Straight to Video
Rock Art Rock
See more in the Rock Art Rock gallery.
polls
Loading ...
On the Five Year Anniversary of Hunter S. Thompson’s Death
Journalist Hunter S. Thompson requested that Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” be played at his funeral while his ashes were shot out of a cannon. He also dedicated Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to Dylan because of the song.
As he famously once said, “Buy the ticket, take the ride.” Maybe that’s not feasible in every day life, and maybe it is. I don’t have that answer. But for today, how about we buy the ticket, take the ride… or, you know, just pull over to the local bar and down a shot of Wild Turkey.
Celluloid Heroes: Procol Harum in New York Stories: Life Lessons
Before I knew of or respected musicians like Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, and Procol Harum, the 1989 (I was 12) anthology film New York Stories, consisting of three shorts, both introduced and compelled me to their music via Martin Scorsese’s Life Lessons, the first and best short of the film. Especially Procol Harum’s “Whiter Shade of Pale”… that one has haunted me since the first time I saw this film.
Written by Richard Price, and loosely based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s’ short novel The Gambler, this short centers around Lionel Dobie (Nick Nolte), a well-known and acclaimed abstract painter who’s struggling to create before a major gallery exhibit, and Paulette (just Paulette… played by Rosanna Arquette), his assistant and former lover. While she really only wants his tutelage and an entry into the New York art scene, he’s still in love with her, but doesn’t realize that when he’s wrapped up in his work and somewhat just using her for sex. They both live in the same studio, and as his artistic anxieties grow, Paulette dates other people (Steve Buscemi, who plays the role of a performance artist, and Jesse Borrego, another painter). This drives Lionel into a jealous rage, which fuels his creativity.
The movie sets in with Procol Harum’s “Whiter Shade of Pale”, providing a particular bohemian tone and, by way of the church organ and decending bass line, an obvious fall from grace leading to a stark realization as it guides many scene transitions. When Lionel pours himself into his work, the burst and bloom of painting is subsisted by music (namely Cream’s “Politician”, Ray Charles’ “The Right Time”, Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone”), dramatically and effectively conveying a higher level of passionate creation. Shots of paintings around the studio act as metaphors for past relationships, including tormented clowns, burning bridges, and stormy skies. In the end, as Lionel is completing his last piece, he realizes that he needs the turbulence of relationships in his life so it can incite his art. At the gallery opening, he meets a new woman and asks her to be his assistant (and possible lover), starting the cycle all over again.
And a few more scenes after the jump.
Hang Bob Dylan’s Paintings on Your Wall
[Via Times Live]
That’s right, for $148, 401 (and up) you can score a Bob Dylan original canvas painting. From tomorrow, February 13th, through April 10th, a collection of Dylan’s paintings will be available for public viewing, and purchase, at the Halcyon Gallery in London.
The “Bob Dylan on Canvas” exhibit will feature a series of paintings based on sketches that the troubadour made while on the road from 1989 through ‘92. (That’s around the time of the Dylan & the Dead album, Oh Mercy, and Under the Red Sky.)
In typical Bob Dylan modesty, the artist had this to say:
“I just draw what’s interesting to me, and then I paint it,” said Dylan. “I’m not trying to make social comment or fulfill somebody’s vision and I can find subject matter anywhere. I guess in some way that comes out of the folk world that I came up in.”
Bob Dylan Sang “The Times They Are A-Changin’” at the White House
No Joan Baez and Bob Dylan did not perform together at the In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement like we hoped they would. And sure, his voice sounded off-key and warbly, but still reflective and ardent. But Bob Frickin’ Dylan did pick up his acoustic guitar (which he usually doesn’t do on tour anymore) and sang “The Times They Are A-Changing’” and the words “Come senators, congressmen, please heed the call / Don’t stand in the doorway, don’t block up the hall / For he who gets hurt will be he who has stalled / There’s a battle outside and it’s ragin’ / It’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls / For the times they are a changin’” to a room full of those very same people. After his performance, Dylan stepped of the stage and shook President Obama’s hand.
Listen to him perform “The Times They are A-Changin’” after the jump. read more
Would Bob Dylan and Joan Baez Reunite This Week?
[via Mojo] Bob Dylan and Joan Baez are set to perform this Wednesday in Washington at In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement. Oddly enough, it was almost 50 years ago that they sang together in Washington for the first time, during the Jobs and Freedom march in 1963, led by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sure, they’ve performed together plenty of times over the years, and sure there’s absolutely no confirmation as this point that they’ll be performing any songs together… and yet, it’s still hard to not feel excited by the prospect of that. It’s good to give the people what they want sometimes, and the people want a Dylan/Baez duet at the Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement. Am I right?
There will be a live stream of the performances at whitehouse.gov. Smokey Robinson and John Mellencamp are also scheduled to perform.
Bob Dylan Song Inspires Children’s Book
[via TwentyFourBit]
Based on some recent comments that appeared on the Jay Reatard story today, it would seem (somewhat shockingly) that some folks visiting this site might have steadfast morals otherwise not exactly known to the generally misguided ways of us rock ‘n’ roll cretins. So, uh, this one is for you guys.
