Nobody sings Dylan like Dylan, critics conclude
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He may be past pensioner age in most countries, but aged 70, Bob Dylan is still productive, with his last album Together Through Life released in 2009. Since 1962, Dylan has produced 56 albums and been inducted into the Grammy and Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame several times. But this week is still unprecedented for the legendary folk-rocker: his first – and also possibly last – concerts in China.
Last Saturday at MOMA's Kubrick Bookstore, Chang Tie Chi, a Taiwanese commentator who recently published The Sounds of Resistance: From Bob Dylan to U2, Esquire editor Zhang Xiaozhou and singer Zhang Weiwei gathered to discuss Dylan's still-pervasive influence and ask why people still want to go to his concerts.
Dylan is a giant and an icon in the history of pop music, said Chang, chronicling Dylan's rise. "He changed the form of rock n' roll. At first, he was an idiosyncratic ballad singer, singing unconventional lyrics sonorously. In 1964, Dylan infused his music with rock n' roll elements."
"Before Dylan, rock n' roll showed adolescent-like flamboyance and shallowness. Influenced by Dylan, it gradually became more sophisticated and reflected the darker side of society," he continued, stressing Dylan's importance in the 60s. "Dylan's songs represented contemporary thought. Generally speaking, Dylan's household fame is engraved in terms of his music in the 60s."
Chang called him a "Weatherman of eras." Westerners in the 60s felt confused about the turbulent world, but Dylan obliquely instructed his audiences by means of his music. "He was like a weatherman who broadcasted the upcoming political or social atmosphere."
"Bob Dylan is growing old elegantly. Despite his age, he composes new songs. Some musicians, such as Rod Stewart or the Rolling Stones, reinterpret their old songs repetitively, while Dylan always remains creative. That's why Dylan's music remains so highly acclaimed by all," Chang said.
"The best part of Dylan is that his anti-war songs are still circulating, which shows both his popularity and great perspective," Zhang concluded.
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