10 Greatest Covers Of Bob Dylan Songs
2. Adele - Make You Feel My Love
Dylan’s 1997 album Time Out Of Mind was probably his best effort since the ‘70s, and a lot of its success was on the back of “Make You Feel My Love”. The beautiful ballad almost immediately became a favourite for cover artists - indeed a version was released by Billy Joel prior to Dylan’s album.
Many more tried to put their own stamp on the song, but it wasn’t until Adele took a stab in 2008 that someone actually managed to understand what makes the track so great. Joel’s version sees the piano man sat at the keys, belting it out to the back of the room.
Adele, meanwhile - like Dylan before her - barely raises her voice for most of the song. It helps that she can be far more confident in her singing abilities than the ageing troubadours who took their turn. She has the power and control to make her performance sound personal and meaningful, rather than performative.
She takes the original, sparse track, and strips it down yet further. The majority of the recording is just Adele and a piano, and she manages to keep the listener totally rapt throughout.