Bob Dylan and Other Cool Things
I'm back the day after my first Bob Dylan concert. I drove to Louisville, KY yesterday with a great friend Mark McKee to see the man whose music I've been consumed by for over a year. As a side I figured Mark was actually going with me just because he likes concerts and concert T-shirts, but discovered that he IS a fan. Thanks again Mark for a great trip!
I've always kind of like Dylan, but really only knew his popular stuff (i.e. Like a Rolling Stone, Rainy Day Women, Lay Lady Lay, etc.). But about this time last year I watched Martin Scorcese's documentary "No Direction Home" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Direction_Home).
I loved the music. So I got the soundtrack. I was hooked and, as Sarah can tell you, have listened to that 2 CD set a million times. This spun me off into reading a little about Dylan and discovering his music more broadly. I'm still hooked and it seemed the natural next step to actually go see Dylan in concert. So there you go. I won't bore you with a musical analysis or his poetic value or as I get asked constantly, "Is Bob Dylan a Christian?"
What I will write about is what I think is cool and I wonder why. Maybe you can give me insights into my own warped mind and psyche and soul.
Let me give you a few snapshots of my history of what I think is cool:
1. Any Barboursville Junior High/High School athlete who was a teenager from about 1985-1990 is cool. Probably has to do with my age, but people like Craig Jefferey, Shad Herrenkohl, Sean Rucker, Brandon Simpson, and more were cool icon's to me at an early age. Very few of you know who these people are. But I am very much the type of personality that I am today because of these guys. Pretty scary I know.
2. I think smoking is cool. I think it looks cool, smells cool, sounds cool. And if it wasn't bad for my health I would smoke. I'll even take it one step further. This is going to sound kind of stupid. If I live to be about 70, maybe 65, I think I'll probably start smoking. How much damage can smoking do in 10 years and when you're 80 you're getting close anyhow, right?
3. I think being a jake (shirt tail out, hair messed up, shoe untied, etc) is cool. This isn't really original. I think not caring about your appearance has always been compelling to people. I remember pulling this off pretty well ever since about sophmore year of high school. I typically don't comb my hair, match my clothes, etc, unless in a formal semi formal setting. I'm dead wrong on this because it is so wide spread, but I think I invented the half tuck. I remember playing basketball with khaki pants and a t shirt in gym one day and after going to the bath room and seeing that my shirt had come half untucked, I really liked that look. No one that I knew of was doing that. So I purposely started tucking only part of my shirt in. That is every where now. Either I invented it or this is a natural discovery of all adolescent boys in my generation.
Therefore, I think that's why I like Bob Dylan. And I think it's because he wraps up 1-3 in a nutshell. He smokes, doesn't care what people think, isn't the most talented singer but has charisma and found his niche.
Now, dissect THAT you arm chair psychologists out there who read my blog. I've bared the cool part of my soul. Kind of scary.
I've always kind of like Dylan, but really only knew his popular stuff (i.e. Like a Rolling Stone, Rainy Day Women, Lay Lady Lay, etc.). But about this time last year I watched Martin Scorcese's documentary "No Direction Home" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Direction_Home).
I loved the music. So I got the soundtrack. I was hooked and, as Sarah can tell you, have listened to that 2 CD set a million times. This spun me off into reading a little about Dylan and discovering his music more broadly. I'm still hooked and it seemed the natural next step to actually go see Dylan in concert. So there you go. I won't bore you with a musical analysis or his poetic value or as I get asked constantly, "Is Bob Dylan a Christian?"
What I will write about is what I think is cool and I wonder why. Maybe you can give me insights into my own warped mind and psyche and soul.
Let me give you a few snapshots of my history of what I think is cool:
1. Any Barboursville Junior High/High School athlete who was a teenager from about 1985-1990 is cool. Probably has to do with my age, but people like Craig Jefferey, Shad Herrenkohl, Sean Rucker, Brandon Simpson, and more were cool icon's to me at an early age. Very few of you know who these people are. But I am very much the type of personality that I am today because of these guys. Pretty scary I know.
2. I think smoking is cool. I think it looks cool, smells cool, sounds cool. And if it wasn't bad for my health I would smoke. I'll even take it one step further. This is going to sound kind of stupid. If I live to be about 70, maybe 65, I think I'll probably start smoking. How much damage can smoking do in 10 years and when you're 80 you're getting close anyhow, right?
3. I think being a jake (shirt tail out, hair messed up, shoe untied, etc) is cool. This isn't really original. I think not caring about your appearance has always been compelling to people. I remember pulling this off pretty well ever since about sophmore year of high school. I typically don't comb my hair, match my clothes, etc, unless in a formal semi formal setting. I'm dead wrong on this because it is so wide spread, but I think I invented the half tuck. I remember playing basketball with khaki pants and a t shirt in gym one day and after going to the bath room and seeing that my shirt had come half untucked, I really liked that look. No one that I knew of was doing that. So I purposely started tucking only part of my shirt in. That is every where now. Either I invented it or this is a natural discovery of all adolescent boys in my generation.
Therefore, I think that's why I like Bob Dylan. And I think it's because he wraps up 1-3 in a nutshell. He smokes, doesn't care what people think, isn't the most talented singer but has charisma and found his niche.
