Paul McCartney chooses his absolute favorite Bob Dylan song

Paul McCartney is not only one of the greatest and most successful musicians of all time, but also a die-hard music lover. He has never shied away from singing the praises of other artists, especially songwriters, as he knows how difficult it is to compose a song that the masses will sing along to.

Music magazine Mojo asked a host of rock superstars to pay tribute to Bob Dylan, who is also considered one of the greatest songwriters of all time. They each chose their favorite song from his repertoire and shared why their chosen tune meant something to them.

The list of artists who participated in this exercise includes names like David Crosby, Richard Thompson, Robby Krieger of The Doors, Sheryl Crow and even rapper Nas. McCartney is included in the roundup and his endorsement may be the most high-profile of all.

The former Beatle chose Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” and yes, he’s aware that some people might think that’s not the coolest choice… but he doesn’t seem to care. In true McCartney fashion, he cracks a joke and is slightly self-deprecating in his commentary. He begins his comments by admitting, “I know it’s cheesy.”

McCartney further explains why “Mr. Tambourine Man” is number 1 on his personal list. “I heard him do that at the Albert Hall,” and Mojo notes that the show took place on May 9, 1965. The rocker continues, “I longed for him to do it, and knowing Dylan, I thought maybe he wouldn’t do it. Just because it was embarrassing, just because it was perverse.”

The chart-topper went on to reveal that the concert he attended is remembered by Dylan fans – and rock historians – as one where many fans got upset with the folk musician. For the first half, he played songs that matched the folk musician’s sound and style, but then he plugged in and continued his foray into electric rock, which earned him a lot of backlash.

McCartney is not one of Dylan’s critics for this decision. “It was the infamous show where all the folkies thought he had sold out,” said the touring musician, adding: “How shitty is that? It was fantastic.” Digressing back to “Mr. Tambourine Man,” McCartney said: “He did it there, the first time I’ve heard it live. A really good song, very typical of the time. Totally successful this year. I was lucky to be there.”

“Mr. Tambourine Man” is one of Dylan’s best-known songs. He never released it as a proper single, but the up-and-coming band The Byrds covered it in 1965, the same year Dylan wrote the song, and put their own spin on it. Their song went straight to No. 1 on the Hot 100, ushering in an era of folk-inspired rock that bridged the gap between genres.

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