President Barack Obama honoured Bob Dylan at the White House on Tuesday, saying there was "not a bigger giant in the history American music" than the diminutive folk singer.

Dylan, whose long musical journey has seen him go from hero of the 1960s counterculture to a guest of the White House, looked impassive behind dark aviator sunglasses as Mr Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honour.
"By the time he was 23, Bob’s voice, with its weight, its unique, gravelly power was redefining not just what music sounded like, but the message it carried and how it made people feel. Today, everybody from Bruce Springsteen to U2 owes Bob a debt of gratitude," Mr Obama said. "There is not a bigger giant in the history of American music."
To laughter, Mr Obama admitted: "I have to say that I am a really big fan".

The 71-year-old Dylan, who has written more than 600 songs and won 11 Grammys, was described as a "modern-day troubador" and "one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century" in the award's official citation.
In addition to Dylan and the novelist Toni Morrison, Mr Obama awarded the prize to astronaut and former senator John Glenn, retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Israeli President Shimon Peres and Jan Karski, an officer in the Polish underground who carried his eyewitness account of the Nazi Holocaust to the outside world.
Mr Peres did not attend the ceremony and the White House said he would receive his medal at a separate event.
The president has sole discretion in choosing the recipients. The medal has been awarded in the past to Henry Kissinger, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

from The Telegraph.

Obama is a class act. Thank God we have him. McCartney, Mick, The Blues. now Dylan. Along with Jan Karski !Who is a personal hero of mine! What did #43 honor?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012-05-30 14:19 by More Hot Rocks.

*



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012-05-30 14:18 by More Hot Rocks.

"Along with Jan Karski"
I agree but Obama made a HUGE mistake when he mentioned the Polish death camps...

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steffiestones

Bobby D looks like Bernie from Weekend at Bernie's

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More Hot Rocks
What did #43 honor?

Aretha Franklin, BB King, Harper Lee, Nelson Mandela, Hank Aaron, and Muhammad Ali amongst others were given the Presidential Medal of Freedom under Dubya's watch.

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GumbootCloggeroo

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More Hot Rocks
What did #43 honor?

Aretha Franklin, BB King, Harper Lee, Nelson Mandela, Hank Aaron, and Muhammad Ali amongst others were given the Presidential Medal of Freedom under Dubya's watch.

Really? It must of killed him inside to do that.

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More Hot Rocks

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GumbootCloggeroo

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More Hot Rocks
What did #43 honor?

Aretha Franklin, BB King, Harper Lee, Nelson Mandela, Hank Aaron, and Muhammad Ali amongst others were given the Presidential Medal of Freedom under Dubya's watch.

Really? It must of killed him inside to do that.

Stupid comment.

stupid comment indeed. Some people just CAN'T resist.

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GumbootCloggeroo

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More Hot Rocks
What did #43 honor?

Aretha Franklin, BB King, Harper Lee, Nelson Mandela, Hank Aaron, and Muhammad Ali amongst others were given the Presidential Medal of Freedom under Dubya's watch.

Now THAT's class!

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More Hot Rocks
Obama is a class act. Thank God we have him. McCartney, Mick, The Blues. now Dylan. Along with Jan Karski !Who is a personal hero of mine! What did #43 honor?

......yeah...ok

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More Hot Rocks

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GumbootCloggeroo

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More Hot Rocks
What did #43 honor?

Aretha Franklin, BB King, Harper Lee, Nelson Mandela, Hank Aaron, and Muhammad Ali amongst others were given the Presidential Medal of Freedom under Dubya's watch.

Really? It must of killed him inside to do that.

Not nearly as much as it kills you inside to acknowledge this.

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More Hot Rocks
Obama is a class act. Thank God we have him. McCartney, Mick, The Blues. now Dylan. Along with Jan Karski !Who is a personal hero of mine! What did #43 honor?

Feel free to thank god for about eight more months.

In 2007 Bob Dylan was awarded with the Prince of Asturias prize for Arts. Prince of Asturias is the son of the King of Spain. He accepted it but he did not attend the ceremony. He took the money anyway. (50K €)....

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R

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More Hot Rocks
Obama is a class act. Thank God we have him. McCartney, Mick, The Blues. now Dylan. Along with Jan Karski !Who is a personal hero of mine! What did #43 honor?

Feel free to thank god for about eight more months.

BINGO!!! THEN, we party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember when he was a protest singer.

I guess American Foreign Policy got better.

I need to puke.

No offense to any Dylan fans but he looks about 90 in that picture.

"There's a guy in my block, he lives for rock he plays records day and night. And when he feels down, he puts some
rock 'n' roll on and it makes him feel alright. And when he feels the world is closing in he turns his stereo way up high.
He just spends his life, living in a rock 'n' roll fantasy."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012-05-30 22:47 by FrankM.

I wish when someone is being honored by the President, it could be looked upon as just that, not as being honored by a Democratic president or Republican president. You don't have to respect the man, but (at least I) respect the office.

The office of POTUS has been disrespected by the incumbents since JFK got bumped off.

Is Dylan mad?

It's as bad as Mick's knighthood.

Where is their self-respect and social conscience?

They all get assimilated by the elite borg.

That's what money does.

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BluzDude
I wish when someone is being honored by the President, it could be looked upon as just that, not as being honored by a Democratic president or Republican president. You don't have to respect the man, but (at least I) respect the office.

Correct. So check back and see who triggered this

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GravityBoy
The office of POTUS has been disrespected by the incumbents since JFK got bumped off.

Is Dylan mad?

It's as bad as Mick's knighthood.

Where is their self-respect and social conscience?

They all get assimilated by the elite borg.

That's what money does.

Do not forget the Kennedy's - the worst of the lot.

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BluzDude
I wish when someone is being honored by the President, it could be looked upon as just that, not as being honored by a Democratic president or Republican president. You don't have to respect the man, but (at least I) respect the office.

I DO respect the office of the Preezy of the United Steezy. Mr. Obama himself has tacitly endorsed the updated moniker.

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BluzDude
I wish when someone is being honored by the President, it could be looked upon as just that, not as being honored by a Democratic president or Republican president. You don't have to respect the man, but (at least I) respect the office.

What do you expect around here? People turned a thread about a soccer tournament political. Some guys just can't keep it in their pants and keep it about the music and have to make it political. Pathetic.

......................... Herald Sun 31 May 2012

ROCKMAN

Incredible the face of Bob during the event, video here inside
[dirtyrock.eu]

Carlitos
tenerife

When did Bob Dylan become a UFO? And what does he do with all his millions of dollars?

Rockman - I'm more interested in the hunt for the giant tuna. Did they find it?

You got the Sun, You got the Moon,
and you've got
The Rolling Stones

..........here ya go yorkey...........



ROCKMAN

Politics and religion are like penises. It is fine to have one. It is fine to be poud of it. But please don't whip it out and wave it around in public...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012-05-31 03:22 by whitem8.

.............................. THE AUSTRALIAN ---- 31 May 2010

ROCKMAN