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After Victoria's Secrets, Dylan wants to be Idol judge
Dylan: fallen Idol?
Jules Grant, Brand Republic 15:00 05-05-2004
LONDON – Sixties rock legend and counter culture icon Bob Dylan is
courting further controversy after saying he wants to be a judge
on 'American Idol', just a month after he was criticised for 'selling
out' by starring in a Victoria's Secrets ad campaign.
Reports today suggest that representatives for Dylan have contacted
Nigel Lythgoe, the British boss of American Idol, to say the star
would like to sit alongside Simon Cowell as a judge.
It has also been reported that producers have asked ex-Beatle Paul
McCartney to appear on a future show, and McCartney has apparently
said that he is interested.
'American Idol's' popularity is intensifying in the States and it is
attracting a host of celebrity judges. Most recently 'Kill Bill'
director Quentin Tarantino appeared, slating contestants, and singer
Elton John also took a turn.
Elton excited controversy when he called voters racist after several
black singers were voted off despite having the best voices.
Dylan, however, is far removed from Elton John's world of celebrity
culture, which helps fuel shows like 'Pop Idol'.
Dylan, once considered the voice of a generation in the sixties
during the civil rights and Vietnam war protests, is likely to
disappoint fans again who were reportedly distraught about his
lingerie ad campaign for Victoria's Secrets.
The ad, created in-house by Victoria's Secret owner Limited Brands,
sees Dylan cavorting with models to a remixed version of his 1997
song 'Love Sick'.
Critics have said that the singer songwriter's flirtation with
commercialism certainly gives extra resonance to his song 'The Times,
they are a' Changin'.
Similar 'sell out' accusations were made when Michael Jackson bought
the Beatles song catalogue and sold 'Revolution' to Nike, 'Getting
better' to Philips and 'A day in the life' to Maxwell House. The
Beatles maintained that they didn't want any of their music to be
used in advertising.
Dylan's greatest hits include 'Mr Tamborine Man', 'It's all right ma
I'm only bleeding' and 'A hard rain's gonna fall' .
Seventies rebel and member of punk band the Sex Pistol's Johnny
Rotten similarly surprised fans earlier this year when he agreed to
star on ITV's reality show, 'I'm a Celebrity...Get me out of here'.
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Dylan and McCartney To Judge on American Idol?
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