Top 10 Bob Dylan Moments

#10: Meeting Woody Guthrie

Without Woody Guthrie, we may not have Bob Dylan. He was so influenced by Guthrie’s songs, with their folk background and storytelling capabilities, that when he arrived in New York he visited Guthrie several times and even wrote a song dedicated to him. Guthrie was suffering from Huntington’s disease at the time and was living in a hospital in New Jersey, but Dylan’s meetings with him eventually grew into a friendship that encouraged him to pursue a career in folk music. He would even meet some of Guthrie's musical friends during their interactions at the hospital, further solidifying Dylan’s musical path. It’s arguably the moment that launched his career, so that alone makes it extremely noteworthy.

#9: Returning with Original Songs After 8 Years Away

Dylan’s last album featuring original compositions was in 2012 and it took eight years before he returned with 2020’s “Rough and Rowdy Ways”, best known for the song “Murder Most Foul”. Dylan has had some lengthy songs in his time, but this one clocks in at a whopping 16 minutes and 56 seconds. It tells the story of the Kennedy assassination, which takes us right back to the beginning of Dylan’s career. This proves that sometimes when you step away and give yourself an opportunity to recharge, the creative juices can really start flowing and some great things can be created.

#8: Evangelical Music

Dylan was raised Jewish but converted to Christianity in his adult years, and this time period was surprising and even controversial for some of his fans. From the years 1979 to 1981, he wrote two albums that included gospel music, and this became known as his ‘born again’ period. As his faith grew deeper, so did his love for writing songs about religion, and it was a very different look from the folk and rock music he’d become known for. Dylan has since steered away from evangelical music, but this time in his career definitely stands out, and goes to show that whatever he’s experiencing and exploring in his personal life authentically reflects in his music.

#7: The Never Ending Tour

Most artists will create an album, go on tour for a while, and then repeat that cycle some time later. Bob Dylan, however, rejected this format. Since 1988, he’s been on the Never Ending Tour. He sees it as a variety of consecutive tours over the last 30 years, and so far he has played over 3,000 shows. The Never Ending Tour is a true feat, showing his commitment to his craft. Not only has he been writing and performing songs for over half a century, he’s spent that time creating over 60 music videos, 21 live albums, and 40 studio albums. What he does for music he does big, and this tour is a reflection of that.

#6: The Concert for Bangladesh

It should come as no surprise that Dylan was involved in charitable musical events considering his interest in issues affecting the world. One that sticks out is George Harrisons’s Concert to raise funds for East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, in 1971. Following a motorcycle accident in 1966, Dylan made few public appearances, so it was exciting to see him on stage again. He managed to stand out even amongst other stars that participated like Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr. This event set the stage for others similar to it, like the collaborative effort of “We Are the World” in the ‘80s, and there’s no one more perfect than Bob Dylan to partake in these iconic moments.

#5: “The Times They Are a-Changin’”

Bob Dylan is known as a pioneer of songwriting, especially songs that talk about the state of the world, and this one is perhaps his best known in that regard. This song was released in 1964 around a pivotal moment in American history, as times really were changing during the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War, and this tune is a call to action. The release of this song signified his songwriting becoming more focused on societal issues, and it cemented him as a noteworthy singer and songwriter with a broad appeal. The performance of this song in the biopic “A Complete Unknown” still gives us chills, proving that this song is meaningful to listen to in any era.

#4: “Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”

When fans think of Bob Dylan, many of them think of this album. The release of “Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” helped introduce him to the world and cemented his place in folk music history. Many of his most famous songs originated from this album, and although it was released in the early ‘60s, the messages in the songs and the popularity of them are still conversation worthy today. From “Blowin’ in the Wind” to “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” this album is full of classic, original tunes that talk about everything from romantic love and heartbreak to social injustice and political freedom. It’s everything we love about Bob Dylan, and we’ll never hesitate to listen to this album over and over.

#3: Standing Up for Civil Rights

As we’ve seen by now, he’s written many songs that reflect the changing tides that came along with the civil rights movement, and singing was his way of contributing to the cause. But, he’s certainly not all talk, as we saw in this iconic moment during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. At the ripe age of 22, he took the stage to sing about peace and injustice, with one song even being a true story about the assassination of a civil rights activist, and it’s almost as if it were written explicitly for this event. It’s an important moment in history, and his appearance at the march is undeniably one of his most memorable performances.

#2: Winning a Nobel Prize

It’s unprecedented, it’s not the norm, and it’s groundbreaking. These are words you could use to describe Bob Dylan’s songs, but it’s also how we’d describe his Nobel Prize win. After years of crafting thoughtful and insightful lyrics, he received what some would consider to be the greatest honor for any writer. In 2016, he won the Nobel Prize in Literature, and although he didn’t attend the award ceremony, it was still an iconic moment. Who didn’t love Patti Smith’s moving tribute to him? Although his win was controversial, he managed to illustrate the connection between his creations and traditional literature through his Nobel lecture, and we don’t think his critics have much ground to stand on.

#1: Going Electric

Bob Dylan is no stranger to controversy, and at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, folk fans were shocked when he played with an electric guitar, amp, and a full band for the first time ever. He was seen as a folk hero, and the audience seemed to feel betrayed by this abrupt change. Looking at this moment retrospectively, it signified the important turn in Dylan’s musical style to the folk rock genre that he would become known for. We still can’t believe that the song “Like a Rolling Stone” was actually booed the first time it was played. Times change, and music changes, too, and Bob Dylan embraces and surrenders to it all, just like a rolling stone.


What Bob Dylan moment is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!