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Being a kid is a weird time. You love your parents, but its embarrassing to admit, or even be seen with them when they take you places (and buy you things). Not many kids share musical tastes with their parents, with some kids making fun of their parents about how bad their music is (when I was six or seven, I told my mom that the lite rock station made me car sick), and vice versa. This thing I've learned from all this as I've grown up is that, while we may not realize that we actually do like the music our parents listen to, the music has become so familiar to us that we do (or at least can tolerate it) like it to some extent. You're constantly around your parents and the music they listen to, so how can some of it not grow on you?
My father loves Johnny Cash; an artist that he still spins a lot today, along with a lot of the modern day country stars who don't know the "difference between Iraq and Iran." He's seen him a few times when I was younger, a concert that I wouldn't have been caught dead at at the time, but now regret not going to. He would constantly listen to Johnny Cash when he was outside doing yardwork, and I would secretly lower my radio so I could listen to the songs without my dad realizing it. I guess I was scared of having the same musical taste as him. I should note that I put Johnny Cash on a few months ago when we were doing something in my room and he seemed really surprised that we liked the same musical artist.
This DVD, The Man, His World, His Music, follows Cash's '68 summer tour, as well as some footage from '69, and shows just how powerful a musician this man was. Watching him on stage, even on a television, was a remarkable experience. Than man owned your attention. He had the best stage presence I have ever seen, and all he did was stand there, play guitar and sing with that incredible voice of his.
There is a scene with Cash and Bob Dylan recording a song together. Cash's performance (at least in my opinion) blows Dylan's away, which is saying something due to how great Dylan is. Cash's voice sounds like it has so much depression, hope and meaning to it that it is in its own league. It was a great moment seeing two musical legends in the same room.
Its very cool being able to see Cash tour with his wife, June, and he seems like a very genuine person who stands up for waht he believes in and isn't afraid to express his opinions. He has a lot of character and is a very sincere man. Its also great getting to see him playing songs with his family at home, and I was very surprised to learn that June wrote "Ring of Fire" (check the liner notes).
Music has gotten a lot different since I've been born. I don't ever see another musical act having the importance of such bands as Cash, Dylan, The Beatles, etc., but its great to be able to go back and time and watch this. I'm not sure how many times you will watch this DVD, but it is well worth it just to see the man perform.
Written by: RF