Why, Bob, whyyyyy.....???


Bob Dylan to appear with Will.I.Am in Pepsi advertisement
The man who wrote Blowin' In the Wind and the man who co-wrote My Humps will duet on Refresh Anthem, which will likely be shown during the Superbowl
Guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 January 2009 10.08 GMT


Nevermind Bob Dylan's ad for Co-op, the legendary songwriter has agreed to do a commercial for Pepsi – the seller of a carbonated brown beverage – and will duet with none other than the not-so-legendary Black Eyed Peas frontman, Will.I.Am.

The advertisement, entitled Refresh Anthem, will likely air during this Sunday's Superbowl game. These commercials cost £2m for every 30 seconds and Pepsi are reportedly considering three or four different spots for the game. Only one of these spots features the man who wrote Blowin' In the Wind and the man who co-wrote My Humps.

The commercial features a "mash up" of Bob Dylan's Forever Young and Will.I.Am's doubtless poignant interpretation. Will.I.Am will perform over a "visual collage of iconic images celebrating generations past and present", Pepsi said in a statement. They may show footage, for instance, of Bob Dylan drinking Pepsi. Or Will.I.Am drinking Pepsi. And if they are lucky, of Barack Obama drinking Pepsi.

Forever Young was first released – in two versions – on Bob Dylan's 1974 album, Planet Waves. It was, biographer Clinton Heylin wrote, "an attempt to write something hymnal and heartfelt that spoke of the father in him". Its lyrics were recited on network TV during Muhammad Ali's comeback fight.

Now, Forever Young will sell fizzy drinks. Pepsi is reportedly considering selling the "mashed up" song on iTunes. It will, they hope, "[tap] into the wave of optimism sweeping across America". And make that optimistic wave thirsty.

deebee said:

Ace said:

And being a 70-year-old geezer (technically he'll be 68 but who's counting...)

Bill Hicks just turned in his grave. Sad news.

I remember seeing Dylan in a Wyclef video and thinking maybe I dreamed it. Later I had a similar dream about Gene Simmons & Clef

NDRU said:

Or Willie Nelson & Snoop Dogg.

Timmy84 said:

well that collaboration makes sense

bboy87 said:

You di'int KNOW???

bboy87 said:

All about that sticky-icky...

thanks for the heads up. i want to make sure i MISS THIS entirely

Timmy84 said:

that's why it all seemed like a dream to me

"was gene simmons really in that video last night?"

Wonder if Neil Young will do a video with Bob's hair on fire put out by a can of Pepsi?

Good for Uncle Bob!

Artists these days are NOT making money from album sales. Licensing is now a popular revenue stream for bands. Once looked down upon as "selling out" by the community, recording artists are now forced to liken themselves with products to make money.

And because of this union, some dorky teen in Bodunk, South Dakota, who has never heard of Bob Dylan or his music, will see this commercial, like it, wonder who that old geezer is, google him and check out Blood On The Tracks. And we all will be better for it.

chuckaducci said:

You're more optimistic than I am. Let's hope you're right.



Fucking hell, Bob...

Hmmm.

Well?

On the one hand, it's bad. He's selling out his music to sell Pepsi with Will.I.Am.

On the other hand, he's not selling us brassieres any more.

Hmmm, seems he has form in 'this rap game'.....

Ace said:

Ah, yes. That'll be it....

errant said:

deebee said:

deebee said:

Aw helll naw, I know you aint brought that 1986 track into discussion

Cinnie said:

As far as Bob's rapping goes, it's a bit like his harmonica technique: he blows; he sucks....

When you try to branch yourself out, your limitations are seen for the world to see. Why VH-1 failed to put Bob Dylan on their "wackest hip-hop moments" list I don't understand that. VH-1 sucks anyway but you know what I mean.
[Edited 1/31/09 14:58pm]

deebee said: