There are some drawbacks to being a superstar, and few people are more famous than Bob Dylan. He wrote music in a way that no one else had before. He could hold a mirror up to the world around him and reflect, for better or worse. It provides listeners with insight into what they may not have been aware of before hearing the song. And it reaffirms the views of those who were already familiar with the subject matter.
Throughout his career, Dylan was constantly pushing himself creatively. He was always willing to experiment with new styles and sounds to broaden and challenge himself. Given how much attention he received, that attitude is admirable. Any road he went down was highly patrolled, and some heavily scrutinized his actions.
Many musicians who weren’t fans of his work or didn’t like a particular approach he was taking would express their displeasure through their music. As a result, several songs are written as attacks on Bob Dylan rather than as tributes to him.
Dylan would undoubtedly face criticism given how well-known he and his music became. However, it is surprising how many of his contemporaries incorporated Umbridge into their music. Simon and Garfunkel, Bowie, and Mitchell are just a few performers who have used their platforms to mock and criticize Bob Dylan.
Five songs written to insult Bob Dylan:
‘A Simple Desultory Philippic’ – Simon & Garfunkel
Beginning with an equally well-known name in folk music: Simon & Garfunkel, who were known to be quite envious of Dylan at times. This is more evident than ever in their song ‘A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara’d Into Submission)’, a parody of Bob Dylan’s work.
Simon uses his analytical eye to examine the lyrics and analyze Dylan’s songwriting style. He mocks the bard for frequently using obscure lines and referencing popular culture.
‘Serve Yourself’ – John Lennon
John Lennon also took a shot at Dylan with his song ‘Serve Yourself,’ a parody of his 1979 single ‘Gotta Serve Somebody‘. It was a dig at Dylan’s religious beliefs. It is noteworthy coming from Lennon, who experimented with various religions and spiritual beliefs throughout his life.
“There’s too much talk about soldiers and marching and converting,” Lennon said when asked about the song. “I’m not pushing Buddhism because I’m no more a Buddhist than I am a Christian. But there’s one thing I admire about the religion: there is no proselytizing…” While the Beatles were certainly fans of the troubadour, this song is unquestionably a kick in the teeth.
‘Talk To Me’ – Joni Mitchell
When Joni Mitchell was compared to Bob Dylan in an interview, she denied it. “We are like night and day, [Dylan] and I,” she said, “and Bob is not genuine at all. He’s a plagiarist, and his name and voice are forged. “Everything about Bob is a lie. She reaffirmed her thoughts in the song ‘Talk To Me‘, where she says, “Are you really exclusive or just miserly? / You spend every sentence as if it was marked currency.”
Most music fans associate Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan as bedfellows. But the two folk heroes had a strained relationship. This track is a testament to those issues. Seemingly written while the duo shared a tour bus as part of the Rolling Thunder Revuew, the stormy lyrics are a poignant attack.
‘Stuck In The Middle With You’ – Steelers Wheel
Stealers Wheel’s hit song ‘Stuck In The Middle With You‘ was originally written as a joke, parodying Bob Dylan and mocking a music industry cocktail party. It was a strikingly decisive track aimed squarely at one of the music industry’s most prominent figures.
“Clowns to the left of me / jokers to the right” was a direct reference to the types of people the band frequently encountered. Much to their surprise, the joke song became one of their most popular due to its catchy chorus and infectious pop arrangement.
‘Song for Bob Dylan’ – David Bowie
Finally, David Bowie made a dig at Bob Dylan on his unsubtly named track ‘Song for Bob Dylan’. In the track, he begins in a condescending tone, addressing the singer by his full name and saying, “Now, hear this, Robert Zimmerman, I wrote a song for you.” He then criticizes Dylan’s musical ability, describing his voice as “Like sand and glue.”
“There’s even a song – ‘Song for Bob Dylan‘ – that laid out what I wanted to do in rock,” Bowie told the BBC. “At that point, I said, ‘Okay (Dylan), if you don’t want to do it, I will.'” I saw a leadership void.
He added: “Even though the song isn’t one of the most important on the album, it represented for me what the album was all about. If there wasn’t someone who was going to use rock ‘n’ roll, then I’d do it.” This was the moment David Bowie made it clear that he was not just a showman. He was an artist capable of changing society and one willing to take down the former holders of such esteem.
