BOB DYLAN

Once a Complete Unknown 

A new movie hit the Box Office this week and although I tend to not go to movies, I did get a movie gift card awhile back. When my friend Kerry asked if I was free to check out a new release, I said yes. 

The story of Bob Dylan “A Complete Unknown” was almost like a flashback to my younger dating days of going to a significant number of rock concerts. As a young man he idolized Woody Guthrie who wrote and sang a series of delightful folk songs in the sixties. His work ranged from story telling, to protests to highlighting social injustices. He was an inspiration and an idol to Bob Dylan who set out from his small town to New York to connect with the small club music scene and develop his career.

Bob Dylan was a loner and intellectual, with little patience for conventions, routine and repetition. His lyrics and style  changed the folk wave of the day and incorporated political, social and philosophy influences. He wrote songs with strong messages to make people think and didn’t seek to commercialize his work like others of the time did. To summarize his definition of music style and his frame of mind, I would say he was a counter-culturalist, a revolutionary, very much an individual, a gifted individual who eventually wowed his ever increasing audiences.  His work built a growing following of socially conscientious believers and respectful fans around the world.

The movie brings in familiar names like Joan Baez, Johnny Cash and Pete Seiger who were leaders or stars in the folk and protest movement of the day, destined to change the world. They tried to mold Bob and sway him from diverting too far off their course. But he was restless and ploughed forward with blunt, insightful lyrics, as well as instruments and music that were louder and stronger than anyone could have imagined in those days.

This movie is insightful, intriguing and informative. It has scenes of emotions, mystery, love, conflict, determination, failure and success rolling out the progressive life of a once complete unknown.