Paul Simon and Bob Dylan have coexisted in the world of popular folk music ever since they both came onto the scene in the 60s. While they are both considered some of the greatest songwriters of all time, most folks place Dylan over Simon, and those aren’t our words. Rather, those are words spoken by “The Sound Of Silence” singer, Paul Simon. He believes that Dylan, while his equal in some degree, still sits above him in the rankings of songwriting.
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Ranking artists is a fairly trivial endeavor, as artists are artists; they aren’t meant to be pitted against each other. Regardless, ranking and comparing things to other things is an inevitable fact of life. That being said, Simon compares himself to Dylan, and consequently, there is one thing that Dylan can do that Simon can’t do. And per some of his statements, Simon would do anything to be able to emulate it.
Why Paul Simon Wishes His Voice Were More “Ironic”
Dylan and Simon have seemingly always held each other in high regard. However, boys will be boys, and competition will always ensue. That being said, Simon stated in Homeward Bound: The Life Of Paul Simon that “unfortunately, I’m always being compared to Bob Dylan.”
“Our philosophies are different,” Simon continued. “He is always dumping [on] people more than I do. It’s really easy to put somebody down. The biggest thing Dylan has going for him is his mystique.”
Simon’s analysis is right on the nose, as Dylan is far more closed-off and cunning, whereas Simon is vulnerable and sincere. However, Simon believes that is where he falls short as a songwriter and a performer. He believes he is too sincere, too open, and too accessible. Dylan can be those things, all the while not being any of those things at all.
Concerning this conundrum, Paul Simon told Rolling Stone: “I usually come in second to (to Dylan), and I don’t like coming in second. One of my deficiencies is my voice sounds sincere. I’ve tried to sound ironic. I don’t. I can’t. Dylan, everything he sings has two meanings. He’s telling you the truth and making fun of you at the same time. I sound sincere every time.”
Paul Simon sets up an interesting stylistic paradigm with these comments, and one that opens a lot of doors when it comes to interpreting his music and Dylan’s. In essence, the two starkly contrast with one another. However, the world doesn’t need two Bob Dylans; it needs one, and Paul Simon has done more than just fine with his musical repertoire.
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
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