Music

Obama says "Dylan didn't want to take a picture with me"

by Ciaran Thompson

Back in February Bob Dylan visited the White House and gave a performance of “The Times They Are A-Changin” in celebration of the civil rights movement. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, President Obama revealed that he only briefly met Dylan as the singer never showed up for rehearsal nor wanted to pose for a picture with him, something other musicians usually never pass up.

“He wouldn’t come to the rehearsal; usually, all these guys are practicing before the set in the evening,” the president said. “He didn’t want to take a picture with me; usually all the talent is dying to take a picture with me and Michelle before the show, but he didn’t show up to that.

“He came in and played “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” A beautiful rendition. The guy is so steeped in this stuff that he can just come up with some new arrangement, and the song sounds completely different. Finishes the song, steps off the stage — I’m sitting right in the front row — comes up, shakes my hand, sort of tips his head, gives me just a little grin, and then leaves. And that was it — then he left.”

Obama said he wasn’t upset at Dylan’s conduct and that “you don’t want him to be all cheesin’ and grinnin’ with you.” Alongside Dylan, the president revealed other artists like Nas, Lil Wayne, Miles Davis, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder and John Coltrane are all currently on his iPod.