Epic Time Magazine Interview with Robert Zimmerman

'Tis the season for sharing videozzzz...

Robert Zimmerman, also known as Bob Dylan, in a Times magazine interview. He decided to turn the table and challenge the interviewer. I mean, interviewee? Ha ha. See for yourself. Take it all in. I have a tendency to stand by whatever Dylan says.

CHECK IT:



Thatta' boy, Bob!

I see my light come shining. From the west unto the east.

I would like to share a video. A video that I find very refreshing...

It is Wilco and the Fleet Foxes during a cover of the Bob Dylan song "I Shall Be Released"

ENJOY!



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Here are the lyrics to Bob Dylan's own, "I Shall Be Released":

They say ev'rything can be replaced,
Yet ev'ry distance is not near.
So I remember ev'ry face
Of ev'ry man who put me here.

I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.

They say ev'ry man needs protection,
They say ev'ry man must fall.
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall.

I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east.A
ny day now, any day now,
I shall be released.

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd,
Is a man who swears he's not to blame.
All day long I hear him shout so loud,
Crying out that he was framed.

I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.

Copyright ©1967; renewed 1995 Dwarf Music

I'm Not There, I'm Gone

Since this blog is all things folk considered, here's another item that is linked to the "folk world"

I'm Not There, the Todd Hayes movie. Complimentary to that is the soundtrack...

Bob Dylan once said:

All I can do is be me. Whoever that is.

The movie is basically a portrait of six distinguishable stages in Dylan's life. The music. The actors & actresses. It's all there in the formula for a great movie. And also happens to fit the formula for what equals one of my all time favorite movies.

Sidenote: I'm Not There is rated R. You may want to watch it without the kids.

American Folk Artists: Appreciation Edition

Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Richie Havens, Arlo Guthrie

Which ones are folk artists that added important elements to the folk genre?

ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Through their endearing originality, these artists each defined what folk music is. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize each of their greatnesses. Most of them are just familiar names, with no face or credibility.

So I will start with the great Pete Seeger, and lead you down the path towards understanding their glorious accomplishments, ending with the son of the great Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie.

Pete Seeger, transformed American folk as a form of conscience, and had a lifetime commitment to peace, justice, and environmental issues. His hits include "Where Have All The Flowers Gone," "If I Had A Hammer," and "Turn, Turn, Turn".
Joan Baez, an individual committed to peace and non-violence, and who put a face on activism through music. Aside from activism through performing, she founded the Institute For The Study Of Non-Violence.
Peter, Paul, and Mary, a very successful folk act of the 60's that blended intricate harmonies, with fingerpicked guitar arrangements.
Richie Havens, added a unique dimension to folk music and remains popular today, with his original barre chord playing style, and highly rhythmic right-hand technique. (Interesting Fact No. 19933: I almost saw him perform, on my summer vacation up in Freeport, ME. It would have been epic, no doubt.)

& Last of the Greats is Mr. Arlo Guthrie.

Arlo has created a name for himself, aside from his father's high popularity. He plays between older and newer folk styles, and intertwines music and politics in his career.

Now that their recognition has been established in this blog, let's learn to appreciate them, and listen to what they speak in their music...

This information was taken from a book that I own, called Artists of American Folk Music: The Legends of Traditional Folk, the Stars of the Sixties, the Virtuosi of New Acoustic Music.
Check your local library to see if they carry it. Or go ahead and purchase it.

DYLAN: Visions, Portraits, and Back Pages

DYLAN: Visions, Portraits, and Back Pages is a great book to have in your own personal library at home. The book was put together by one of my favorite British magazines, MOJO.

It is a magazine devoted to music, and constantly guides me in discovering new GREAT music. It is also one that devotes itself to promoting under appreciated music, which is something that I sincerely appreciate.

That all goes to say that when I took one glance at the Bob Dylan book MOJO put out, I knew I could trust it to be intriguing and stellar.

And it is. The book tells countless stories of Bob Dylan, and calls for one heck-of-an eye opening experience. In the beginning it describes just how Dylan (his birth name being Robert Zimmerman) wowed the Beatles, and later of his tragic motorcycle accident...

BUY THE BOOK NOW! Read it, enjoy it, pass it on to a friend!

A Mighty Wind.

Yesterday I watched the movie, A Mighty Wind. It's a comedy. And a replay of what the folk scene was like in its beginnings. With a bit of accuracy. In a twisted, distorted way...

There are three accomplished folk bands that are asked to reform for a memorial service for the man who gave them their start. Let's take a look!

The FOLKSMEN

MITCH and MICKEY

The NEW MAIN STREET SINGERS

HINT: click on each of the pictures for a video by the band.

The movie is very very very original. Like none other! I recommend it.
Visit the official site for A Mighty Wind!

Oh Guthrie. We have been so naive.

Aha! Something so ironic, it makes me laugh. I will expand...

FREEZE.*suspense.*PAUSE.

PLAY: I recently had a conversation with a friend about the Woody Guthrie song, "This Land Is Your Land". She shocked me by informing me that this song (the one that most of us would define as the "unofficial anthem" of America, and subconsciously know just about all the words to) is in actuality a flaming protest song (no negative connotation here folks).

I mean, it just about screams 'America!' all throughout the chorus. The landscape is beautiful. Wonderous even. Take a gander:

This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me

So here I am, eager to tell you about the verses... The song's verses evolve from the sweet and scenic image of America, right into how the original Americans came to take the land. There were boundaries and prior establishments made. But yet, here come the Americans, thirsty for new land, illegally obtaining it. Guthrie does well to illustrate it as shocking and unethical.

Take a moment to read and breathe the last two verses of the song:

As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin'!
Now that side was made for you and me!

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.

Thought provoking. Ironic. Sarcastic. I will go as far as saying that Woody Guthrie totally outscores Alanis Morissette in the "ironic" department (hint: that was a joke).

So now I will leave you with this classic tune:

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND

Chorus:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me

As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

As I was walkin’ - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side.... it didn't say nothin’!
Now that side was made for you and me!

Chorus

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.

Chorus (2x)