~
Here in Gresham there are tons of Bush/Cheney bumper stickers. I haven’t seen hardly any lawn signs though which I thought was pretty interesting.
I’ve always heard Gresham was a pretty conservative place. Farther you get out of the big city, I guess.
I’ll be putting up the big display at our local Best Buy bright and early Tuesday. Wonder if there’ll be a line? It’s kind of fun when people get excited about these things!
Fortunately mostly Kerry signs although we took a drive “in the country” yesterday and I saw a lot of Bush signs. Even scarier I saw several Alan Keyes signs. He is a nut running for Senate here in Illinois. Thankfully I believe Barack Obama will squash him.
I’m really looking forward to seeing more of Obama. Haven’t heard a word since the convention.
I heard bob dylan’s was very famous for anti war singer in here, too..I know his song ” blow with the wind “../N *
There are a few singing out against the war today and I admire them for simply saying something. No they probably aren’t Dylan but I think perhaps Sting has some resemblance, his last album Sacred Love includes a song, “This War” which is very strong. Unfortunately only Sting fans are listening, I don’t believe that it reached the radio. Perhaps the Dixie Chicks have been the most vocal in this age and of course they received some serious backlash. Also Moveon.org has been active in the music world with concerts for change. Those playing include the Dixie Chicks, Dave Matthews and Springstine to name a few.. I don’t think its quite the same as Dylan but there is a little hope.
Here in FL the political scene is in upheaval you see bumper stickers on every other car and I think they might be pretty evenly divided between the two candidates. We are likely to have another issue with this election. I think there is also a good bit of voter interest because everyone here knows that a president can be decided on just 500 votes. I sure hope we aren’t the center of crisis again this year!
Speaking of Bob Dylan, npr is running a special with him startign today! Here’s the link to the online recording of the interview. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4080202
Here in NC Bush signs are everywhere, and in my home state (nc has only been my home since march) Texas things are unwaveringly in favor of Bush. I personaly think they’re both morons. This nation could use an independent party president. I can’t believe how many people get caught up in this stupid political game, and actually believe each year that politicians are going to do what they promised. It is sad…