Now, dissect THAT you arm chair psychologists out there who read my blog. I've bared the cool part of my soul. Kind of scary.
posted by Josh Perry at
11:34 AM
14 Comments:
It is interesting how music can affect a person...my favorite band is Jars of Clay, mostly because I like their sound, unconventional form of Christian music, and overall purpose as a band. I first listened to Jars back in middle school (I'd scare myself if I counted up the years)...I had their first tape...and I guess maybe I was discovering independence. I remember laying on a bunk bed at a church retreat and listening to that music. I've been to three concerts and my goal is to have every CD they release. I played one of their songs both at my wedding and my dad's funeral.
I think there is something comforting about music, people who are somewhat famous (or really famous like Bob Dylan). The songs and songwriters seem to connect with you on some level even though you'll never meet them. Kind of reassuring and a little tower of Babel (you know...everyone wants to be together, no one wants to be alone).
But seriously Josh, I will have to disagree with you on the smoking bit. I've seen enough smothering people on oxygen to last a lifetime.
Well...those are my random thoughts!
I hated smoking. The sight, the smell, the people who crowded the doorways... until I tried it! I love smoking clove cigarettes. I don't do it very often but now smoking isn't as disgusting. haha.
And I like Bob Dylan too.
-amy lilly
Here's my thoughts on smoking. I started smoking when I was 35. I was in Europe for 2 years and it seemed like everyone smoked in the offices. It really got bad when I was down in Spain. I just wanted to fit in some way. Well, I smoked for about 5 years (my ex-wife also smoked). Kelley finally convinced me to stop. I think that I liked the Nicotine Buzz that I got, and then when I wasn't smoking I remember coughing and lighting up a cigarette to stop the coughing.
I first started to quit, I stopped smoking at home and at work. I would only smoke in my car. I had a 30 minute drive and I would smoke at least 5 or 6 cigarettes each way. I'd have one lit before the I finished the last one. Anyway, I was able to give up cigarettes when they installed pay at the pump, and I didn't go into the gas station to buy them.
There is something there about avoiding places in which temptation is lurking. Things aren't as they appear, I remember longing for that first drag... I no longer do.....
My father suffered from Pulmonary Hypertension... He quit smoking in the 60's using self hypnosis (he was also into Transendtal Meditation at the time) He smoked cigars for a little while in the early 80's. I think that the damage to his lungs really impacted his ability to enjoy his later years.
That was me. Chris Tichenor
Dylan rocked it
we were in awe
and talked about bob dylan for literally almost 10 hours straight
all the questions of lyrics
of his faith
of everything
we have seen the legend
My Dad was so excited to hear about it..and said he would go to see him with me on his next tour
here's to mr. dylan
light one up Josh
Mark
I thought it was honest and amuzing. As far as the smoking...here's my two cents...I like the smell from a distance, but, the reality is smokers smell bad...a true stanky thing going on...so, you'd be a smelly 70 year old to add to any other 70 yr old issues you may have going on...maybe a little incontinence...hmmm...something to ponder.
Kelly Tichenor
Thank guys for pitching in. I love reading your stories and responses. And after reading them, I think many of you are right it would probably effect my health quicker than I anticipated. I'll wait until about 75 to start.
JP
Yea, "OLD PEOPLE SMELL" is bad enough, don't add smoke to it. Blech.
I like Bob Dylan. Being cool is overrated (I know, I talked to a cool person once and he told me). Smoke 'em if you got 'em. Smoking is such a paradox, so cool, so stupid, so gross, so appealing.
One bit of advice for the Christian Dylan fan. Do not buy "Restless Pilgrim" the book about Bob's "Spiritual Journey" unless you have no clue about the Bible and are interested only in person-worshiping. This is one of the worst books I have ever read. And I am a huge Dylan fan. But I am not an absolute idiot. Don't give me that "He was too awesome for the church, he was so amazing and spectacular that he pursued his faith on his own terms, he made his own way." I wanted to gag. I think I did gag. Bob is great, like Thomas Jefferson is great, like Jerry West is great, like Einstein, like Bach. that is, not primarily (or anywhere near it) for his theology. The Bible is a good place for that.
Bob, now Bob is great for the ears.
To me if you worry about being cool at all then you are not cool. Being truely cool is the absence of careing it just happens not because you planned it. Some people don't care and they turn out like slobs, I am obviously not talking about that. In my opinion VERY few people are cool. Worrying about being cool is a waste of time. Smoking is definately not what makes a person cool to me.
I think that James Dean does look cool in this picture but Bob Dylan looks dirty & nasty - Sorry honey Josh.
Sarah P.
I do not think smoking is cool. It makes your breath stink and your body smell, it is not healthy and it is overall in bad taste. I do not agree with your tast in music either. Are you sure you are my son? I am a firm believer if you dress good, you feel good. I remember telling you about your uniform and cleats in baseball. If you look good you are going to play good..........
I really like the picture of Dylan, its his nail that bothers me the most, I hate long nails on guys, That is truly disgusting. I know Sarah P. was just saying those things because she is NOT a fan of Bob Dylan at all. Poo on her. James Dean is ugly.
amylilly
I too think James Dean is ugly. I definitely think that being cool & cute are VERY different. Joshie Boy is the ONLY cutie in my life!! Even if he does like boys with nails. DOUBLE NASTY!!!
SP
long fingernails = good guitarist or marijuana "enthusiast" or both
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