Comments on: It’s embarrassing to say… http://the-beat.co.uk/its-embarrassing-to-say/ A poetry, short story and art showcase. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:04:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: David Springett http://the-beat.co.uk/its-embarrassing-to-say/comment-page-1/#comment-21394 David Springett Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:41:38 +0000 http://the-beat.co.uk/it%e2%80%99s-embarrassing-to-say-but-it-was-a-religious-experience-for-me/#comment-21394 You never change Mike! We are all "Rolling Stones" David You never change Mike!
We are all “Rolling Stones”

David

]]> By: michelle barnette http://the-beat.co.uk/its-embarrassing-to-say/comment-page-1/#comment-173 michelle barnette Mon, 09 Jan 2006 17:09:49 +0000 http://the-beat.co.uk/it%e2%80%99s-embarrassing-to-say-but-it-was-a-religious-experience-for-me/#comment-173 love him or hate him and his music--maybe if we could see Dylan for what he is...just a man--not a God, but a man, not a legacy, (Yet), perhaps a man trying to sing his poetry as gorgeous as William Blake or William Butler Yeats or Emily Dickenson, but a man just the same. It's dangerous in society to hero-worship...maybe you didn't realize that when you wrote this piece. Does every generation need a voice? One voice? Or do they merely collect their own legacies and icons and keep them on a shelf and shine them up, dust them from day to day? I'm struck by the way this characer worships--Of course Dylan could do anything at all on stage, and this guy will still worship because he is enamored by Dylan. Yes, I saw Bob Dylan in concert once... Yes, it was loud, and duh, it's supposed to be. I was working at the college newspaper, on the Entertainment beat, but I wasn't working that night. I was there for fun because "Melinda," my counterpart, had to review the concert. Melinda blanked out and had nothing to say. I stepped up to the plate, and wrote something like the opening band had to work hard for applause, but the living legend drew applause like nothing...we were butter and he was hot bread. To balance things out, I wrote, that the words were hard to sort/understand. This isn't for certain a bad thing--my dad always said Dylan never sang the same song the same way twice. Also, he wore a hat that completely concealed his face, which was quite annoying, michelle b. love him or hate him and his music–maybe if we could see Dylan for what he is…just a man–not a God, but a man, not a legacy, (Yet), perhaps a man trying to sing his poetry as gorgeous as William Blake or William Butler Yeats or Emily Dickenson, but a man just the same. It’s dangerous in society to hero-worship…maybe you didn’t realize that when you wrote this piece.

Does every generation need a voice? One voice? Or do they merely collect their own legacies and icons and keep them on a shelf and shine them up, dust them from day to day?

I’m struck by the way this characer worships–Of course Dylan could do anything at all on stage, and this guy will still worship because he is enamored by Dylan.

Yes, I saw Bob Dylan in concert once…

Yes, it was loud, and duh, it’s supposed to be. I was working at the college newspaper, on the Entertainment beat, but I wasn’t working that night. I was there for fun because “Melinda,” my counterpart, had to review the concert.

Melinda blanked out and had nothing to say. I stepped up to the plate, and wrote something like the opening band had to work hard for applause, but the living legend drew applause like nothing…we were butter and he was hot bread.

To balance things out, I wrote, that the words were hard to sort/understand. This isn’t for certain a bad thing–my dad always said Dylan never sang the same song the same way twice. Also, he wore a hat that completely concealed his face, which was quite annoying,

michelle b.

]]> By: Pearl Cawley http://the-beat.co.uk/its-embarrassing-to-say/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Pearl Cawley Sat, 08 Oct 2005 17:21:44 +0000 http://the-beat.co.uk/it%e2%80%99s-embarrassing-to-say-but-it-was-a-religious-experience-for-me/#comment-137 When I was 14 in 1965 and I heard Like a Rolling Stone, it was as if someone took out my stomach's inner lining, found my soul and spread its contents for the world to see. Dylan put together words and thoughts that lay hidden in my psyche unshaped. Then I heard Positively 4th Street. Balland of a Thin Man. Bob Dylan's 115th Dream. The Times They Are A-Changing. I was, up to that point and continue to be, a gigantic Beatle fan. They were my Jesuses. Bob Dylan stepped up to the same podium, only with more eloquence. I comepletly understand your feelings about Dylan. It is sad you don't have anyone around you to share your awareness. Awareness was what it was all about and continues to be. That's what hipness was. The hipness of our generation surpassed trends. Our hipness had spiritual elements and context. I also have two children aged 16 & 12 who haven't got a clue, and dare to stare at me as if I have two heads. The greater sadness is realizing so many of our own contemporaries are so aloof to Dylan as our children are. It is expected that our children won't appreciate that the freedoms they now enjoy are the result of parents who were enlightened by Dylan whethere he intended to enlighten or not. We, after all, didn't appreciate the subtleties of Sinatra's charms either. But Sinatra and Elvis were only entertainers. Dylan and the Beatles are prophets, and gods. In essence having lived through the 1960s, has turned out to be a sort of punishment, for those of us who sat in the dream. We lived through this golden age of relentless creativity, positivity and activism for changing the world. Instead, 9/11 occured. The scary thing is that those who carried out the terrorism are as foreign to the idealism we danced through in the 60s as many of our contemporaries and even our children who will never understand what Bob Dylan can do to the soul, the mind and the body. I don't understand what happened to the rest of our generation. All those who carried signs protesting. How they could forget the unity of a conscousness that filtered through our youthful veins. Whether or not you inhaled pot smoke or took acid "back in the day," as my kids call those biblical times, those of us who experienced our youth the 60s entered an unusual realm of existence that should never have been forgot or relegated to the mereness of "being Young." Our youth was certainly unique living on the planet with such icons as four Beatles and one Bob Dylan. My heart is still in the 1960s. I've seen Dylan several times in my life. Because he is who and what he is, I can never get enough of him . Take heart. Not everyone is ignorant. I know several teenagers who actually listen to and appreciate Dylan. Martin Scorcece's documentary on him recently shown on PBS and out on DVD indicates that there is enough appreciation to fill several universes. When I was 14 in 1965 and I heard Like a Rolling Stone, it was as if someone took out my stomach’s inner lining, found my soul and spread its contents for the world to see. Dylan put together words and thoughts that lay hidden in my psyche unshaped. Then I heard Positively 4th Street. Balland of a Thin Man. Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream. The Times They Are A-Changing. I was, up to that point and continue to be, a gigantic Beatle fan. They were my Jesuses. Bob Dylan stepped up to the same podium, only with more eloquence.

