David Bowie described Bob Dylan’s voice as “sand and glue.” Eric Clapton described him as “sounding like he lived all the songs he sang.”
How his critics, fans and contemporaries choose to define him and what seems to resurface is that Dylan’s music is raw and honest. Known for constantly evolving, his style has grown and changed throughout the decades, touching on almost every genre of music.
Even if Dylan’s howling, imploring voice has never landed on your ear, you know who he is, and you probably listen to a band that claims him as one of their inspirations or has covered one of his songs. The name Bob Dylan is synonymous with folk and Americana music, and he has been inspiration to countless modern artists and bands.
Mumford & Sons, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen and many others call him an inspiration to their sound. Popular artists such as The Avett Brothers, Adele, Natasha Beddingfield, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Cher, Coldplay, Grateful Dead, Norah Jones, Ke$ha and Dave Matthews Band have covered his songs.
Rolling Stones listed Dylan as No. 7 in an article detailing the top 100 greatest singers. The magazine said Dylan has done what few singers have been able to do: change popular singing. We are now living in a world shaped by Dylan’s singing. Singer-songwriter Sam Cooke said it is not about how pretty the voice is but about believing that the voice is telling the truth.
His impact was not just on music though. His music relied heavily on his lyrics that commentated on various political, social and philosophical ideas. Dylan was a great supporter of the civil rights movement, standing alongside Martin Luther King Jr. on stage performing songs “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Times are A-Changin,” which eventually became anthems for the movement.
Despite creating and playing meaningful music for over five decades, at 72 years old, Dylan is still touring. His summer tour, the Americanarama Music Festival with Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Richard Thompson Electric Trio kicked off in May. The tour will be stopping at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater July 3, and students and recent graduates alike are looking forward to this show.
Lydia Diggs, a recent graduate of the University, said her interest in Dylan’s music is mostly nostalgic.
“I remember listening to him with my mom,” she said. “She was always playing music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. It was so much that I thought that was all modern music from my generation. It was kind of big surprise when I turned 13 and began to realize what new music was.”
Although Diggs said she doesn’t know a ton of his music, she said she would still love to go.
“It would be worth it just to listen to ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,’ and ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’” she said.
The bands that will be accompanying Dylan are also popular among students. Lou Ellen Thompson, a senior majoring in marketing, said she was excited about the entire lineup for the festival.
“I’ve seen My Morning Jacket before in concert, and I would love to see them again,” Thompson said. “They are great performers. I have never seen the others live, but I have been listening to Bob Dylan and Wilco for a while now, and I’ve heard really good things about Richard Thompson Electric Trio.”
Thompson said several of her friends are going, and she hopes she will be able to join them.
“It’s something we have never really had before, and to have Bob Dylan headlining it is huge,” she said.
The concert is July 3 at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater and begins at 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. All seats are reserved. Ticket prices range from $49.50 to $89.50 and can be found online at Ticketmaster.com or by contacting the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater box office.
