To say that Dylan is "a pop singer" is like trying to fit the Great Lakes inside a small bottle. Dylan is many kinds of singer. He has sung many kinds of songs...folk, blues, traditional, country, rock n' roll, ballads, topical songs, protest songs, humorous songs, cowboy songs, talking blues, just plain rock, what was termed "folk-rock" by some, and other songs that simply don't fit within any of those labels. He has gone way beyond being definable as one specific "kind of" singer, let alone "a pop singer".

This was not the case with MacColl, who chose, I think, to specialize in a particular folk-based style of music....and that's fine. I have no problem with someone doing that.

But Dylan didn't do that. He moved from style to style quite rapidly, usually not for any other reason than that he had a very powerful enthusiasm to do so at the time, and it appeared feasible to do so, given the general situation around him. He has often returned to styles he did in some past phase, indicating his affection for them, while also moving into brand new possibilities all the time, indicating his hunger for a new way of expressing himself. I think he ought to be complimented for that sort of adventurous versatility, not criticized for it.