E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
AP
American folk-rock icon Bob Dylan, right, performs with his band in Beijing on Wednesday.
BEIJING — It was a performance that many didn’t think would happen, particularly not in the current climate.
The musician who exemplified 1960s counterculture in America, Bob Dylan, performed live for the first time ever in China on Wednesday night.
Dylan had been slated to tour in Beijing and Shanghai last year but the stops were canceled, apparently because of a financial disagreement with the concert promoter.
But after weeks of speculation about whether he would still come to China, the Ministry of Culture last month gave its nod of approval.
Although the cheapest tickets for his concert at the Workers’ Gymnasium in central Beijing sold out immediately, the venue -- which normally seats 12,000 -- looked only to be 65 percent full. (Your correspondent forked over nearly $150 for her nosebleed seat, a hefty price for the average Chinese university graduate who might earn three times that a month in Beijing.)
Nevertheless, Dylan was warmly welcomed by the audience -- a mix of Chinese and Western fans who cheered and whistled to crowd favorites like “Ballad of a Thin Man,” “Highway 61 Revisited,” and “Forever Young.”
Today.com: Dylan gets rapturous reception in China
Though there was high energy in the nosebleed area, Dylan and his band seemed to power through their set, and the two encores seemed perfunctory. There was no banter in between songs and certainly no allusion to the detention of outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. (Rumors had widely circulated on the Internet that Dylan might pull a Bjork. The Icelandic pop singer created a stir when, at the end of her Shanghai concert in 2008, she appeared to support Tibetan independence.)
There wasn’t even a “Hello Beijing!” (Although some fans who have attended previous Dylan concerts have argued on Twitter that his performances tend to be minimalist.)
It was still somewhat surreal to be watching an icon of social unrest perform in the capital of this increasingly repressive state.
As the Global Times newspaper, which is published by the Chinese Communist Party, noted in its Wednesday English edition, “Bob Dylan is playing in Beijing, an iconic voice of dissent in a nation that values harmony.”
In that very same newspaper was an editorial that lashed out at critics of China’s government, specifically Ai — who was prevented from boarding a flight to Hong Kong from Beijing’s airport on Sunday and who has not been seen or heard from since.
Adrienne Mong/NBC News file
Ai Weiwei during an interview with NBC News in 2009. By Adrienne Mong/NBC News File
The man best known amongst the mainstream for consulting on the design of the Bird’s Nest Stadium is the highest-profile intellectual to have been detained in the continuing roundup of independent thinkers, artists, activists and lawyers across the country. His disappearance has sparked alarm about just how far the Chinese government is willing to go to prevent dissenting voices from being heard.
Dubbing Ai “a maverick of Chinese society (who) likes ‘surprising speech’ and ‘surprising behavior,’” the Global Times piece went on to say:
“Ai Weiwei chooses to have a different attitude from ordinary people toward law. However, the law will not concede before ‘mavericks’ just because of the Western media's criticism. Ai Weiwei will be judged by history, but he will pay a price for his special choice, which is the same in any society. China as a whole is progressing and no one has power to make a nation try to adapt to his personal likes and dislikes, which is different from whether rights of the minority are respected.”
That is familiar language that doesn’t suggest “the times they are a-changin’.”
If anything, they appear to herald a return to an era of disappearances, arrests and severe authoritarianism.
Leave a Comment:
I wish I could have been there. This was a concert for the history books in both America and China.
He could have supported through songs a very powerfull message, but according to the article it looks like he missed the opportunity of a lifetime! I still would have loved to have been there too fred :)
We can't even get him to play Duluth, Minnesota!! I have been waiting a lifetime to see him!!
Are you kidding? I saw him there about 10 years ago in an outdoor concert with Paul Simon. It was fantastic, right on the shore of Lake Superior.
"hennatahmes.deyachangin~~"
Hop a plane to Denver the next time he plays the Fillmore, you can get his schedule at his website. Born in Duluth back in 50 love that place and the Aerial Lift-bridge.
