April 20, 2006

"Theme Time Radio Hour With Your Host Bob Dylan."

I'm glad Bob Dylan's XM Radio show is finally going to debut (on May 3rd), but what's with the title? Well, he is going to have themes. The first one is "weather" -- which seems like some vague nod to "you don't need a weatherman" and "blowin' in the wind." Then on to such startling topics as "dance," "police," "cars" and "whiskey."
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand...

The whiskey's in the jar and the money's in the bank...

Don't need a shot of whiskey, help me be president....

I'm gonna buy me a barrel of whiskey - I'll die before I turn senile...

Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk,
You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread,
You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed...

You're going to have to play something.

UPDATE: I have a lot more to say about the show -- which I love! -- here.

11 comments:

Mark Daniels said...

I'm sure that the show is going to be iconoclastically and defiantly weird. That's as it should be, coming from Dylan.

Dylan being Dylan, my guess is that he won't confine the musical explorations of the themes to his own songs. Can't you just imagine him, during his weather-themed installment, for example, playing 'Stormy Weather" by Lena Horne or "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles. (The latter composed by his buddy, George Harrison, of course.)

If he's true to form, Dylan won't talk politics when he gets to his police-themed show. But I can imagine him playing 'Tweeter and the Monkey Man' from the first 'Traveling Wilburys' LP. Or, 'Hurricane,' which appeared on 'Desire' and he co-wrote with Jacques Levy. (And picking up on the theme-theme, he might also run a succession of theme songs from police shows: Dragnet; Car 54, Where Are You?; Law and Order (all fifty-seven variations thereof); and so on.

And cars? Songs by the Cars, the Beach Boys talking about their little deuce coupe, and the song, 'Cars' and 'Radar Love' have to be included, don't they? (All because Dylan's type is to go against type.)

I expect Dylan to do some strange things on this show.

For total weirdness, I can imagine him doing an interview and a duet with Michael Bolton, with whom he has co-written some stuff.

And, given that he's an admirer of Sinatra's, the show could really be spiced up by his doing a Nat and Natalie-style duet with Ol' Blue Eyes. "That's why the lady is a tramp..."

Too bad that I can't get XM radio.

Mark Daniels

Beth said...

I already do this with iTunes; it's fun to make a Smart Playlist using a word that comes to mind, and see what turns up in the shuffle.

bill said...

Elizabeth, from September, I offer you Songs for Arsonists

Troy said...

Dylan may be a Thin Lizzy fan, in which case "Whiskey in the Jar" and "Jail Break" will work just fine for him.

Mark Daniels said...

Once again, Ann, I note a disparity in commenting I wouldn't have anticipated. This makes six for Dylan's radio show, while the 100 unsexiest men in the world has so far elicited 34.

Is this more a measure of indifference to Dylan or the joy people feel in disdaining people's sexual appeal or both?

Mark

Beth said...

Bill, what a great list. Nine are in my iTunes library, and I'll be tracking down the rest.

Beth said...

Mark, after his creepy Victoria's Secret ads, Dylan should be on that list of unsexy men--I didn't look, but now I will. Would such a convergence spark more interest?

Ann Althouse said...

Thanks a lot, Andrew. I listened and enjoyed the mix of songs. I was, however, disappointed to hear that Dylan was merely reading a script. I doubt if he wrote it. It's full of biographical facts about the artists. Dylan isn't really DJ-ing. He just sat down at a mike and read some pages, in a stiff voice that makes it clear he's only reading.

Ann Althouse said...

RWB: I disagree. Did you listen to the show? The facts have a canned bio feel. He may write some of it, but he has assistance. Why would he do it? To put his name out there, to reach people. Why does he tour constantly? He's a weird guy. I thought he would talk off the top of his head, but it's clearly pre-written. I'm disappointed. Why did he need to do that? I'd rather hear his idle chatter, even if it's stupid. I want to hear him talk so I can be close to his mind. That requires natural speech. I think he wants attention, but he's also a little afraid. He wants to be with us, but not really.

Ann Althouse said...

RWB: Well put.

It may be that he's extra prepared for the first show that is offered up to the critics and that he'll loosen up later.

I don't quite buy the theory that he's imitating old radio guys, because he's not doing a "radio voice" (which, I might add, is the bane of many a podcast!).

And let me just say again that the mix of recordings selected is really, really good. I'll definitely keep listening.

zookie said...

Great blog. I have been listening to Theme Time for about 6 months and Dylan seems to have lightened up as time has gone on (you can tell by the tone of voice when he is enjoying himself!) Most of the time he is having a right laugh with the emails and messages!

It is a classic show... although some of the chosen songs (especially country) are a little dodgy! Some of the classic blues stuff he plays is mint though...

Please feel free to check out my Dylan blog if you are interested!