The inaccurate stories about the possibility of Bob Dylan becoming a voice for a GPS navigation system ( previously reported here ) have not only been picked up by other sources, but were already a subject on the Expecting Rain discussions site in a thread back in December. The premise of the thread was - if he was NOT joking, would you buy a Bob Dylan GPS voice?
Some of the earlier comments considered Dylan lyrics that could be used while he gave directions. Some examples: “Take the next left into Desolation Row...it's not dark yet, but it's getting there so turn on the lights now...'“; “and watch out: as soon as you cross the Hiway61, you'd be lost…”; and a quote from his Traveling Wilburys song, “Dirty World”. A post from August 28 said that - according to Google - there were 104 news stories on the subject, almost all of them “factual” reports.
Well, this story just refuses to die. Today, on NPR's "Morning Edition", the story was again reported as if it were true. The story lasted for less than a minute, and you can listen to it here.
The New York Daily News thought it had their facts straight. However, they incorrectly stated that this all stems from a rebroadcast on Sirius XM. The rumor took hold in the United Kingdom, where the December, 2008, program finally premiered on the BBC at the end of last month.
There was one story that stated Dylan had confirmed the GPS story, then had a link citing the original, erroneous Washington Post article.
There are plenty more. All you've got to do is Google "Dylan GPS".
Wouldn't it be ironic if all of these stories about Dylan as a GPS voice were a catalyst for actual business discussions? Stranger things have happened. Who would have predicted he would host his own radio show, make a cameo for Victoria's Secret ads, or appear in commercials for a Cadillac Escalade, where Dylan asks, "What's life without the occasional detour?"
If you have any bad Dylan GPS puns you'd like to add, please feel free to comment below.
For more info: Theme Time Radio Hour, Expecting Rain (fan site).
Comments
"Done laid around, done stayed around this ol town too long...take a right at 56th and Wabasha"
"You got a lotta nerve to miss your exit there, maybe you just wanted to take a detour"
Screw You...Dylan ROCKS and will now and forever be the greatest musical genius in the world. How would an idiot like you know if the stories are true or not..Your so stupid you forgot to take your mask off after halloween you loser.
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