Todd Haynes Talks Dylan Song Inspirations

Todd Haynes quasi Dylan film “I’m Not There” comes out in two days, woo.

Play, the rhapsody blog has a cool feature with Haynes on the Dylan songs that inspired the movie and the songs that inspired each of the seven characters in the film.

Arthur -“Angelina”
“In my ‘Arthur’ songs list, there are songs of ‘Dylan the visionary.’ ‘Angelina’ is a great song, completely surreal and bizarre.” (from The Bootleg Series 1-3)

Billy – “Seven Curses”
“In my ‘Billy’ mix—for a moment there, it was even a title I was playing with for the film.” [frpm The Bootleg Series 1-3. A Times Are A Changin’ era outtake.

Iggy Pop & The Stooges – “Ballad of Hollis Brown”
“[This song] was going to be in the film, and ultimately it was replaced by that great Iggy and the Stooges ‘Ballad of Hollis Brown’ [cover] that’s in the film now, from a 1973 rehearsal session. It’s the only Dylan cover I know of that they’ve done.”

“Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands”
“The best song of all time. Maybe it’s my favorite of all.”

Hayne also namecheck “Tomorrow Is a Long Time,” “I Want You,” “Fourth Time Around,” “Love Minus Zero / No Limit,” “Girl From the North Country” for Heath Ledger’s Robbie character, “I Was Young When I Left Home” for the Woody character and “Precious Angel,” for his Pastor John/Christian Bale character. Here’s the list of all the music used in “I’m Not There.” For Haynes’ entire Dylan-inspired playlist, go to the Rhapsody blog.

Download: Bob Dylan – “Seven Curses”
Download: Bob Dylan – “Angelina”
Download: Bob Dylan – Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands”
Download: Iggy & The Stooges – “The Ballad of Hollis Brown”