If you've never seen Dylan, it's possible you need to try leaving Minnesota, just as he did. I've got nothing against Minnesota, but c'mon, you've never seen Dylan? You need to get out more.
There is no need for the Chinese censors to worry about a Dylan concert, no one can understand what he is mumbling about anyway!
An artist that detests facism playing in a communist facist country how ironic.
commies stick together.
first off no one can be communist and fascist at the same time. they are diametrically opposed forces. the fact that you think thats possible shows you don't understand either. further you don't understand irony, an anti communist playing in what is definitely a communist (not fascist in any way btw) country isn't ironic.
Fake Game-Really? lol Fascism ( /ˈfæʃɪzəm/) is a radical, authoritarian nationalist political ideology.[1][2] Fascists seek to organize a nation according to corporatist perspectives, values, and systems, including the political system and the economy.[3] They advocate the creation of a totalitarian single-party state that seeks the mass mobilization of a nation and the creation of an ideal "new man" to form a governing elite through indoctrination, physical education, and family policy including eugenics
Yes this sounds nothing like China! Drrrrr
Leninest communism-Leninists revised this theory by introducing the notion of a vanguard party to lead the proletarian revolution and to hold all political power after the revolution in a transitional stage between capitalism and socialism then communism.
China is a "lenin type" communist country which is mix a fascism and communism. Fascism in its economic structure more so and communism in its distribution supposedly.
Its ironic because Dylan is not an anti-communist moron. He is of the communist hippie idealogy SMH.
my my you can copy stuff from random internet sites like the best of them. i am impressed. you still don't get that a state cant be both no matter how much you copy paste definitions. and no that sounds nothing like china. you still clearly dont understand either. even id china were a leninist type communism it still wouldnt be ironic bob dylan played there. and even if bob were a communist hippie which i dont believe he is now (if he ever was ive never asked him) it still wouldnt be ironic for him to play in a communist state.
LOL What an idiot! China is not a pure communist country, private property exists for example its not a ward of the state, Private industry exists its not a ward of the state. China is a fascist country posing as communist. Class distinction exists aka rich vs. poor. The opposite of communism is capitalism not fascism.
Communism is state ownership Fascism is state control.
Hey Midnight and Fake,
Ever heard of the concept "agree to disagree"? Clearly you both have different opinions on something that can never be determined by finding facts solely because of the ambiguity of the english language and definitions in general (oh and not to mention that discussing an individuals viewpoints is entirely unfair if that individual cannot comment himself; entirely unfair and unrealistic - you can never define it flawlessly without the individual in question being at least present)
So do us all a favor and get over yourselves! Another individual is allowed to disagree with you! Well i suppose that is, unless you live in China and happen to be a government official (cause even individuals can disagree with one another in China).
Its so sad that society has gotten to the point of petty bickering via a nameless and faceless entity that nurtures our notion that "if i cant see you I'm safe from repercussions" ... yes perhaps you are, but that doesn't change that you are a cruel and heartless individual who attacks others opinions for your own gratification, sickos.
China is a bureaucratic, socialist authoritarian state governed by a self-perpetuating oligarchy. It is not fascist, if you use that term correctly. It has elements of communism.
Words really do have agreed definitions. Just because we don't like something doesn't make it one thing or another.
Full fledged communism is just an idea, a social political ideology and economic system strong and powerful enough to counter the dregs and rhetoric of capitalism and imperialism. Now that the playing field has been leveled, the usefulness of communist ideology is diminished and we are witnessing private ownership and individuals inheriting the management rights to land and personal property. To think that the Chinese communist government can create institutions and programs to change human nature towards an egalitarian society makes me thing that such a notion should be placed in Ripley's Believe it or not.
How do you make a billion people's ears bleed? Force everyone in China to listen to a Bob Dylan concert...
Lets hope everyone in China doesn't think were all like Bob. Hopefully, they showed the movie Midnight Cowboy when the concert was over so these fans could make some sense out of his music.
