Plan B Forum

BEIJING: Bob Dylan has avoided controversy in his first appearance in the People's Republic of China, eschewing 1960s protest anthems and sticking to a song list that government censors say they pre-approved.

Keeping with his custom, Dylan never spoke to the crowd of about 5000 other than to introduce his five-member band in his raspy voice. And his set list, which mixed newer songs with classics made unrecognisable by altered tempos, was devoid of any numbers that might carry even the whiff of anti-government overtones.

In Taiwan on Sunday, opening his Asian tour, Dylan played Desolation Row as the eighth song in his set, and ended with an encore performance of Blowin' in the Wind, whose lyrics became synonymous with the war and civil rights protest movements.

But in Beijing those two songs disappeared from the repertoire. In Beijing Dylan sang Love Sick in the place of Desolation Row, and he ended his nearly two-hour set with the innocent-sounding Forever Young.

There was no The Times They Are a-Changin' in Beijing. And definitely no Chimes of Freedom.

This was the concert that almost did not take place. It was cancelled last year when the Culture Ministry did not give the needed approvals. And this year it was on again, off again as Dylan's promoters and the government censors haggled over what songs would be included.

In the end, according to the government, Dylan agreed to a concert ''performed with the approved content''



http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/mus ... 1d69c.html

eschewing 1960s protest anthems and sticking to a song list that government censors say they pre-approved.