I comepletly understand your feelings about Dylan. It is sad you don’t have anyone around you to share your awareness. Awareness was what it was all about and continues to be. That’s what hipness was. The hipness of our generation surpassed trends. Our hipness had spiritual elements and context.

I also have two children aged 16 & 12 who haven’t got a clue, and dare to stare at me as if I have two heads. The greater sadness is realizing so many of our own contemporaries are so aloof to Dylan as our children are. It is expected that our children won’t appreciate that the freedoms they now enjoy are the result of parents who were enlightened by Dylan whethere he intended to enlighten or not. We, after all, didn’t appreciate the subtleties of Sinatra’s charms either. But Sinatra and Elvis were only entertainers. Dylan and the Beatles are prophets, and gods. In essence having lived through the 1960s, has turned out to be a sort of punishment, for those of us who sat in the dream. We lived through this golden age of relentless creativity, positivity and activism for changing the world. Instead, 9/11 occured. The scary thing is that those who carried out the terrorism are as foreign to the idealism we danced through in the 60s as many of our contemporaries and even our children who will never understand what Bob Dylan can do to the soul, the mind and the body.
I don’t understand what happened to the rest of our generation. All those who carried signs protesting. How they could forget the unity of a conscousness that filtered through our youthful veins. Whether or not you inhaled pot smoke or took acid “back in the day,” as my kids call those biblical times, those of us who experienced our youth the 60s entered an unusual realm of existence that should never have been forgot or relegated to the mereness of “being Young.”

Our youth was certainly unique living on the planet with such icons as four Beatles and one Bob Dylan. My heart is still in the 1960s. I’ve seen Dylan several times in my life. Because he is who and what he is, I can never get enough of him . Take heart. Not everyone is ignorant. I know several teenagers who actually listen to and appreciate Dylan. Martin Scorcece’s documentary on him recently shown on PBS and out on DVD indicates that there is enough appreciation to fill several universes.

]]> By: Lisa Zaran http://the-beat.co.uk/its-embarrassing-to-say/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Lisa Zaran Sat, 21 May 2005 03:11:04 +0000 http://the-beat.co.uk/it%e2%80%99s-embarrassing-to-say-but-it-was-a-religious-experience-for-me/#comment-52 Michael, I can't begin to express the energy I felt reading your story. I know. I've been under the weight of that excitement. It's Dylan, man. He didn't actually play guitar when I saw him, but, the rumors were certainly flying that he had and may again. Dylan is everything you said. He's everything you felt and everything you're wife felt. I will listen to a new band, I will give a new band a fair shot but always in the back of my mind is: why listen to them when I can listen to Bob Dylan? Bob Dylan has that thing called Hope. Emily Dickinson said it once: "Hope is the thing with feathers/that perches in the soul" ~lisa Michael,

I can’t begin to express the energy I felt reading your story. I know. I’ve been under the weight of that excitement. It’s Dylan, man.

He didn’t actually play guitar when I saw him, but, the rumors were certainly flying that he had and may again.

Dylan is everything you said. He’s everything you felt and everything you’re wife felt. I will listen to a new band, I will give a new band a fair shot but always in the back of my mind is: why listen to them when I can listen to Bob Dylan?

Bob Dylan has that thing called Hope. Emily Dickinson said it once: “Hope is the thing with feathers/that perches in the soul”

~lisa

]]> By: Glenn http://the-beat.co.uk/its-embarrassing-to-say/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Glenn Fri, 13 May 2005 11:00:16 +0000 http://the-beat.co.uk/it%e2%80%99s-embarrassing-to-say-but-it-was-a-religious-experience-for-me/#comment-49 Wonderful article, Mike. For me, all artistic roads lead to and from Dylan. I like latter-day Dylan better than 60s Dylan. Rarely listen to the official recordings that created his legend; prefer the raggedness of the modern concerts. Only two things in music can move me to tears: Neil Young's electric guitar and Bob Dylan's voice. Wonderful article, Mike. For me, all artistic roads lead to and from Dylan. I like latter-day Dylan better than 60s Dylan. Rarely listen to the official recordings that created his legend; prefer the raggedness of the modern concerts. Only two things in music can move me to tears: Neil Young’s electric guitar and Bob Dylan’s voice.

]]> By: Feliciano http://the-beat.co.uk/its-embarrassing-to-say/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Feliciano Wed, 11 May 2005 16:39:10 +0000 http://the-beat.co.uk/it%e2%80%99s-embarrassing-to-say-but-it-was-a-religious-experience-for-me/#comment-47 Michael, Enjoyed your story very much. And the letters that followed. Thanks Mingo and Na-Shieli. I'm from Mexico and grew up in the U.S. Na-Shieli, Oh Mercy is so outstanding. I wrote some thoughts on it at amazon.com if you want to know what I think about that album. It's the review by "missinglina". I discovered Dylan about 14 years ago and I'm still discovering him. I have been to only 3 shows. 2 were not so great, but the middle one, which was on the heels of the release of Time Out of Mind was really special. No, I couldn't understand everything he sang, but I do think you have to go to a Dylan concert in part to just experience any of his music live before he's gone. But of course, to go, you'd have to appreciate his music in the first place. Dylan is like the original "alternative" music. It just so happened that it fit within the mainstream for a few years. A young 20 something brother in law of mine commented to me if I still liked Dylan and he expressed disatisfaction with his late works. I told him, well, you have to like the blues. His live voice of late tends to be for those who are really attuned to the spirit in his songs. It's not suitable for your general entertainment. But for those who can hear it, yes, there great rewards. Not that Dylan was ever about "pretty music". There are plenty of artists that can sound pretty and I listen to them too. Mingo, it's great to know that in Mexico there are some who do get him. Helps me feel not so "all alone". Saludos de Houston. Michael, I'm curious, you said you saw Dylan playing the guitar? This is recent? I thought he had stopped playing the guitar completely. Every concert review I've read over the last couple of years has him playing keyboards. I had concluded that perhaps he was unable to play the instrument. It's great news if he still can! Michael,

Enjoyed your story very much. And the letters that followed. Thanks Mingo and Na-Shieli. I’m from Mexico and grew up in the U.S. Na-Shieli, Oh Mercy is so outstanding. I wrote some thoughts on it at amazon.com if you want to know what I think about that album. It’s the review by “missinglina”. I discovered Dylan about 14 years ago and I’m still discovering him. I have been to only 3 shows. 2 were not so great, but the middle one, which was on the heels of the release of Time Out of Mind was really special. No, I couldn’t understand everything he sang, but I do think you have to go to a Dylan concert in part to just experience any of his music live before he’s gone. But of course, to go, you’d have to appreciate his music in the first place. Dylan is like the original “alternative” music. It just so happened that it fit within the mainstream for a few years. A young 20 something brother in law of mine commented to me if I still liked Dylan and he expressed disatisfaction with his late works. I told him, well, you have to like the blues. His live voice of late tends to be for those who are really attuned to the spirit in his songs. It’s not suitable for your general entertainment. But for those who can hear it, yes, there great rewards.
Not that Dylan was ever about “pretty music”. There are plenty of artists that can sound pretty and I listen to them too.

Mingo, it’s great to know that in Mexico there are some who do get him. Helps me feel not so “all alone”. Saludos de Houston.

Michael, I’m curious, you said you saw Dylan playing the guitar? This is recent? I thought he had stopped playing the guitar completely. Every concert review I’ve read over the last couple of years has him playing keyboards. I had concluded that perhaps he was unable to play the instrument. It’s great news if he still can!

