A legendary letdown

Have you seen this yet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not talking about that blight of our culture of excess, the 2008 Cadillac Escalade. Rather, the man fronting it.

From marching on Washington the day of M L King Jr's infamous address, to forging one of the most coherent, original, and resounding artistic voices and visions, Bob Dylan is now the face of one of the least progressive auto manufacturers in the world.

Little did I know as well that Dylan also hosts his own XM radio show, the "Theme Time Radio Hour", devoted to, well, a new theme every week. The new Caddy features XM radio as a standard feature, and the theme of Dylan's show of the week of the ad campaign launch was none other than an ode to that unmistakable vanguard of class and value, the Cadillac.

"We are pleased to join XM in this exciting campaign that brings together two great American icons - Cadillac and Bob Dylan - to reinforce the unparalleled XM listening experience..."

I'll likely never listen to Dylan's XM show, nor will I experience the unparalleled handling and comfort of the Escalade, but I most likely will never lose the lingering regret that is now lodged in my gut whenever I hear Highway 61 Revisited.


Exactly what I'm getting at,

Submitted by aaronthomas on Wed, 2007-10-31 18:29.
Exactly what I'm getting at, why do you have to hold so much to this man, because of HIS profile. If by past lyrics and politics, well he was always the first to attest, he never wanted to be a part of any ‘movement’, that was somehow placed on him. Mentioning before one set in the 60’s, “I want to now say that what you're hearing is just songs. You're not hearing anything else but words and sounds. You can take it or leave it”. And I get what you’re getting at to, 'no bob don't SELLOUT, go INDY woohoo'. But I think this framework has to die out in today's sour music industry, with artists needing to seek alternative sources of revenue to continue in existence. Regardless of who or what is right or wrong here, the guy is like 90 now and senile, so why should you hold his present happenings against his music of decades ago. I mean we can all pick corners here and say I’m behind this belief or that, but if we TRULY hold these principles against our favorite musicians, well than if you look deep enough, sadly they will all disappoint in one way or another. Cause no one can live up to our own personal standards 24/7. Here he just made it easy for you to find something you don’t like!For clarification, Wayne Gretzky was doing Coke commercials (and countless, COUNTLESS) other major commercial endorsements far before his professional hockey career ended. And for our non-hockey followers, the man does still have a good paying job, he is the coach of one of them NHL hockey teams. And Sidney Crosby is already running a clothing line and endorsing Reebok, Tim Hortons, etc. But not to get off my point, why does this all seem to get overlooked or have no affect on their image? Why hold so much responsibility on artists? Admiration aside, they are humans!

 


I’ll give the ad exec

Submitted by Laurel on Wed, 2007-10-31 15:56.

I’ll give the ad exec credit for this; it’s true, Bob Dylan and Cadillacs are both part of the same classic lexicon.  Pure Americana, both symbols and myths.

Putting them together now strangely reinforces the same thing.  Take a look at a Cadillac circa 67, and a Bob Dylan, circa Highway 61.  Both unparalleled and classic designs.

Take a look at Bob Dylan, circa 07.  And the giant, lumbering, SUV Cadillac of 07.  The Cadie of 07 is a marker of things gone astray; unquestioned luxury, uninspired design, too big for its own good.  Bob Dylan in an XM show.  Highway 61 has been paved over to make room for the SUV.    I’m with you, Patsie!


Who cares what he does

Submitted by aaronthomas on Wed, 2007-10-31 00:30.
Who cares what he does outside the studio! His music is his music, don't expect more or less from artists. Don't see anyone knocking on Wayne Gretzky for being in a Coke commercial. Gotta make money where you can these days, cause not many people actually buying the music! 

I know what you're saying.

Submitted by patricia on Wed, 2007-10-31 13:23.

I know what you're saying. I'm not ready to cut the same slack that I do to retired professional athletes who see product endorsement as the only way to make a living after their competitive edge dulls. The only reason I chose to speak up in this case is that Bob Dylan could choose to maintain some of his integrity as one of the artists whose career is not endangered by the ever-changing industry landscape. Far from being in the vulenrable position of an upstart band, Dylan consistently finds himself in the top 50 of highest paid artists.

In 2004 for example, he sold 787,000 CDs from his catalogue and earned $5.6 million in royalties. He also has his multi-volume Chronicles topping bestseller charts still after several years. Not to mention what he earned for that hilarious Victoria's Secret ad campaign.

I would just think that someone with Dylan's profile and history would make better choices with how he profits from his image. But then again, I never thought that Dylan had a heart.

 

 


read the press release

Submitted by patricia on Tue, 2007-10-30 00:40.

read the press release here:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071022/nem052a.html?.v=3


 

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