Years ago, I rode in the back , my friend and his wife in front, and I popped “The Essential Bob Dylan” on “to knock, knock ….on heaven’s door” all the way to a Vietnam beach. On April 10th, the singer will be there in person, finally.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20043290-10391698.html
American celebrities with conscience have fascinated with Vietnam e.g. “Mr & Mrs Smiths“, De Niro, J Fonda and now Bob Dylan.
Lady, lady, lay….A lot of teach-in and sit-in to culminate in his only appearance in the land which has sparked so much division and protest (take Wisconsin and multiply by 1000).
A legend in his own right, Dylan carried his guitar to NYC, played at clubs
and became a prophet of sort to his generation. During the 80’s, Dylan and Springsteen flirted with God and Country, in that order. “You got to serve somebody” if you are “Born in the USA“.
Now, after a gig in Vegas, his promoter booked him for modern-day Mecca: China and Taipei. Vietnam will be something of a side tour, for catharsis.
Dylan, like other musicians of his time – Neil Young for instance – nurtures a love-hate arm-length relationship with the “System”. Damn if you do, damn if you don’t, “in, but not of it”.
The WSJ pulled a quick punch when the man was almost down (saying he couldn’t keep up the beat during his Vegas’ gig).
At 60, you are glad to stay alive (his early date died just recently).
Keep knocking on heaven’s door.
One of these days, it will open up for those who are persistent.
Meanwhile, we live on, never stop questioning while the answers remain elusive, as if “blowing in the wind”.
I can’t help noticing a stark contrast between two iconic photos: the Woodstock’s couple wrapped in a blanket, and the lone Japanese-quake woman among the rubbles. The former had a choice to be outdoor and enjoyed a 3-day of Peace, Love and Music. The later was forced to be victim of a 8.9 earthquake. To celebrate or lament our existence, we need artists to point us to a more transcended reality (Dylan showed up at the concert by G Harrison for victims of Bangladesh flood). In Dylan, it’s the combination of poetic justice, lyrical poignancy and one-of-the-kind eccentricity that set him apart from other revolving-door names (Ricky who?).
Dylan and Vietnam seem to be a match made in heaven, without all the knocking. Both seemed to survive myriads of controversies and contradictions.
Both remain mystique, alluding our attempt to put people and places in a box.
Thang Nguyen 555 