BOB Dylan, whose rasping songs of protest were once the definitive clarion-call for activism and dissent, belted out a neutered repertoire last night in his Beijing debut.
Although heartily welcomed by fans, the long-awaited concert carried the hallmarks of a compromise with authority - precisely the sort of accommodation that the singer opposed with such venom in his earlier days.
Chinese political sensitivities, which are especially heightened at the moment, were a palpable presence in the setlist, which did not include The Times They Are a-Changin and many other songs that might have ruffled Communist Party feathers.
Attempts to stage the concert last year were thwarted by the Culture Ministry, which can, hawk-like, spot potential sedition from a long distance. More...
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