NEED TO KNOW
Simon Cowell can’t say he loves Bob Dylan’s voice.
During the Monday, Nov. 24 episode of the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, the British TV personality shared his honest thoughts about the legendary singer-songwriter, 84.
When asked about how people have said that “unconventional voices” like Dylan’s or Frank Ocean’s wouldn’t make it through his shows, Cowell, 66, touched on his perspective when it comes to the “Like a Rolling Stone” artist.
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“When I heard Bob Dylan’s version of that Adele song, ‘Make You Feel My Love,’ I didn’t know he wrote the song,” said Cowell. “I think if he’d walked in and sang that version, I’m not gonna lie, I would’ve gone, ‘Forget it.'”
The X Factor judge then noted that he’s “not a fan” of Dylan.
“But if people like him, then they like him, and if you don’t, that’s fine,” he said.
Elsewhere in the conversation, Cowell noted how Kelly Clarkson was the ideal inaugural winner of American Idol.
“Oh, it was like a dream,” he said. “I do remember actually saying to someone, hypothetically, ‘I’m certain there’s someone out there and he or she’s probably working in a bar, has tried to get a deal, can’t get into the right people or the label, but is brilliant.’
Cowell recalls that he “just had that feeling,” but it took a while to “get there.”
“Some of the early people we saw in the first couple of cities — everyone was terrible. So I thought this show could be a disaster,” he said.
Added Cowell, “You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect winner. And we’re still friends today. She’s a amazing person, incredible personality. And just this killer voice.”
He said the experience “was like a movie.”
Next month, Cowell’s new show Simon Cowell: The Next Act will follow the music industry executive as he tries to “create the next global boyband sensation.”
“This is unlike any show he has made before,” the logline read. “From raw open casting calls to the release of their debut single, this is an all-access pass for viewers to catch every moment of Simon’s next chapter. Will he strike gold once again?”
Simon Cowell: The Next Act will premiere on Dec. 10.
