Modern Times

For the last week or so, I have been strolling the streets of Liuzhou with my head full of Bob Dylan's newest album, Modern Times. I am listening to it through the MP3 player built into my Nokia mobile phone. Of course, although the CD was released on Tuesday, it is not available here. They're not big on his bobness around here. No, siree. I downloaded it from the internet!
Before you go condemning me for acts of piracy, please note that I said I can't buy CD. I would if I could. So Mr. D and his record company have lost nothing. And Bob told me it was OK anyway!
"I remember when that Napster guy came up across, it was like, 'Everybody's gettin' music for free.' I was like, 'Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway." (Rolling Stone interview)
Apart from thoroughly enjoying the album, all this talk of Modern Times has got me thinking.
It is almost ten years since I arrived here. People always talk of the rapid changes in China, but I suppose none is more obvious than the fact that I am walking around listening to something other than a telephone conversation on a mobile phone. Ten years ago very few people had telephones at home. I shared with a neighbour. A few years later the fashion accessory to have was a pager (rather charmingly called a BP in Chinese). Today almost everyone has a mobile phone or two. And it is essential to have the latest model.
No one who values their fashionability status would be seen with an MP3 player! Got to be MP4 (not that many people actually know the difference!)
Alarmingly, the latest trend seems to be to have a television and DVD in the dashboard of your car. I have mentioned Chinese driving standards before! If they are all going to be driving up and down the road while watching kung fu movies, I'm outa here!
By the way, there are no mobile phones or in-car televisions in Mr Dylan's Modern Times. The title is ironic. His songs sound achingly ancient, dripping with yearning and also funny.
I miss you, Nettie Moore!

tags: liuzhou  china  bob dylan  mp3  mp4  telephone  

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