Bob Dylan -- A Complete Unknown?

I am a huge Bob Dylan fan. I have been since I was little. I am not sure that my parents understood or even understand today. They have always been supportive though, and bought me a ticket to a Dylan concert for my birthday one year. They have also been forthcoming with albums that are hard to get for birthdays and Christmases.

So, this little story out of Long Branch on the New Jersey shore I found amusing in a really funny kind of a way. Dylan was wondering around the Lake Branch community looking at houses and passing the time before heading off to an evening concert in a nearby town, Lakewood. He is currently touring with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp.

A 68-year-old fella seemingly wandering around aimlessly in your community is certainly going to attract some attention. And, so it was, Dylan attracted the attention of a 24-year-old police officer who stopped Dylan and asked him for some identification.

The funny here is that the in 1985 when this police officer was born, Dylan had already been making music for 24 years at that point in time, and when she asked him for ID he had been making music for five decades. Most people would argue that Dylan is a music icon and that he has been one of the most significant singers and songwriters of the late 20th century. Yet, if you're not a fan, then you're not a fan.

In defense of the first officer, it would seem that in Lang Branch, Dylan is not well-known or a star. A second officer who arrived on the scene to assist the first officer also did not recognize Dylan.

Unfortunately, for Dylan he was carrying no identification. However, the lack of ID was overcome with some polite banter between the police officers and Dylan, and a quick trip back to where the concert people were holed up for confirmation that the man claiming to be Bob Dylan was in fact Bob Dylan.

Fame is certainly relative.

The Jackson Three?

The Jackson Three to follow the Jackson Five?

Joe Jackson who had a really poor relationship with his own son, the recently departed King of Pop (aka Michael), has been on television suggesting that Michael Jackson's three children: Prince Michael, Paris, and Prince Michael II (aka Blanket) are already showbiz material with the potential to carry on their father's legacy.

This is troubling to me. These kids were never going to have normal childhoods anyway, but these kind of ramblings by Joe Jackson on Good Morning America are exactly the reason these kids need to be looked after by someone else. This someone has to be someone that has the childrens' best interests at heart rather than some grand plan of their own to exploit these youngsters for all they are worth.

It seems that Paris, at least according to Joe, is already ready to do something in showbiz. It is said that Blanket can dance. And, that Prince Michael is already lining up a virtual duet with his dad in the Natalie Cole / Nat King Cole way.

This is not the only rumour doing the rounds. It is thought that the children are going to do a special birthday concert to honour their dad on what would have been his 51st birthday.

I just hope that someone sees the light. These kids need to be given every opportunity to have a life that is as normal as can be. I hope that they are not robbed of their childhoods like their father was.

Michael Jackson -- A Music and Cultural Icon

There is little doubt, at least in my mind, that Michael Jackson was a musical genius. His eccentricities must not detract from this genius. There might always be question marks about some of his personal decisions and the manner in which he lived his life, but talent is talent and that deserves to be recognized.

I attach a video of the Michael Jackson singing one of his signature songs, The Man in the Mirror. If there was any need to see why there has been such an outpouring of grief the world over, then this is it. Just sitting back and watching the behaviour and reactions of the fans that attended his concerts sometimes beggars belief.

I liked the music. It was something that I grew up with and something that will be part of me forever. I think we all have songs that we claim ownership over in the sense that this one particular song coincides with a defining or important moment in making us who we are or pushes us in a particular direction, something that touches our innermost soul and being.

The Man in the Mirror is a song that does this for me.

Enjoy.

Rhianna in Jakarta -- Canceled?

Rhianna, or at least her management, have decided to cancel the concert scheduled for Friday night. The local promoter is suggesting that the concert is not canceled but rather postponed to sometime in January or February.

The reason is that Rhianna and her team allegedly have some security concerns. These concerns are supposedly heightened security alerts for the country. The speculation is undoubtedly going to be on the recent executions of the Bali Three (aka Amrozi, Mukhlas, and Samudra). However, my understanding is that this is mere speculation and the concern was security in general.

The promoter has allegedly sent representatives to Singapore to lobby Rhianna's management for a change of heart. However, with the concert to be held tomorrow a pretty quick change of heart is required in order to make the logistics work.

The promoter seems to be concerned with the billions of Rupiah in losses that will be sustained if the concert does not go ahead. Now, here's the thing. If you are a music promoter in Indonesia, I would have thought that it would have made good business sense to get insurance for this very thing. It is not like it is the first time a world class music act has pulled the plug because of security fears / concerns.

It seems ticket holders need not fear, as the promoter has guaranteed that all ticket holders are to be refunded. I am sure they would have preferred to see Rhianna in concert though. May be in January or February!