Bob Dylan: Cadillac Spokesman?

We were a bit surprised — but not too surprised — to see three videos hit YouTube today featuring Bob Dylan in a Cadillac Escalade. It seems the rock ‘n‘ roll legend has a new radio show on XM and, to promote it, he’s promoting Cadillacs in the three spots you see here. The one above is a one minute spot, a two-minute version is posted below and a 30-second spot we’d expect to see on TV can be found here.

Bob Dylan has sold his soul for commercials before, most famously for Victoria’s Secret. At least this ad has a tie-in to a radio show. However, we’re a bit shocked that the ad gurus featured him in an Escalade SUV. Not only that, but they have the not-too-gas-friendly Escalade passing a gasoline truck prominently in all three versions. Couldn’t they just have picked a regular semi?

YouTube via Jalopnik

Comments

[Joe W.]

It's been downhill ever since he plugged in at Newport.

[Ed]

Like Mark Twain's death, reports of Dylan's selling out" have been greatly exaggerated. Beginning with his signing with Columbia, Dylan has periodically been accused of selling out.

Can anyone recall the Greek beer which was his first ad? Turkey Chase was the song and the year was 1979.

Ed
Coopers & Lybrand

[juslillolme]

dylan selling out?..it's called getting paid for your work..
people seem to think preformers just appear..and don't need houses,cars,food..
agrees,dylan started out protesting the war ..most of the time with only his harp and six string..
..the puris't who didn't like it when he went electric,had a band with him,ect..

bob dylan -as far as i can see-only endorses products he believes in,uses ,eats,drinks,ect..
..i've known bands who travel together in van's,and dream of the day they can afford "that sweet ride" of their dreams,and a caddy,while not nessecarily MY dream ride,isn't the worst possible car..
..if i could get a car company to give me one for an endorsement,and it was a ride i might buy anyhow,then,isn't that what marketing SHOULD be,rather than the huckesters plastered on my t.v. screen,who lie to me,rather than a person who believes in a product??

[sakredkow]

I'm with you guys. Dylan has brought more to my life than any other celebrity. I have no problems with him endorsing a car, his radio show or lingerie. The cat has a whole bunch of free passes from me and it will take a lot more than a few commercials for me to revoke them. Hope he's doing well and we see him again on tour this way.

[ngolo]

y'all haven't seen the reports?
this was CGI- that stands for computer graphic insemnination.

apparently it was done by the same people who were behind the matrix.
bob dylan is actually threatening lawsuit against cadillac and has publicly announced that this is un-authentic CGI animation...

those of you who claimed to be genuine fans of dylan, well, i bet you wish... that you were dead.

HEY MR. TAMBOURINE MAN!

yours truly,
ngolo ngagwea- liberian aristocrat

[charles thompson]

the new camaro will it be there.