]]> By: Na-Shieli Saenz http://the-beat.co.uk/its-embarrassing-to-say/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Na-Shieli Saenz Wed, 11 May 2005 03:21:14 +0000 http://the-beat.co.uk/it%e2%80%99s-embarrassing-to-say-but-it-was-a-religious-experience-for-me/#comment-46 Hey Mingo, I just loved your story and the way you seem to know every single thing around MY IDOL. Surprise! you say you are from mexico, and I am from Spain. I live in Barcelona. Your english is quite perfect though. Did you ever live in the US. I lived in england for threee years. Anyway, I know Dylan is huge here in Spain. I think he has come touring some 20 times. I have seen him nine times. (I wish I had seen him more, but I was too young). I am 26 years old. I bet you were surprised to hear MICHAEL´s story about not having anyone to really share his pasion for the greatest and most gifted artist in the whole wide universe. I don´t know if you know this, but amazingly, Dylan has been nominated as a formal candidate to recieve the Novel Prize for Literature. His recently released autobiographical CHRONICLES, is a best selling book all over spain. People here just can not get enough of him. By the way, they just announced some up coming shows for this summer. I sure will be there and will let you know every single detail about it. Oh, and you are a great writer, I have to say. I can´t imagine what it is like when you write in spanish. Good for you. PS. If you american people don´t want Bobby Dylan over there, please send him over here. We sure could use what life and time magazine named as ONE OF THE 100 MOST OUTSTANDING PEOPLE OF THE XX CENTURY. note, we´re talking big time here. Along with Bob Dylan, people like these: JOHN F. KENNEDY, HENRY FORD AND ALBERT EINSTEIN. Well, I´ll just make my self comfortable and relax to the magical tunes of OH, MERCY. Wanna join in anyone? Love arts, nature, wisdom and Bobby Zimmerman Na-Shieli Hey Mingo,
I just loved your story and the way you seem to know every single thing around MY IDOL. Surprise! you say you are from mexico, and I am from Spain. I live in Barcelona. Your english is quite perfect though. Did you ever live in the US. I lived in england for threee years. Anyway, I know Dylan is huge here in Spain. I think he has come touring some 20 times. I have seen him nine times. (I wish I had seen him more, but I was too young). I am 26 years old.
I bet you were surprised to hear MICHAEL´s story about not having anyone to really share his pasion for the greatest and most gifted artist in the whole wide universe. I don´t know if you know this, but amazingly, Dylan has been nominated as a formal candidate to recieve the Novel Prize for Literature. His recently released autobiographical CHRONICLES, is a best selling book all over spain. People here just can not get enough of him. By the way, they just announced some up coming shows for this summer. I sure will be there and will let you know every single detail about it. Oh, and you are a great writer, I have to say. I can´t imagine what it is like when you write in spanish.
Good for you. PS. If you american people don´t want Bobby Dylan over there, please send him over here. We sure could use what life and time magazine named as ONE OF THE 100 MOST OUTSTANDING PEOPLE OF THE XX CENTURY. note, we´re talking big time here. Along with Bob Dylan, people like these: JOHN F. KENNEDY, HENRY FORD AND ALBERT EINSTEIN.
Well, I´ll just make my self comfortable and relax to the magical tunes of OH, MERCY.
Wanna join in anyone?
Love arts, nature, wisdom and Bobby Zimmerman
Na-Shieli

]]> By: Janet http://the-beat.co.uk/its-embarrassing-to-say/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Janet Wed, 11 May 2005 03:18:36 +0000 http://the-beat.co.uk/it%e2%80%99s-embarrassing-to-say-but-it-was-a-religious-experience-for-me/#comment-45 This article is embarrassing. Do you really think engineers are not creative? That little computer you're gushing into and the technology that made your dumb article appear on my desktop were invented by engineers. Which of your creations even comes close? I suspect that someone with a PhD is probably more like Bob than an obsessive fan who still goes around calling him the voice of a generation. The man despises that label. Maybe your "friends" just don't share the same taste in music or never really took the time to listen to the songs so they just don't *get* Bob. It doesn't mean they are idiots and it doesn't necessarily mean they are materialistic or uncreative. As for people who don't appreciate Bob's genius, this will always be the case. Remember the line from John, "And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it." Sounds like you just need some new friends. This article is embarrassing. Do you really think engineers are not creative? That little computer you’re gushing into and the technology that made your dumb article appear on my desktop were invented by engineers. Which of your creations even comes close?

I suspect that someone with a PhD is probably more like Bob than an obsessive fan who still goes around calling him the voice of a generation. The man despises that label.

Maybe your “friends” just don’t share the same taste in music or never really took the time to listen to the songs so they just don’t *get* Bob. It doesn’t mean they are idiots and it doesn’t necessarily mean they are materialistic or uncreative.

As for people who don’t appreciate Bob’s genius, this will always be the case. Remember the line from John, “And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Sounds like you just need some new friends.

]]> By: Jeff http://the-beat.co.uk/its-embarrassing-to-say/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Jeff Tue, 10 May 2005 22:21:05 +0000 http://the-beat.co.uk/it%e2%80%99s-embarrassing-to-say-but-it-was-a-religious-experience-for-me/#comment-44 It is an experience that I have shared with both my boys over the last 4 years. Each getting a turn to see Bob (two to one). They both get it and I am lucky to have shown it to them. . . . Keith you lucky dog. The remarks and personal reviews on that concert still give me chills (a sing along!), wish I had been there. It is an experience that I have shared with both my boys over the last 4 years. Each getting a turn to see Bob (two to one). They both get it and I am lucky to have shown it to them. . . . Keith you lucky dog. The remarks and personal reviews on that concert still give me chills (a sing along!), wish I had been there.

