My weekly contribution to the Saturday morning 91.7 KAXE program “Between You and Me” joins the show’s rotating topic: Bob Dylan at 70.
Dylan Days is going on now in Dylan’s hometown of Hibbing. With Dylan turning 70 last week, a generation is forced to reckon with its own mortality. This is has been a running theme in my writing lately. The essay is based on the column I wrote last Sunday. So, you know, that plus the dulcet tones of my melodic voice. But, in all seriousness, the show should be great with calls from people all over the area talking about the region’s most famous son. KAXE has an excellent library of Dylan music that will surely be tapped as well.
Tune in Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota or streaming live all over the world at www.kaxe.org, where you’ll also find an archive.
You’ve been pushing ‘ole Bob so hard Aaron yet no one has opened a dialogue on your multiple posts.
I now know the reason why… although not gone, he’s forgotten.
“The Answer, My Friend, Is … 37% Have No Opinion of Bob Dylan
Monday, May 30, 2011
The times indeed are a-changin’. Bob Dylan, the iconic American singer-songwriter of the 1960s, is now virtually unknown to more than one-in-three adults in this country.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of American Adults have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Dylan who turned 70 last week, while 24% view him at least somewhat unfavorably. But 37% don’t know enough about the author of anthems like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Like A Rolling Stone” to voice any kind of opinion of him at all.
By contrast, 64% of adults have a favorable opinion of the legendary ‘60s rock band The Beatles. Only 20% view the British foursome unfavorably.
Just 11% of Americans regard Dylan as the most influential U.S. songwriter of the second half of the 20th Century. Fifty-four percent (54%) disagree and say he is not. Thirty-five percent (35%) are not sure.
Still, one-in-five (19%) say they own at least one Dylan album. Seventy-five percent (75%) do not”.
In a big country no one has the attention of everyone. If you are arguing that Bob Dylan doesn’t have any influence or impact in the music and arts world, I don’t get it. If you are arguing that he doesn’t matter, I don’t get that either. You don’t like him? I get that. Not everyone does.
Why do you have to be so antagonistic? No one comments on these posts because they’re sick of arguing with you. That’s why I stopped responding, too. It’s just not worth the time and energy to be so angry all the time.
Three reasons Aaron…and good ‘ole Bob touches on each –
1)”Technology to wipe out truth is now available. Not everybody can afford it but it’s available. When the cost comes down, look out!” – Bob Dylan
The cost is down and the truth is being wiped out. Time to speak up.
2)”Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.” -Bob Dylan
The battle is a ragin’ Aaron, like it or not.
3)“Steal a little and they throw you in jail. Steal a lot and then they make you king.” – Bob Dylan
We’ve got politicians who are stealin’ a lot, acting like kings. And that ain’t right.
Hope this helps you understand why “I’m glad I’m not me” – Bob Dylan.
70 and going on about 110.