Huh??? There are no Dylan songs in Midnight Cowboy.
Bobby is so Cool.
the Chinese government continues to be an embarrassment to the world and "free trade" advocates
Zimmie did it for the money................
Glad he got to play. Hope some were inspired to think about changes for the better. And right now freeing the artist Ai Weiwei who offers the average Chinese person a voice of compassion.
Old Hippies never die.
They just whine so much that you wish you were dead.
Anything for a buck, hey Bob?
You are clueless. First off, I'm quite sure Bob doesn't need money. Second off, you're in New Jersey? You haven't questioned your own location? Perhaps you haven't heard what Bob wrote about Paterson, NJ in "Hurricane?"
First, show me a person who doesn't need money, anyone. Second, NJ isn't a freedom opressing Communist country we just have Chris Christie. BOB DYLAN CAN'T SING ANY SONG HE WANTS IN CHINA. Bob Dylan is going to bend over for the Commies, how's that? Paterson, hurricane blah blah blah. Stay on topic, don't defer.
"a very great man once said, 'some people rob you with a fountain pen.' It don't take too long to figure out just what he was talkin' about."Bob Dylan referencing Woody Guthrie. I've always loved Dylan's music and his "Song to Woody" definitely raised my awareness and opened my eyes to the genius of Woody Guthrie. Even though it doesn't have a direct relation to the article I have always thought this line summed up a lot of the problems in this world we live in. "it's through this world I ramble and I see lots of funny men. Some will rob you with a six-gun and some with a fountain pen." Still as true today as it was the day he first sang it. I hope Dylan sings some union songs this year on his tour. 1913 Massacre would be really great to hear.
Hu,
There is a vital interest (usually for political gain) under each and every one of these but when a society does not nip a perversion in the bud it explodes and we don't even realize it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v34hQQz7GvY
Sort of like a man without nerves that is on fire. It's great he doesn't feel pain but now he can't put it out because we don't know who to blame for our biggest problems now.
Your citizens are enjoying this concert without voice to skull forced into their head, or worrying about what might be life changing but unprovable consequences of the state, to protect what has become an illusion and what is spouse to be my @!$%#in fail safe upside in case my little boat misses your global tides.
Could have been a much better country
14 years Hu...time is on my side...
Stuck Inside of Beijing with the Memphis Blues Again. You go, Bob! Thanks for all the beautiful music!
You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows... in this case, the weatherman needs to be "re-educated" so that he will issue a more "harmonious" forecast.
Bob Dylan is incredible. I was lucky to see him in person many years ago!! Wish I could have been there.....as per a Wall St Journal article which I read years ago....he has better verbatim than most lawyers!!
Go Bob!!! May you always be a voice for change!!
A lot of people seem to be missing the point. China ain't perfect, and neither is America. One could argue that it is Bob's message of freedom and self-determination that has not only helped America since the '60s, but that message was so powerful, it's now being heard even in China.
"Cause I'm a poet
Don't ya know it?
And the wind you can blow it.
Cause I'm Mr Dylan the King
And I'm free as a bird on the wing" - Syd Barrett
Gary Busey plays keyboards for Dylan? (Look at the picture at the top of the article and tell me you don't see what I see.)
He should have used this opportunity to express his concern for the jailed artist Ai.
Shame on Dylan for keeping his mouth shut. He sold out for the money.
Are you sure he isn't? I mean, he does mumble. ;)
Saw him in Helsingborg, Sweden. Stood right at the foot of the stage and sang along with him knowing all the words. He smiled but said nothing. His songs say it all.
Saw him in Helsingborg, Sweden and stood infront of the stage. He was great! Sang along and knew every word. Danced and jumped. Sublime
Bless the fact that after all this time, three chords, inscrutable somethin or other and six strings on a piece of wood can still rattle in some way and get attention. Bob rocks and when all the hot air floats away he rocks on. Harmony is the last refuge of the hall monitor and thought police who are famous for lacking any rythm. Screw harmony.....more harmonica! Big Jim