An interesting example of a music podcast, in this case an exploration of the author's personal involvement with Bob Dylan's Tangled Up in Blue (links directly to the mp3 file, more than 20 minutes). It's really from the heart, and probably says more about David Johnson than about Bob Dylan, but hey... The site What They Sang To Me is on my RSS feeds, and I've often found his perspectives interesting and illuminating.
Posted by blackmer at January 13, 2005 09:33 AMThat's an interesting take on one of Dylan's most famous songs, one that marked his return as America's premier singer-songwriter. I don't completely agree with Johnson's reading, but it's always nice to broaden my perspective of any Dylan song- good one.
-John
Interesting perspective here - it was a hard line to draw between what really was just what Dylan said and what was Johnson's reaction to it. However, I like his presentation of his perspective by prefacing that he does not mean to imply what Dylan meant, but show how the song affected him.
I want to read "Chronicles" now, and learn more about what's behind this musician's life and lyrics. I like the quote where Dylan didn't want to explain what he was doing, because he didn't feel like there should be a need to explain. . . I feel like that should be true with all art, but then I think about the next quote:
"Musicians have always known that my songs were about more than just words - but most people are not musicians." - Dylan -
. . .and I realize even more that there are some things you just CAN'T explain. .. this definitely hits home for me, because (as I said earlier) - sometimes I listen to a song and really don't even know what the words are, but FEEL what it means (to me, at least). It's an amazing experience.
I also like how Johnson describes music as an extension of a self, and how that extension can connect with people who may not even know you. In reference to Dylan, speaking about Hank Williams:
"I didn't have to experience anything that Hank did to know what he was singing about. I had never seen a robin weep, but I could imagine it and it made me sad." Re: (I'm so lonesome I could cry)
We're sitting here talking about good and bad music -- well this could be a definite test for me in defining good music: anything that I can identify with even if I haven't experienced.
I love how Johnson describes his connection with "tangled" more than "blue" saying that he feels"the emotion of a tangled feeling. . .close but not there. . . glimpse of hope, then loss of hope." And yet at the same time, all those things make up the blue. beautiful.
p.s. - anyone have "Bob Dylan biograph" that I could borrow?
Posted by: katie at January 16, 2005 10:54 AM