The White House called Dylan "an icon of youthful rebellion and poetic sensitivity"

[jefferson_dem]

:loveya:

Dylan, Eastwood get White House awards

By CHRISTINE SIMMONS
The Associated Press
Thursday, February 25, 2010; 7:46 PM

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama honored actor and director Clint Eastwood and singer Bob Dylan with arts and humanities awards Thursday.

The White House called Dylan "an icon of youthful rebellion and poetic sensitivity" and said Eastwood's films and performances are "essays in individuality, hard truths and the essence of what it means to be American."

"Obviously, their careers have marked the landscape of American culture for decades," Obama said noting their absence from the East Room ceremony.

Others who made the evening ceremony, though, were no less important to the nation's cultural identity.

Soprano Jessye Norman was recognized for "broadening contemporary operatic repertoire." Maya Lin earned a medal for her architecture, including the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. And Obama awarded composer John Williams a medal for music featured in films such as the "Star Wars" series and the soundtrack to the Olympics.

Obama also welcomed author and activist Elie Wiesel to accept an award for his work to educate the country on the Holocaust and conductor Michael Tilson Thomas for his efforts to expand audiences and the repertoire for contemporary music.

"Each has taken a different path to get here, each has made the most of different gifts, but all of them have reached the peaks of cultural achievement and all of them are a testament of the breadth and depth of human spirit," Obama said.

Noting the country produced talents ranging from Mark Twain to Toni Morrison, John Philip Sousa to Louis Armstrong, Obama praised the United States' diversity.

"They bring us joy, they bring us understanding and insight, they bring us comfort in the good times and perhaps especially in difficult times in our own lives and the life of our nation," he said.

<SNIP>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/25/AR2010022504566.html

[JuniperLea]

1. Eh... it should have gone to Joan Baez...

Bob was there begrudgingly... Joan led the way. Bob wouldn't have been there if not for Joan.

[WheelWalker]

3. Brother Bobby and Sister Joannie...they're both family

but I understand what you're saying, and I agree.

[JuniperLea]

6. Joan is my idol...

I only wish I could be half the pacifist she is... everything about her is just beautiful.

And I love Bob, no question.

[WheelWalker]

10. She is mine too. I 100% agree on all your points. It's hard to say, but I think this

might be my favorite vid of Joan, singing a song by.....who else?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pih1hVdflnQ

[JuniperLea]

15. Thanks... that gave me chills...

We need to pipe her music all over the world... peace would no doubt break out all over the place.

[jefferson_dem]

4. Well, Joanie did introduce America to...

the most important performing artist of the century. And I would love her for that even if I did not love her for her sweetness.



http://womenshistory.about.com/library/pic/bl_p_baez2.htm

[JuniperLea]

5. She is sweet... she can swear like a sailor...

But her heart is as big as the great outdoors and it's solid gold. Not a mean or violent cell in her body.

[jefferson_dem]

8. Oh yes! She is divine. Just this week, her "Live in Japan" album made its way onto my turntable.

She does a wonderful version of Blowin' in the Wind ... and sings in Japanese. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbHx0VYOoTA

[JuniperLea]

16. I thought I was going to have a very metal weekend...

I just got the new High on Fire... and I've been wallowing in Shrinebuilder all week, with a little calypso thrown in for flavor... but Joan just grabbed me and shook all that bad-ass metal out... it will be her dulcet tones for me this weekend! Like honey.

She is about as precious as they come! Thanks for the link:)

[boppers]

2. From their hands to ours...

I wonder if Lady GaGa will be similarly honored in 40 years?

[JuniperLea]

7. She is actually pretty cool...

I can't stand her music, but as a person, she really does rock.

[boppers]

9. Try the acoustic flavors?

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8rpi4_lady-gaga-poker-face-acoustic-live_music

She cut her teeth in piano bars, and can do some serious crooning.

[JuniperLea]

17. Thanks for that!

Nice... the reality of it, and the vocals, make for a far different package, no question. Who knows where she will go... I wish her all the best.

[arcadian]

11. "youthful rebellion"? that's a smack in the face.

What a brush off.

[WheelWalker]

12. I don't feel that way. Who, or what do you see as being "brushed off?"

By your use of that phrase I take it you mean demeaned or minimized. Each generation is characterized by a degree of youthful rebellion against the established order. Recognizing that fact does not diminish the value of the actors, their actions or their collective historic import. In my own opinion, having once been a youth in rebellion who now would honor an icon of that recurring historic theme.

[FrenchieCat]

13. Most folks that listened to Folk music and were in the movement

were the youth.

How is that a "smack in the face"?

:wtf:
(just anything old thing will do I guess..sigh!)

[jefferson_dem]

14. Not at all. The friction generally begins with the youth of America.

And, in the early-mid 1960s, they were plugged into Dylan.

This is a beautiful thing.

?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF8789215ABF3343C02EA5487723B93F794C381AAB06B8DBE2455494C4807872DAA14267

I encourage everyone to check out Murray Lerner's documentary film - Festival! if they have a chance.