Bob Dylan’s song “Men Gave Names to All the Animals” from his Christianity-inspired album, Slow Train Comin’, is the basis for a children’s picture book which will be accompanied by a recording of the original song on CD. In a press release, artist Jim Arnosky said this of the project:
“From the first time I heard it, the lyrics created pictures in my mind of a land of primeval beauty,” Arnosky said. “I thought this vision would make a dream of a book, and I asked for Bob Dylan’s permission to make this dream come true. Happily, he said yes.”
So there you go. How nice! Nice pleasantries for your reading pleasure, so pleasant and nice and non-confrontational and non-challenging to your current prevailing concepts about the ways of life, oh goodness, oh my, so nice. Listen to the song after the jump, and get down to the Genesis 2:20 reference. read more
Bob Dylan to Play at the White House, and Other News
President Obama has invited Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Natalie Cole, Blind Boys of Alabama, Smokey Robinson, and a few others to the White House on February 10th to commemorate and celebrate the Civil Rights movement. The event, to be emceed by Morgan Freeman and Queen Latifah, will also include appearances by the Obamas, of course, and readings from civil rights speeches. The program will be broadcast the next day for those of us who don’t have the golden ticket to be there in person. (Washington Post)
In other news of high-profile appearances, Devo has been lined up to join the crew of musicians set to play the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. (Spinner)
San Francisco-based digital distributor IODA is geared up to strengthen their catalog of classic music. (Hypebot)
Come Christmas 2010, there will be a range of Michael Jackson dolls available of which to give or receive. (Guardian)
Weird Al has signed a deal with Cartoon Network, and he gets to provide lots of funny content for them. First up, a “live-action feature film.” (Daily Swarm)
You can hear a lovely track from the highly anticipated, triple-disc (yes, TRIPLE DISC!) new album from Joanna Newsom here via Drag City. (Stereogum)
Justin Timberlake was named Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Man of the Year, which recognizes achievements in the arts. (Billboard)
Read more news after the jump.
Musicians Sign on for Haiti Relief, and Other News
In the wake of the Haiti disaster, it seems like a vast majority of people in the public eye have stepped up to raise money and awareness for the plight of the Haitians. Musicians are leading the charge, with myriad benefits and auctions being planned all over the place. Pitchfork has compiled this handy list of what’s going down over the next few weeks, and it’ll warm your heart to see what great efforts musicians around the world are going to to help alleviate the situation in any way they can. So far on board are Ted Leo, Patti Smith, the Antlers, A.C. Newman, Mogwai, Surfer Blood, Lady Gaga, Thievery Corporation, the Swell Season, Here We Go Magic, Cold War Kids, Wale, Justin Timberlake… to name but just a few. (Pitchfork)
Country legend Carl Smith died on Saturday at 82 years old. RIP Carl. (Mog)
Billy Bragg is threatening to stop paying taxes, and encouraging others to do the same, so irate he is over bonuses paid by the Royal Bank of Scotland. (Reuters)
Bob Dylan just can’t stay away from the road. 2010 tour dates announced, commencing in Japan. (Spinner)
The Killers are reportedly taking an “indefinite” break from recording, touring, and each other. (Strange Glue)
Libertines songwriter Carl Barat wants to get the band back together. (Clash Music)
Read more news after the jump.
Bob Dylan: Christmas in the Heart
Bob Dylan
Christmas in the Heart
(Columbia, 2009)
If there was ever a time that I’ve thought of Bob Dylan to be a grandfather figure in my life, it’s now. And I don’t say that just because we share a surname (although I’ve obviously considered, and claimed, the possibility that we are related). No, I say this because on his new Christmas album, Christmas in the Heart, he’s never sounded so overtly… old. I mean that with all the respect in the world, mind you. Like a wizened, beloved grandfather, he’s almost better suited to spread holiday cheer.
For the record—we can ignore the fact that Dylan was raised Jewish, converted to Christianity in the late ’70s (as evidenced on Slow Train Coming), and reportedly today reclaims his Jewish roots. Christmas carols these days are more pagan than Christian anyway, more often commercially supplanted for marketing purposes than they are intended to foster religious cheer and purpose. So, for the sake of listening to an album of Christmas music as released by Dylan, I think it’s safe to remove any religious significance from this collection of songs.
Bob Dylan Does “Mama Said Knock You Out” on His Radio Show
by: Jocelyn Hoppa
Thanks to the Daily Swarm for bringing this to our attention. This is a clip of Bob Dylan reciting a full verse of LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out” for this Theme Time Radio Hour show (Steve Merchant, co-writer of the British show The Office, comes in for the second part). The theme this time was, of course, “Mama” and you can see the whole playlist for the show here. But listen to Bob rap by viewing the below.
Like this article? Digg it and sign up for our RSS feed!
by: Jocelyn Hoppa
published: February 24, 2010
in column: What Goes On
no comments yet
Tags: