Good afternoon Tyler,
Since we are facebook friends, you probably see my (almost) daily video posts. Typically, I peruse the internets searching for great live performances by either musicians I've been listening to or musicians I believe everyone needs to hear. Today, I posted a live performance by Bob Dylan. Yes, a classic live rendition by ol' Jack Frost of his timeless Like a Rolling Stone, performed in front of an angry mob booing him the whole way through. Watching the video got me thinking: would I have booed Dylan? Would I have been the one casting the stone? Would I have denied my Dylan three times before the rooster crowed? It's easy to look back on history and say, "No, I would never have booed Dylan. He was redefining our world!" But what about those people who did boo him and never got the chance to look back? Thus, I've imagined a conversation with Saint Peter and this unfortunate individual at the Pearly Gates.
ST PETER: Name?
UNFORTUNATE INDIVIDUAL: Um, Johnson. Marvin Johnson.
ST PETER: Alright Marvin, looks like you died of a MASSIVE coronary... Shoulda laid off that red meat my friend, but you probably didn't know about that. Yeah, that's still like two decades away.
MARVIN JOHNSON: So... Can I go in?
ST PETER: Well, first I have to go through some routine questions. Standard procedure really. So... love Jesus?
MARVIN JOHNSON: Yessir.
ST PETER: Went to church on Sundays and Wednesday nights?
MARVIN JOHNSON: Yessir.
ST PETER: Good, good. Reported any suspicious, Communist activity in your community?
MARVIN JOHNSON: No sir, I'm a Socialist.
ST PETER: Oh good! So is everyone else up here. Let's see... Oh yeah, did you read the Bible everyday?
MARVIN JOHNSON: Yessir, every mornin'.
ST PETER: Well Marvin, it looks like you passed with flying colors and you can head right in. Oh and don't freak out when you don't see "White" and "Colored" bathrooms... That's actually normal.
[Marvin starts walking towards the opening Pearly Gates]
ST PETER: Oh one last thing! Did you boo Dylan?
[Silence]
ST PETER: Exit is to your left and way. way. down. Get the heaven out.
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Clint Alwahab - A photojournalism major at the University of Missouri, self-described old man, and admitted snob. My most passionate debates spark from politics, government and religion but I will gladly talk about movies and music (as long as we're not talking about Michael Bay or Miley Cyrus).
Tyler Echols - An 8th grade US History teacher in Nashville, TN, self-described sweater vest lover, and admitted geek. My most passionate debates spring from politics, religion, and who shot first, Greedo or Han Solo...though everyone knows the answer to that. I am more than happy to talk about both Michael Bay and Miley Cyrus, as everyone knows that Americans love explosions. Yes, I was referring to Miley as well.
Clint, you wouldn't have booed, your not a hipster.
ReplyDeleteFolkies were pretty much the hipsters of the late 60s. They reveled in having a super obscure record, dressed stupidly, and thought they were better than something to awesome to believe.
love,
Will
Brian Roach and I got the chance to boo Bob Dylan on my 17th birthday when we went and saw him in concert...but instead I think we wept silently.
ReplyDeleteDylan didn't even pick up a guitar and he played for about 35 minutes, after Merle Haggard played for about two hours.
But I hear being a dick is kind of Dylan's thing, doesn't change the way I feel about my Bobby.