Other versions

It almost seems a bit disruptive to post on the weekend, what with Uncle Ken taking the few days off; any subtle continuity may be lost.  But what the hell, a little digression shouldn't hurt.

It wasn't Dylan but Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster who wrote "Me and Bobby McGee," and it was originally performed by Roger Miller, a version inferior to Janis Joplin's interpretation.  There must be other versions, as the song itself is one of our modern classics.  I should dig around and listen to Kristofferson's original; it's probably pretty good.

I like listening to different versions of the same song; they often bring something new to the ear.  Consider "It Ain't Me Babe" by Dylan and the versions by the Turtles or Johnny Cash.  All good, all different.  Or "Proud Mary" by The Creedence Clearwater Revival.  The original is good, but Ike and Tina Turner's version blows it out of the water, especially the live recordings.  There is none better.

 I saw Tina Turner at a college concert shortly after Ike quit (or was thrown out of) the band.  Our folding chairs were first row (I had clout), less than ten feet from the stage.  At one point she left the stage and was strutting and singing, almost in touching distance, and there was a quick flash of eye contact...electric is the only word to describe it.  And then she moved on, and I was forgotten.  What a dame!

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There may have been some idle chitchat during Friday's seminar about the butt of Nicky Minaj, but it didn't go far.  Not much can be said or understood about the concept of gluteal implants.  I did ask something though: wasn't there a time when a woman would ask her significant other "These jeans don't make my ass look big, do they?"  The unspoken answer was usually "No, dear.  It's the Big Macs, ice cream, and sitting on your butt all day that makes your ass look big."  But a gentleman does not speak of such things.
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