When it comes to Bob Dylan, everyone else is dim. That’s the reason if he were to praise you, you’ve achieved everything in your life. Dylan started his career in the early 1960s and paved the way to be one of the most influential figures in popular music today.
Over the years, he has praised the likes of Randy Newman, George Harrison, Brian Wilson, and many more. Dylan has always been shy when it comes to sharing what he likes and all. But while talking to Rolling Stone in 1989, he talked about how people can be considered a ‘G’. During the interview, he was asked about Stevie Wonder, and he commented, “If anybody can be called a genius, he can be. I think it has something to do with his ear, not being able to see or whatever.”
When Bob started his career, Stevie Wonder was a child star. A year after Bob’s debut album, Stevie dropped his own single in 1963 at the age of 13. Other artists were skeptical when it came to hearing Stevie’s music but Bob listened to the song. He explained, “I go back with him to about the early ’60s when he was playing at the Apollo with all that Motown stuff. If nothing else, he played the harmonica incredible, I mean truly incredible.”
Talking about Stevie, Dylan never really know what to say of him in his initial days. Dylan and Wonder were in different places of their own. Until, 1966 when Wonder covered Dylan’s songs during the civil rights movement. Dylan said, “I never knew what to think of him really until he cut ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’. That really blew my mind, and I figured I’d better pay attention.”
In the summer of 1972, Stevie tagged along with The Rolling Stones on a two-month tour which bought his music to new audiences. It was a daring movie but it was worth it. Dylan commented, “I was glad when he did that Rolling Stones tour. Because it opened up his scene to a whole new crowd of people, which I’m sure has stuck with him over the years.”
“I love everything he does. It’s hard not to. He can do gut-bucket funky stuff really country and then turn around and do modern-progressive whatever you call it. In fact, he might have invented that.”
“He is a great mimic, can imitate everybody, doesn’t take himself seriously and is a true roadhouse musician all the way, with classical overtones, and he does it all with drama and style. I’d like to hear him play with an orchestra. He should probably have his own orchestra.”
