'Electrified' Bob Dylan featured in Audi ad 60 years later

A new television advertisement for Audi features a historic clip of Bob Dylan performing at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, a pivotal moment when he controversially "electrified" his sound by performing with an electric band for the first time. This transition from folk protest poet to rock star, met with initial audience disapproval, is now being used by Audi to symbolize its own spirit of innovation.

The advertisement taps into Dylan's enduring legacy as an innovator, drawing parallels between his musical evolution and the automotive brand's technological advancements. The clip captures Dylan's embrace of electric music, a move that, while initially jarring to some fans, ultimately expanded the possibilities of rock music. This era also produced iconic works such as "Like a Rolling Stone" and the double album "Blonde on Blonde," released in 1966, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

"Blonde on Blonde" is recognized as a landmark achievement, pushing the boundaries of rock music with its innovative production and extended track lengths, such as the nearly 12-minute "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands." The album solidified Dylan's "electrification," though it also featured acoustic elements. The dominant sound, however, was shaped by the electric band recorded in Nashville, marking a significant shift in his artistic direction.

Dylan's influence on rock music was profound. While electric music already existed, his adoption of it was unexpected and met with resistance from a segment of his audience. The article likens his impact to Nikola Tesla's invention of alternating current, suggesting Dylan, while not creating electric music, masterfully utilized it in a new context, radically challenging established norms and his own fanbase. This period culminated in his 1966 tour, followed by a motorcycle accident and a two-year hiatus, after which he returned with a distinctly different sound on "John Wesley Harding."