Today should probably get a do-over, but I don’t have a Delorean time machine or a time-turner, so I’m stuck with the day I had. It wasn’t bad, per se, but I flubbed at work and I hate that. It’s nothing that’s a big deal and I’m harder on myself for my mistakes than anyone else could ever be, but I also think this may have been my first real “blonde moment.” I forgot to get some stuff signed before I turned it in. No big deal, but I feel stupid nonetheless. I blamed it on lack of caffeine, which is probably true, but I’m wondering if the bleaching of my hair has fried my brain? I began to ponder if it’s better to be perceived as blissfully ignorant or willfully negligent? And I came to the conclusion that it doesn’t fucking matter how other people think of me, it only matters what I think of me and I think I’m pretty amazing. And I don’t fucking care if you like it (Although it’s only day 2 of the new gig and I kind of don’t want to be seen as incompetent, but WHATEVER).
Anyway, today is Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday. I opened my mailbox to Bobbie D on the cover of Rolling Stone. The article “The 70 Greatest Dylan Songs” is pretty comprehensive, and while I can say that I’ve heard all the songs listed, I can’t say that I agree with their order. However, I think therein lay the glory of Bob Dylan. I could go on for hours, maybe even days, about the wonders of his discology and variety of his work, but I think I’ll just tell you about my personal experiences related to Bob Dylan.
In grade school, in Sister Ruth’s music class (I went to Catholic school when there were still some nuns teaching- are there nuns teaching anywhere anymore?) and we often sang secular songs. I remember falling in love with “Blowin’ in the Wind” when we had to sing it in 4th or 5th grade. It’s pretty impressive that I could fall in love with a song while it’s being sung rather horribly by a class of elementary school kids with Bobby Longbottom* yelling way off key in your ear. I think this is a testament to Bob Dylan’s songwriting.
I think I heard “Like a Rolling Stone” on the radio when I was in middle school. I borrowed my sister’s The Best of the Doors CD in 6th grade and my CD and Discman (it was the glorious 90s) were stolen and I was devastated. I replaced her CD, but became OBSESSED with the music of the 60s and 70s. I became OBSESSED with Bob Dylan. I believe I received both Highway 61 Revisited and Blood on the Tracks as Christmas gifts.
It wasn’t until approximately my freshman year of high school that I purchased The Essential Bob Dylan at Best Buy. It was a double disc and I was in love. I wanted to marry Bob Dylan circa 1964 and have him write songs romanticizing my weird feet or something. There was an older guy in high school that I had heard also liked Bob Dylan and I fell instantly and hopelessly in love. To this day, I’m pretty sure he has no idea that I exist which is probably pretty sad in hindsight, but high school was full of disappointments and missed opportunities. I cut class and forged notes, but WHY DIDN’T I DO IT MORE? (Note to self: take more chances, especially regarding matters of the heart).
When I was a sophomore in high school, I hand painted the coolest long-sleeved blue t-shirt that said “Tangled” and had tangles all around the letters. I think I had to eventually throw it out because it became too worn and gross. That same year I wore said shirt while attending a BOB DYLAN CONCERT. I went with a bunch of dudes from school: Bobby, Mack, Fred, & Bean*. My life was complete. Bobby smuggled me a wristband and I got to be ON THE FLOOR 20 FEET FROM BOB DYLAN. I smuggled in a contraband camera and I think I shot 2 rolls of film (so 90s, despite the fact it was probably 2000) and I think there are only 4 pictures in which Bob is not a white blur.
I believe the same year I worked on the school play as the stage manager and building sets in the gym. We would crank the tunes and paint till our hands couldn’t paint anymore. Bob Dylan and the Clash were the soundtrack to our lives. It was probably the worst play in the history of the world ever, but we had fun and that’s all that mattered. The same happened when we had to make prom decorations out of cardboard boxes in my parents’ garage. And again when we put on a musical my senior year. Bob was always there. I think it was even New Years Eve 2002 when my mom, my brother and I watched Superman II in the family room. I got depressed at the thought of spending New Years Eve with my family (I was supposed to be out drinking, partying, and kissing boys, right?) and went to my room and listened to Bob and cleaned my room instead of watching the ball drop. It seems depressing, but I think I felt happy and infinite (whoa, I’m so deep and making reference to The Perks of Being a Wallflower).
I think I my entire academic career I did two presentations and a paper on Bob Dylan. He’s my own personal prophet and I don’t really know where I would be without him. He can sing the same song 900 different ways and make it mean 900 different things. He can make nonsensical lyrics seem meaningful. I love Bob Dylan. He’s been with me through the highs and lows and never with judgment. He’s always been a comfort and a badass.
So, now without further grandstanding and self-important rambling, here are my 25 favorite Bob Dylan songs in no particular order (10 wasn’t enough and I can’t rank them without endless internal debate and I need to go to bed sometime this century, so no ranking will happen at this time):
- “Blowin’ in the Wind”
- “Shelter from the Storm”
- “Like a Rolling Stone”
- “Love Sick”
- “Positively 4th Street”
- “It Ain’t Me, Babe”
- “Subterranean Homesick Blues”
- “Just Like a Woman”
- “Maggie’s Farm”
- “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”
- “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35”
- “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”
- “Lay, Lady, Lay”
- “If Not For You”
- “Hurricane”
- “Tangled Up in Blue”
- “Things Have Changed”
- “Mr. Tambourine Man”
- “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You”
- “All Along the Watchtower”
- “The Times They Are A-Changin’”
- “Simple Twist of Fate”
- “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat”
- “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
- “Forever Young”
I must say keeping this list to 25 was really difficult. His entire Christmas album is amazing. Bob Dylan singing “Must Be Santa”? That’s the greatest gift anyone could give me. You know why? We sang “Must Be Santa” in Sister Ruth’s music class. Talk about bringing it all full circle. Bob, it’s like you know. Probably because you do.
*Not their real names
Today gets 4 Barbie Warhols (2 for a shitty day, then Bob doubles that):
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