By the most accidental of accidents last Thursday night I happened to catch the tail end of the PBS presentation of “In Performance at the White House” devoted to “A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement” (on the eve of Abe Lincoln’s birthday). The songs were moving to be sure. And watching President, First Lady and first children Obama in the front row (singing along) was joyous. In addition to Yolanda Adams, Joan Baez, Natalie Cole, Jennifer Hudson, John Mellencamp, Smokey Robinson, and the incredible Blind Boys of Alabama, to my surprise the penultimate performer was Bob Dylan singing a heart-wrenching, gravel-voiced rendition of “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” You can see it here (and compare to the original here). What a historic moment that was.
If you are as big a fan of Dylan as I am, then you’ll also be mesmerized by this duet of “Dark Eyes” with Dylan and Patti Smith.