]]> By: mingo dylan http://the-beat.co.uk/its-embarrassing-to-say/comment-page-1/#comment-43 mingo dylan Tue, 10 May 2005 21:53:31 +0000 http://the-beat.co.uk/it%e2%80%99s-embarrassing-to-say-but-it-was-a-religious-experience-for-me/#comment-43 WOW MIKE, WHAT MOST AMAZED ME ABOUT YOUR STORY IS THAT AL OF US "OBSSESIVE" DYLAN FANS HAVE LIVED UP THROUGH CHAPTERS ALIKE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I AM PRUD TO SAY I AM OBSSSESIVE ABOUT HIM. BONO (U2), TOM PETTY, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, PAUL MCCARTENEY AND GEORGE HARRISON HAVE EXPRESSED THEMSELVES. IN THE 1999 VIDEO RECORDING FOR BEATLES ANTHOLOGY, MCCARTNEY SAID: "BOB WAS OUR IDOL". LATER, IN 2001, INTERVIEWED BU USA TODAY, HE SAID: "BOB WAS INFLUENCING US HEAVILY WHEN WE WERE AT THE TOP OF OUR GAME. WHITHOUT HIM THE BEATLES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEATLES". FURTHERMORE, HE SAID: "WE WERE GREATLY IMPRESSED BY HIS LANDMARK "BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME". IT INSPIRED US TO CREATE "REVOLVER", WIDELY CONSIDERED THE GREATEST ROCK ALBUM OF ALL TIME. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN HIMSELF -PRESENTLY TOPPING THE CHARTS WITH HIS "DEVILS AND DUST SOLO RELEASE-, DID NOT BEAT AROUND THE BUSH WHEN HE HAD A CHANCE TO GIVE THE SPEECH AT BOB DYLAN´S INDUCTION INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME: "BOB DYLAN SURPASSED THE LIMITS THAT AN ARTIST COULD EVER REACH AND CHANGED THE FACE OF ROCK AND ROLL FOREVER. WHEREVER GREAT ROCK AND ROLL IS BEING MADE, THERE IS ALWAYS THE SHADOW OF DYLAN. HE IS A REVOLUTINARY. ELVIS FREED YOUR BODY. BOB FREED YOUR MIND. HE HAS THE TALENT AND THE VISION TO MAKE A SINGLE POP SONG CONTAIN THE WHOLE WORLD. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO THANK YOU. I WOULDN´T BE HERE IF IT WANSN´T FOR YOU. THERE AIN´T A SINGLE SOUL IN THIS ROOM WHO DOES NOT OWE YOU GRATITUDE. YOU ARE THE BROTHER THAT I NEVER HAD". NOT ENOUGH? WELL, JACKSON BROWN SAID: "A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE DON´T KNOW OF HIS TRANSCENDENCE, BECAUSE THEY DON´T SEE IT DIRECTLY, BUT MUSIC IS TODAY WHAT IT IS, THANKS TO WHAT HE DID TO MAKE IT THAT WAY". OH, YES, JOHN MELLENCAMP SAID: "BOB HAS BROUGHT MORE HAPPINESS TO THE WORLD THAN THE REST OF US TOGETHER". YOU MAY KNOW THAT LAST YEAR A VAST PANEL OF "MUSIC EXPERTS" WAS INVITED INTO VOTING TO DETERMINE WHICH ARE THE BEST 500 SONGS OF ALL TIME. IN THE WINTER ISSUE OF ROLLING STONE -WHICH I HAPPEN TO HAVE HERE WITH ME-, DYLAN´S LIKE A ROLLING STONE, WAS NAMED THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL TIME. WHO WERE THE VOTERS YOU MAY ASK. WELL, HERE ARE SOME: (AS AN ANSWER TO YOUR CUBAN FRIEND´S QUESTION: "WHICH ARTIST DOES BOB DYLAN STILL HAVE AN INFLUENTIAL IMPACT ON?": TOM MORELLO (AUDIOSLAVE); LISA MARIE PRESLEY (ELVIS´ DAUGHTER);HILL ROEDY (MTV´S INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT);JAMES HETFIELD (METALLICA); HOHN S. WENNER (EDITOR OF ROLLING STONE); JIM CAPALLDI (TRAFFIC); SLASH (VELVET REVOLVER); ?UESTLOVE (THE ROOTS); ALLISON ROBERTSON (THE DONNAS); JEFF TWEEDY (WILCO); PAUL MCGUINESS (U2 MANAGER); JOHN ROCKWELL (NEW YORK TIMES); ELISA GARDNER (USA TODAY); JERRY HARRISON (TALKING HEADS); DAVID RANZER (PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSAL MUSIC); ART GARFUNKEL (SIMON AND GARFUNKEL); JIM BESSMAN (BILLBOARD); AGUSTIN GURZA (LA TIMES); STEVE POND (CORNELL UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR); RAY MANZAREK (THE DOORS); BILLY GIBBONS (ZZ TOP); BENMONT TENCH (TOM PETTY AND THE HEART BREAKERS); LISA ROBINSON (VANITY FAIR MAGAZINE EDITOR); OZZY