Now, first off, why did I choose these two to compare? Well, to me it's simply, neither are particularly good singers. While I'd favor Johnny Cash in the singing department, since he has a clearer tone and better overall vocal quality. Both are AMAZING guitarists. Both told stories. That's the key to this... They told Stories. Bob Dylan had songs like Hurricane, Time are a Changin', and my personally favorite, All Along the Watchtower. Johnny Cash has songs like Folsom Prison Blues, Big River, and I Walk the Line.
Now, both had their musical differences, Johnny Cash is Blues, County, Rock. (Only sometimes on that last one. He's really Blues/ Country.)
Bob Dylan was more of a Folk Rock Singer. He kept his guitar work in the background and makes the words his main focus. (He later moved to close exclusivity to Rock.)
Now, MANY guitarists name both artists as an inspiration, which is interesting, since most people don't really give either enough credit for cultural impact. Bob Dylan inspired Jimi Hendrix, who is considered one of the best guitarists in the world. Johnny Cash also was inspired by him...
I know many people who admire Johnny Cash for his skill with the guitar. I myself find that his simple but complex guitar works are awesome! The way he manipulated the strings to strengthen his vocals? It's awesome!
Bob Dylan, was a great guitarist, I've heard guitarists like Slash, Hendrix, Cash and MANY others say that he's awesome! But, his guitar goes in the background. But, he has a froggy vocal style, so he's clearly not putting his vocals up front... What is he putting in the foreground? Well, that's his words. He wrote some of the best songs ever! All Along the Watchtower is amazing... If you look at it carefully, it's one of the best constructed stories I've heard in a song.
Now... The point of this is, Who do you think made more of an impact?
Personally, Dylan influenced more people. He helped inspire some of the best regarded guitarists in the world. He helped with a real meaning behind all of his works. Hurricane was a great story about a true event that happened, and this 8 minute song, is just a pure musically awesome journey! Now, first off, why did I choose these two to compare? Well, to me it's simply, neither are particularly good singers. While I'd favor Johnny Cash in the singing department, since he has a clearer tone and better overall vocal quality. Both are AMAZING guitarists. Both told stories. That's the key to this... They told Stories. Bob Dylan had songs like Hurricane, Time are a Changin', and my personally favorite, All Along the Watchtower. Johnny Cash has songs like Folsom Prison Blues, Big River, and I Walk the Line.
Now, both had their musical differences, Johnny Cash is Blues, County, Rock. (Only sometimes on that last one. He's really Blues/ Country.)
Bob Dylan was more of a Folk Rock Singer. He kept his guitar work in the background and makes the words his main focus. (He later moved to close exclusivity to Rock.)
Now, MANY guitarists name both artists as an inspiration, which is interesting, since most people don't really give either enough credit for cultural impact. Bob Dylan inspired Jimi Hendrix, who is considered one of the best guitarists in the world. Johnny Cash also was inspired by him...
I know many people who admire Johnny Cash for his skill with the guitar. I myself find that his simple but complex guitar works are awesome! The way he manipulated the strings to strengthen his vocals? It's awesome!
Bob Dylan, was a great guitarist, I've heard guitarists like Slash, Hendrix, Cash and MANY others say that he's awesome! But, his guitar goes in the background. But, he has a froggy vocal style, so he's clearly not putting his vocals up front... What is he putting in the foreground? Well, that's his words. He wrote some of the best songs ever! All Along the Watchtower is amazing... If you look at it carefully, it's one of the best constructed stories I've heard in a song.
Now... The point of this is, Who do you think made more of an impact?
Personally, Dylan influenced more people. He helped inspire some of the best regarded guitarists in the world. He helped with a real meaning behind all of his works. Hurricane was a great story about a true event that happened, and this 8 minute song, is just a pure musically awesome journey! |