HOW DOES IT FEEEEEEEEL?

The National Post ^ | 5/24/01 | Mark Steyn

[Mr. Mojo]

I can't stop laughing whenever I think of how big a disappointment Zimmy has been to the Left over the past 35 or so years!

Yep, they cling to this (false) conception of Bob the "protest" folksinger, and nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, of his 30+ albums, only two could be properly considered lefty protest albums, and the last one was recorded in 1963 .... well before our intense military engagement in Vietnam. He hinted to the leftists which way he was now headed with Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964), and basically told them all to go to hell with the half-electric Bring it all Back Home (1965). Later that year, with the release of the full-electric Highway 61 Revisited, he was a full-fledged rock and roller singing about the standard themes of that genre, albeit with far more introspection, poetic flair, and intelligence than anyone else. To the left, of course, he was a traitor.

[Mr. Mojo]

Blood on the Tracks. One of the greatest albums of all time

It sure is. Planet Waves (recorded with the Band) was also released that year ('74), and I think it's one of his most underrated efforts. New Morning (1970) is also an underrated gem.

[Mr. Mojo]

I bought it [Love and Theft] recently and have listened to it casually a coupla times, but it hasn't grabbed me yet...which songs do you recommend I give a serious listen to?!

IMO, it's a very inconsistent album, but the songs Mississippi, High Water, and Sugar Baby are the standouts.

[Mr. Mojo]

The Left knew it was in trouble with Dylan as far back as 1973, when he wrote these lyrics for The Wedding Song

Great song, but the left knew it was in trouble with Bob long before '73. It started with Another Side of Bob Dylan ('64), specifically with the song "It Ain't Me Babe." By '66, his lefty fans were screaming "Judas" at his shows.

[Frank_2001]

Good article!

[lainde]

Steyn ping!

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Tweeker]

Dylan did not support Bubba in 92. Dylan has always been a-political. He did perform at the 92 Presidential Inaugaration because he was asked to. He did not perform at any campaign rallies. At all inaugarals Americans perrform and it is not indicative of personal support for an administration.

Dylan's support of Israel, his detesting of abuses by the powerful, his fierce anti-globalism would put him at odds with Bubba.

In 97 Dylan was awarded the Kennedy Honors during Clinton's presidency. This was the only other Dylan-Clinton connection. However if one thinks this demonstrates a closeness between the recipient and the host then logic would make the case that Charleton Heston is also a big Clinton supporter. Since along with Dylan he was a recipient that year.

I have a copy of the Sinatra birthday bash in which Dylan sings "Restless Farewell". This song was performed at Sinatra's personal request and the music (orchestra) and vocal performance are wonderful.

[Tweeker]

Finally a man with discernment.

[Tweeker]

During the 1966 European tour when as Mojo recalls the lefties were booing Dylan, calling him Judas etc. there is this great story. The heckling was really bad in France and Dylan and the Band had one more perfomance coming up in Paris. Dylan said out loud to Robbie Robertson and others, "What can I do to piss off the French?"

Well when the Band arrived at the Paris venue Dylan had his stage manager drape a twenty foot American flag as a backdrop. This show is captured on teh documentary Eat the Document. One of Dylan's gifts is that he is very good at discerning man's nature and this shows he understood the French anti-Americanism 37 years ago.

[Mr. Mojo]

Fantasic story, Tweeker. I'm surprised I've never heard that one. I guess I'll have to rent that documentary, if it's available.

[GOPJ]

bump

[SandyEgo]

...I've got to read this all later, thanks!

[Rocko]

Unfortunately, it's only available from bootlegged copies.

[Chickensoup]

I didn't need to see that ! talk about getting hit with the UGLY stick ol 'Bobby got whumped with the damn tree.


I actually think he got a good part of his face torn up in an accident many years ago. Don't know whether he hit a tree though.

[Chickensoup]

It is not the face of a man who has had a happy life. Few laugh wrinkles, little joy there.

[The Shrew]

It is not for me to join the vast army of Dylanologists who've been poring over his songs for 30 years. As Bob himself once said, "They are whatever they are to whoever's listening to them." End of story. But it does seem to me that, while most rock stars pursue eternal youth, Dylan has always sought premature geezerdom.

Mark Steyn ping!

A blast from the past!

TS

[GSWarrior]

Best lead paragraph ever.