OSBOURNE AND MANY MORE. AS YOU CAN SEE BRAND NEW TOP ARTISTS VOTED, LIKE LEGENDS VOTED. ALSO TOP NEWSPAPAR JOURNALISTS AND RECORD COMPANY AND TV TOP EXECUTIVES DID. I AM 30 YEARS OLD, WAS BORN AND LIVE IN MEXICO CITY -HENCE MY MISSPELLING AND WRITTING ERRORS-, BEEN MARRIED FOR THREE YEARS, AM IN LOVE WITH THE MUSIC AND LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A YOUNG WIFE WHO SHARES MY KNEEL DOWN ADMIRATION FOR HE WHO MADE IT ALL HAPPEN. FOUR DECADES AWAY FROM HIS START, HE IS NOT ONLY THE SAME PERSON AND UNRIVALED CREATIVE ARTIST. HE HAS MUCH MORE EXPERIANCE THAN HE HAD BACK THEN , KNOWS MUSIC IN A WAY DEEEEEEPER MANNER AND IS UNIVESALLY RECOGNISED AS THE "MOST POWERFULL CREATIVE ARTIST OF OUR TIME" IN WORDS OF KRIS KRISTOFFERSON. I KNOW I KIND OF HAVE TO GO NOW AND MAYBE YOU DO TOO. I OWN ALL AF HIS RECORDS IN REGULAR CD AND MANY OF THEM TWICE SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN OLL OF THE REISSUE SERIES WHICH HAVE BEEN RELEASED. ONCE I SAW BOB DYLAN IN MEXICO CITY. IT WAS 1992 AND WAS SITTING IN FRONT ROW RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE IT. BO DYLAN GAVE OUT AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE I KNOW I WILL NEVER FORGET. AS THE SHOW WENT ON, I GOT OFF MY SEAT AND STOOD RIGHT IN FRONT OF BOB . THAT NIGHT HE WAS IN AN INTROVERT MOOD AND STOOD STILL THROUGHOUT THE SHOW. SO HE KEPT LOKING DOWN AND STAIGHT AT ME. I COULD NOTICE HE WAS SURPRISED TO PERFORM FOR THE FIRST -AND ONLY TIME - IN MEXICO CITY AND HAVE SUCH A FIRED UP ALMOST HISTERICAL AUDIENCE AND TO SEE GUYS -LIKE ME- SING ALONG THROUGH EVERY WORD OF THE LYRICS. WELL MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, TEN YEARS LATER AND JUST MARRIED, IN 2001 AND JUST MARRIED, I TOOK MY WIFE TO SAN ANTONIO, TX, TO BOB´S CLOSING AMERICAN LEG OF THE TOUR -THIS WAS RIGHT BEFORE HE MADE HIS LATEST APPEARENCE AT THE GRAMMY AWARDS CEREMONY, WHERE HE PERFORMED THE GRANDIOUSE "CRY AWHILE"- WELL, WE GOT TO THE SHOW RIGHT ON TIME ALONG WITH ANOTHER COUPLE OF MEXICAN FRIENDS, AND AS WE WERE RUSHING DOWN THE STAIRS TO GET TO OUR SEATS, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, AND A VOICE ANNOUNED. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO MR. BOOOB DYLAN". BREATHLESSLY AND NOW BLINDELY RUNNING, A LOOKED SIDEWAYS AND GLANCED AT MY WIFE WHO´S FACE WAS SO WET, IT LOOKED LIKE BUCKETS OF TEARS HAD BEEN POURED INTO HER FACE. SO ALARMEDLY I ASKED HER: "WHA...WHAT´S WRONG?...DID YOU HURT YOUR SELF?" SHE SAID BACK -BARELY BEING ABLE TO SAY A WORD-: "BOB...SNIFF...BOB DYLAN"...AS SHE POINTED TOWARDS THE STAGE. WELL, BUDDY, I HOPE THIS MADE YOU FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER. AND REMEMBER, BOB DYLAN HAS INSIRED THE GREATEST ARTISTS OF OUR TIME, HIS RECORDS SELL ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR FAR FROM BEING TRENDY, HIS MUSIC IS TIMELESS. IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FEELINGS, MINDS, AND LIVES FOR A GOOD WHILE IN THIS WORLD. I GUESS YOU WILL AGREE WITH ERIC CLAPTON: "BOB´S MUSIC IS TOO DEEP FOR YOUR AVERAGE MAN". I, MYSELF COULDN´T AGREE MORE. WE -FEW THE MILLIONS OF TRUE FANS AROUND THE WORLD- WHO SEE, UNDERSTAND AND ENJOY LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF HIS SONGS, ARE VERY VERY LUCKY. AND AS SOMEONE SAID EARLIER TO YOU: "THOSE WHO DON´T...WELL, IT´S THEIR LOSS". YES, THEY JUST WON´T FEEL IT THOUGH, FOR THE COMPLETELY IGNORE WHAT THEY ARE MISING. IF YOU READ THIS MESSAGE, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH. WE CAN E-MAIL ONCE IN A WHILE. IT MAY EASE THE AIN FROM BEING SORROUNDED BY THOSE WHO ARE MISSING -AND ALWAYS WILL- MISS DYLAN IN THEIR LIVES. NOTE: ANY OTHER GREAT GREAT BOB´S FANS, PLEASE CONTACT. ENJOY MINGO dylan_mingo@yahoo.com.mx WOW MIKE,
