24 January Is For Videos: Bob Dylan – Love Sick

The 1998 Grammy Awards show was littered with shocking moments. Among them was an unscheduled performance by Michael Portnoy (better known as the Soy Bomb guy) in the middle of Bob Dylan‘s song “Love Sick.” This premeditated “art” piece by Portnoy was so odd, and Dylan’s response so unshaken, that for a while I didn’t seriously thought it was part of the plan, not an interruption. Apparently, many of the people there, including security, felt the same way, because Portnoy managed to stay on stage for about 40 seconds before he was quietly pulled off stage. That’s an eon as far as live airtime is concerned. Portnoy caught everyone so off guard that he became a part of pop culture trivia. I’m showing you this video today, because it made quite an impression on me. I was amazed by Dylan’s lack of shock. He played it so cool that, for a moment, he managed to play this wild card like it was part of his hand. Of course he’s probably seen his fair share of odd things, but this guy snuck up behind him on live television at the Grammy’s. Dylan quickly hides his surprise and continues on with the song as if nothing happened. Well done, Bob, well done… Now, the Soy Bomb incident could be the whole reason that I post this video, but it’s not. I would be a fool not to recognize Dylan for his song writing and iconic presence over the past half century. Very few would give laud to his voice as being among the best, but you would be hard pressed to find a man whose songs have been more influential. Dylan’s song have been covered by thousands of artists and connected intimately with millions of listeners. This particular song has a lyric I find especially nice. It’s the chorus of the song; it acknowledges the way that love can really screw with our heads and leave us almost wishing we had never loved someone. I love the internal rhyme and resonance of the “i” sounds.

“I’m sick of love but I’m in the thick of it
This kind of love I’m so sick of it.”