Joan Baez on what made Bob Dylan and John Lennon so special: “Those are hard to find”
Joan Baez says Bob Dylan and John Lennon were exceptional songwriters whose music had a rare ability to bring people together. She argues that songs of comparable quality and universal appeal remain difficult to find, highlighting the lasting social influence of both artists.
Baez recalled Dylan as unmatched and described Lennon as his equal in impact. She pointed to the 2011 Occupy movement, whose demonstrators sang “We Shall Overcome” and “Blowin’ in the Wind” because, she said, the songs they wanted did not exist. The article presents their music from the 1960s and 1970s as continuing to shape political songwriting.
- Baez calls Dylan and Lennon rare, influential songwriters.
- Their songs still resonate in political movements.
- She says universal songs of similar quality are hard to find.