Aden has been very interested in music lately. He seems drawn to Brit Rock - really likes Oasis and Coldplay (we showed him Coldplay on youtube as an example of piano music when he started taking lessons). He also ended up liking the Bob Dylan songs we have on the computer. He already knew Forever Young from one of his birthday DVDs, and now especially likes Knockin on Heaven's Door and All Along the Watchtower. He is intrigued that other bands will play versions of someone else's song: Guns n Roses playing Knocking on Heaven's Door, Jimi Hendrix playing All Along the Watchtower, Eric Clapton playing Little Wing and Knocking on Heaven's Door, Eric Clapton writing Badge with George Harrison.
Going further, he has asked if Stevie Wonder or Michael Jackson knew the Beatles and I told him that they have each recorded music and performed with members of the Beatles. I think McCartney, Wonder, and Jackson were all on We Are the World along with a bunch of other people.
So, we're eating at Culvers and he is continuing to ask about all these musicians, and he basically asks the Top Gun question, "So how do you know who the best is?" He answered himself that he thinks Bob Dylan is the best since more people copied him. We talked about influence and he agreed that Bob Dylan must have been very influential. Then he wondered who most other people think is the best. Do they think it is Bob Dylan, too? No, I told him that the most popular answer is probably the Beatles.
You see, Bob Dylan is like a Johnny Popper. It might not have the most features or be shiny and new any more, but everyone remembers it fondly.
