Would you consider "Donovan" to be the British "Bob Dylan"?

Question

Why or why not?

Answer 1

Their music is totally unrelated to each other's, IMO. Everybody has opinions, but in mine - it is only in relation to some inappropriate Donovan publicity spin - trying to gain value by arbitrary association/comparison to Dylan. Dylan was/is a totally independent, even defiant, musician. Donovan was someone who tried his best to be what people wanted.

I also think it's improper to say that any artist is a variation of another. Even in painting one may have studied another but that does not make them a different version.

In music I can't think of any artist (solo or band) that has ever been called a version of another - it's insulting to both. I did like "Season of the Witch" but consider "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow"(his two big hits) - give me a break. Dylan has hundreds of songs ranked at the top of every knowledgeable critic's "All-time best" lists. "Like a Rolling Stone" - best song ever - Rolling Stone magazine. Dylan has many, many songs in this category. "Highway 61 Re-visited" - one of the top albums ever (don't remember "ranking"), along with quite a few other biggies. He was a HUGE influence on The Beatles, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Van Morrison, and many others, in fact folk and then rock altogether. Not to mention he's still going very strong (awards and all), although his voice is practically gone. Songwriting his best thing anyway.

If you ask(ed) Dylan or Donovan, I think the videos below will show what the answer would('ve) be(en).



Cohen is Canadian, and has talent but I would put Neil Young above him for the Canadian effort.



Sandy Denny (Fairport Convention) might be a "contender".

Lennon and McCartney (together only) another possibility.



*Probably will add to this (you touched on a sensitive subject).

Answer 2

Depends what you mean. Donovan was a popular folk singer who ripped off Dylan for a few years in the 60s and 70s, but Dylan far surpasses Donovan in terms of songwriting skill, diversity, appeal and longevity. If I had to choose a British version of Dylan, I'd probably go with David Bowie, because he plays many different types of music, different styles, and he's still very popular.



Cohen is Canadian, not British.

Answer 3

I was around at the time both were at the height or their popularity and Donovan was classed as the British Bob Dylan by the media.Donovan admitted that he was influenced by Dylan's style but he was no clone.Celtic music was Donovans inspiration as it was for many Irish American singers of the time

Answer 4

Probably yes! I believe the British press dubbed him that at that time (he was discovered busking in the street) He was the first British (scottish) folk singer to break into the charts and into America and went electric like Dylan. Back then Folk music was a big deal throughout the 1960s.

Even the poet Rod McEuan was on the Royal Varity Show reading poetry with a dog!

Jasper Carrott was a folk singer touring small folk clubs

Billy Connolly was with the Humblebums

Leonard Cohen is Canadian of course



RIP Mary Travers of Peter Paul and Mary who died last year.

Answer 5

No...I consider Leonard Cohen to be the British Bob Dylan. Like Dylan, there is no mistaking Cohen's voice.

Answer 6

I love both of them. I would kinda say yes, but Dylan is just way to weird now! Their music is kinda alike. I love Donovan's Atlantis song. Nobody has mentioned these 2 in years.

Answer 7

I agree with the Blunt Ugly Truth...his only good song was Lay Lady Lay. I never understood why he's been given so much credit...the man's voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard. My vote is for Donovan.

Answer 8

Donovan is WAY better than Dylan. Bob Dylan is overrated, his music is not that good, and his voice is annoying. His only good song was "Lay Lady Lay"

Answer 9

to be honest,

i dont like either

both of their songs are neither revolutionary or interesting