Monday January 24th, 2011

It was fifty-years-ago today, that a 19 year old folk singer named Bob Dylan arrived, acoustic guitar in hand, to a cold and blustery New York City. Dylan, who had just as recently dropped out of The University of Minnesota, moved to NYC like so many before him, all alone, and in pursuit of chasing a dream.

'I didn't know a single soul in this dark freezing metropolis,' Dylan wrote in 'Chronicles.' 'But that was all about to change - and quick'.

In his 2004 memoir, Dylan described the feeling of first arriving in New York by saying  "I slammed the door shut behind me, waved good-bye, stepped out onto the hard snow. The biting wind hit me in the face. At last I was here, in New York City, a city like a web too intricate to understand and I wasn't going to try."

As far as the biting cold weather, that day doesn't sound too far off from the current date, with temperatures dipping below zero including wind chill. Dylan is one of the great NYC success stories, not only because he came and not only did he conquer, but he remains one of the most celebrated American folk-singers of the last millennium. Like cheesecake or Woody Allen, Bob Dylan is and always will be a New York staple, as his very being exudes the stereotypes of what it means to be a New Yorker; a cool, cigarette smoking intellectual who's confident without being too cocky and a bad-ass to boot.

Its not easy living in NYC, and like every New Yorker before him,  Dylan didn't fail to acknowledge that.

Hard Times In New York Town- Bob Dylan 1962

Come you ladies and you gentlemen, a-listen to my song
Sing it to you right, but you might think it’s wrong
Just a little glimpse of a story I’ll tell
’Bout an East Coast city that you all know well
It’s hard times in the city
Livin’ down in New York town
Old New York City is a friendly old town
From Washington Heights to Harlem on down
There’s a-mighty many people all millin’ all around
They’ll kick you when you’re up and knock you when you’re down
It’s hard times in the city
Livin’ down in New York town
It’s a mighty long ways from the Golden Gate
To Rockefeller Plaza ’n’ the Empire State.
Mister Rockefeller sets up as high as a bird
Old Mister Empire never says a word
It’s hard times from the country
Livin’ down in New York town
Well, it’s up in the mornin’ tryin’ to find a job of work
Stand in one place till your feet begin to hurt
If you got a lot o’ money you can make yourself merry
If you only got a nickel, it’s the Staten Island Ferry
And it’s hard times in the city
Livin’ down in New York town
Mister Hudson come a-sailin’ down the stream
And old Mister Minuet paid for his dream
Bought your city on a one-way track
’F I had my way I’d sell it right back
And it’s hard times in the city
Livin’ down in New York town
I’ll take all the smog in Cal-i-for-ne-ay
’N’ every bit of dust in the Oklahoma plains
’N’ the dirt in the caves of the Rocky Mountain mines
It’s all much cleaner than the New York kind
And it’s hard times in the city
Livin’ down in New York town
So all you newsy people, spread the news around
You c’n listen to m’ story, listen to m’ song
You c’n step on my name, you c’n try ’n’ get me beat
When I leave New York, I’ll be standin’ on my feet
And it’s hard times in the city
Livin’ down in New York town

Monday Headlines

50 Years Ago Today, Bob Dylan Arrived in New York
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/fifty-years-ago-today-bob-dylan-arrived-in-new-york-20110124

Best Bets 2011: The Year In Music Ahead
http://www.billboard.com/features/best-bets-2011-the-year-in-music-ahead-1004139978.story#/features/best-bets-2011-the-year-in-music-ahead-1004139978.story

Christina Aguilera To perform National Anthem at Superbowl
http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-01-24/christina-aguilera-to-perform-national-anthem-at-super-bowl

Oprah Winfrey Reveals Secret
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2418209020110124


Sundance Film Review: Kevin Smith's Red State
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70N4YF20110124

Lil Wayne To Launch I Am Music II Tour in March
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656521/lil-wayne-tour.jhtml

Aaron Carter Seeks Rehab Help To Restart Music Career
http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/01/24/aaron.carter.rahab/

MSNBC Rejects Claim That New Management a Factor in Olbermann Exit
http://www.thewrap.com/television/column-post/msnbc-rejects-claim-new-management-factor-olbermann-exit-24175


Q & A With Todd Haimes: Death Takes A Holiday
http://broadwayworld.com/article/QA_With_Todd_Haimes_Death_Takes_a_Holiday_20110124


No Strings Attached Pulls Box Office Strings
http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/822939/no-strings-attached-takes-box-office-weekend

Tiger Moms Memoir Meets a Ferocious Roar
http://www.wickedlocal.com/quincy/fun/x1850111442/Tiger-mom-s-memoir-meets-ferocious-roar

Razzies: Jennifer Aniston Nominated For Worst Actress
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/aniston-nominated-for-worst-actress/razzies/?cid=topic:headline2


Kanye West Recording Another Album
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kanye-west-recording-another-new-album-20110124