WHAT MOST AMAZED ME ABOUT YOUR STORY IS THAT AL OF US “OBSSESIVE” DYLAN FANS HAVE LIVED UP THROUGH CHAPTERS ALIKE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I AM PRUD TO SAY I AM OBSSSESIVE ABOUT HIM. BONO (U2), TOM PETTY, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, PAUL MCCARTENEY AND GEORGE HARRISON HAVE EXPRESSED THEMSELVES. IN THE 1999 VIDEO RECORDING FOR BEATLES ANTHOLOGY, MCCARTNEY SAID: “BOB WAS OUR IDOL”. LATER, IN 2001, INTERVIEWED BU USA TODAY, HE SAID: “BOB WAS INFLUENCING US HEAVILY WHEN WE WERE AT THE TOP OF OUR GAME. WHITHOUT HIM THE BEATLES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEATLES”. FURTHERMORE, HE SAID: “WE WERE GREATLY IMPRESSED BY HIS LANDMARK “BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME”. IT INSPIRED US TO CREATE “REVOLVER”, WIDELY CONSIDERED THE GREATEST ROCK ALBUM OF ALL TIME.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN HIMSELF -PRESENTLY TOPPING THE CHARTS WITH HIS “DEVILS AND DUST SOLO RELEASE-, DID NOT BEAT AROUND THE BUSH WHEN HE HAD A CHANCE TO GIVE THE SPEECH AT BOB DYLAN´S INDUCTION INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME: “BOB DYLAN SURPASSED THE LIMITS THAT AN ARTIST COULD EVER REACH AND CHANGED THE FACE OF ROCK AND ROLL FOREVER. WHEREVER GREAT ROCK AND ROLL IS BEING MADE, THERE IS ALWAYS THE SHADOW OF DYLAN. HE IS A REVOLUTINARY. ELVIS FREED YOUR BODY. BOB FREED YOUR MIND. HE HAS THE TALENT AND THE VISION TO MAKE A SINGLE POP SONG CONTAIN THE WHOLE WORLD. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO THANK YOU. I WOULDN´T BE HERE IF IT WANSN´T FOR YOU. THERE AIN´T A SINGLE SOUL IN THIS ROOM WHO DOES NOT OWE YOU GRATITUDE. YOU ARE THE BROTHER THAT I NEVER HAD”. NOT ENOUGH? WELL, JACKSON BROWN SAID: “A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE DON´T KNOW OF HIS TRANSCENDENCE, BECAUSE THEY DON´T SEE IT DIRECTLY, BUT MUSIC IS TODAY WHAT IT IS, THANKS TO WHAT HE DID TO MAKE IT THAT WAY”. OH, YES, JOHN MELLENCAMP SAID: “BOB HAS BROUGHT MORE HAPPINESS TO THE WORLD THAN THE REST OF US TOGETHER”. YOU MAY KNOW THAT LAST YEAR A VAST PANEL OF “MUSIC EXPERTS” WAS INVITED INTO VOTING TO DETERMINE WHICH ARE THE BEST 500 SONGS OF ALL TIME. IN THE WINTER ISSUE OF ROLLING STONE -WHICH I HAPPEN TO HAVE HERE WITH ME-, DYLAN´S LIKE A ROLLING STONE, WAS NAMED THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL TIME. WHO WERE THE VOTERS YOU MAY ASK. WELL, HERE ARE SOME: (AS AN ANSWER TO YOUR CUBAN FRIEND´S QUESTION: “WHICH ARTIST DOES BOB DYLAN STILL HAVE AN INFLUENTIAL IMPACT ON?”: TOM MORELLO (AUDIOSLAVE); LISA MARIE PRESLEY (ELVIS´ DAUGHTER);HILL ROEDY (MTV´S INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT);JAMES HETFIELD (METALLICA); HOHN S. WENNER (EDITOR OF ROLLING STONE); JIM CAPALLDI (TRAFFIC); SLASH (VELVET REVOLVER); ?UESTLOVE (THE ROOTS); ALLISON ROBERTSON (THE DONNAS); JEFF TWEEDY (WILCO); PAUL MCGUINESS (U2 MANAGER); JOHN ROCKWELL (NEW YORK TIMES); ELISA GARDNER (USA TODAY); JERRY HARRISON (TALKING HEADS); DAVID RANZER (PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSAL MUSIC); ART GARFUNKEL (SIMON AND GARFUNKEL); JIM BESSMAN (BILLBOARD); AGUSTIN GURZA (LA TIMES); STEVE POND (CORNELL UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR); RAY MANZAREK (THE DOORS); BILLY GIBBONS (ZZ TOP); BENMONT TENCH (TOM PETTY AND THE HEART BREAKERS); LISA ROBINSON (VANITY FAIR MAGAZINE EDITOR); OZZY OSBOURNE AND MANY MORE. AS YOU CAN SEE BRAND NEW TOP ARTISTS VOTED, LIKE LEGENDS VOTED. ALSO TOP NEWSPAPAR JOURNALISTS AND RECORD COMPANY AND TV TOP EXECUTIVES DID.
