Bob Dylan played some shows in Stockholm last weekend, and while he was in the neighborhood he arranged to swing by and pick up his Nobel Prize in literature. It was a small, quick ceremony, with no cameras inside, and apparently not very dressy — much was made over the fact that Bob attended wearing a black hoodie. But what’s really important, to my mind, is not what he wore but what he has given to the world, in music and words, whether you call it literature or not. Cheers to you, Bob! [Consequence of Sound, CNN]
A hospital in New York has created a Spotify playlist with songs that offer the perfect rhythm for performing CPR. “Stayin’ Alive” is the one I was taught, but the playlist also recommends Hanson’s “MMMBop” and Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” (which strikes me as rather morbid given the occasion, but OK). Bet there are plenty of alt country songs that fit the bill of 100-120 bpm that would be much more pleasant to revive or be revived to. Any suggestions? [NPR]
There was no one quite like bluesman Lonnie Brooks, who died in Chicago last weekend at age 83. [Chicago Tribune]
Before he signed off one last time, David Dye, beloved host of World Cafe, took a look back on his 25 years at the helm of the music show with a killer list of albums he’s played on the air. [NPR]
This StoryCorps piece with Morelia Cuevas interviewing her father, Manuel Cuevas — as in Manuel suits, the “Rhinestone Rembrandt” — is fantastic. What a cool dude. [NPR]