I AM 30 YEARS OLD, WAS BORN AND LIVE IN MEXICO CITY -HENCE MY MISSPELLING AND WRITTING ERRORS-, BEEN MARRIED FOR THREE YEARS, AM IN LOVE WITH THE MUSIC AND LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A YOUNG WIFE WHO SHARES MY KNEEL DOWN ADMIRATION FOR HE WHO MADE IT ALL HAPPEN. FOUR DECADES AWAY FROM HIS START, HE IS NOT ONLY THE SAME PERSON AND UNRIVALED CREATIVE ARTIST. HE HAS MUCH MORE EXPERIANCE THAN HE HAD BACK THEN , KNOWS MUSIC IN A WAY DEEEEEEPER MANNER AND IS UNIVESALLY RECOGNISED AS THE “MOST POWERFULL CREATIVE ARTIST OF OUR TIME” IN WORDS OF KRIS KRISTOFFERSON.
I KNOW I KIND OF HAVE TO GO NOW AND MAYBE YOU DO TOO. I OWN ALL AF HIS RECORDS IN REGULAR CD AND MANY OF THEM TWICE SINCE I HAVE GOTTEN OLL OF THE REISSUE SERIES WHICH HAVE BEEN RELEASED. ONCE I SAW BOB DYLAN IN MEXICO CITY. IT WAS 1992 AND WAS SITTING IN FRONT ROW RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE IT. BO DYLAN GAVE OUT AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE I KNOW I WILL NEVER FORGET. AS THE SHOW WENT ON, I GOT OFF MY SEAT AND STOOD RIGHT IN FRONT OF BOB . THAT NIGHT HE WAS IN AN INTROVERT MOOD AND STOOD STILL THROUGHOUT THE SHOW. SO HE KEPT LOKING DOWN AND STAIGHT AT ME. I COULD NOTICE HE WAS SURPRISED TO PERFORM FOR THE FIRST -AND ONLY TIME – IN MEXICO CITY AND HAVE SUCH A FIRED UP ALMOST HISTERICAL AUDIENCE AND TO SEE GUYS -LIKE ME- SING ALONG THROUGH EVERY WORD OF THE LYRICS. WELL MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, TEN YEARS LATER AND JUST MARRIED, IN 2001 AND JUST MARRIED, I TOOK MY WIFE TO SAN ANTONIO, TX, TO BOB´S CLOSING AMERICAN LEG OF THE TOUR -THIS WAS RIGHT BEFORE HE MADE HIS LATEST APPEARENCE AT THE GRAMMY AWARDS CEREMONY, WHERE HE PERFORMED THE GRANDIOUSE “CRY AWHILE”- WELL, WE GOT TO THE SHOW RIGHT ON TIME ALONG WITH ANOTHER COUPLE OF MEXICAN FRIENDS, AND AS WE WERE RUSHING DOWN THE STAIRS TO GET TO OUR SEATS, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, AND A VOICE ANNOUNED. “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO MR. BOOOB DYLAN”. BREATHLESSLY AND NOW BLINDELY RUNNING, A LOOKED SIDEWAYS AND GLANCED AT MY WIFE WHO´S FACE WAS SO WET, IT LOOKED LIKE BUCKETS OF TEARS HAD BEEN POURED INTO HER FACE. SO ALARMEDLY I ASKED HER: “WHA…WHAT´S WRONG?…DID YOU HURT YOUR SELF?” SHE SAID BACK -BARELY BEING ABLE TO SAY A WORD-: “BOB…SNIFF…BOB DYLAN”…AS SHE POINTED TOWARDS THE STAGE.
WELL, BUDDY, I HOPE THIS MADE YOU FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER. AND REMEMBER, BOB DYLAN HAS INSIRED THE GREATEST ARTISTS OF OUR TIME, HIS RECORDS SELL ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR FAR FROM BEING TRENDY, HIS MUSIC IS TIMELESS. IT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FEELINGS, MINDS, AND LIVES FOR A GOOD WHILE IN THIS WORLD. I GUESS YOU WILL AGREE WITH ERIC CLAPTON: “BOB´S MUSIC IS TOO DEEP FOR YOUR AVERAGE MAN”. I, MYSELF COULDN´T AGREE MORE. WE -FEW THE MILLIONS OF TRUE FANS AROUND THE WORLD- WHO SEE, UNDERSTAND AND ENJOY LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF HIS SONGS, ARE VERY VERY LUCKY. AND AS SOMEONE SAID EARLIER TO YOU: “THOSE WHO DON´T…WELL, IT´S THEIR LOSS”. YES, THEY JUST WON´T FEEL IT THOUGH, FOR THE COMPLETELY IGNORE WHAT THEY ARE MISING. IF YOU READ THIS MESSAGE, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH. WE CAN E-MAIL ONCE IN A WHILE. IT MAY EASE THE AIN FROM BEING SORROUNDED BY THOSE WHO ARE MISSING -AND ALWAYS WILL- MISS DYLAN IN THEIR LIVES. NOTE: ANY OTHER GREAT GREAT BOB´S FANS, PLEASE CONTACT. ENJOY MINGO dylan_mingo@yahoo.com.mx

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