greatest songwriters

[joospeed]

having a bit of a lyrics moment .. wondered what the greatest songwriters of all time are? who's lyrics move you the most?

my 10 offerings, in no particular order:

women :

aimee mann
alanis morissette's pre-egocentric early days
joni mitchell
carly simon
carole king

men :

gordon lightfoot
david gates
tim rice
bob dylan
bob seeger

[ferg]

That's so difficult depending on the criteria and it's all too easy to go for someone who wrote a song you really like, but as a gut feeling for a man who has written some truly fabulous catchy pop songs.....Neil Sedaka.

[Pigeon]

I've got to put in a word for John Lees.

[Nuggs]

Votes for Elvis Costello, Adam Durritz and Billy Bragg here

[wizzpig]

ferg said:

That's so difficult depending on the criteria and it's all too easy to go for someone who wrote a song you really like, but as a gut feeling for a man who has written some truly fabulous catchy pop songs.....Neil Sedaka.

Definately Neil Sedaka

James Hetfield has written lots of songs that I like so would have to say him.

Also Burt Backarack.

[ferg]

Nuggs said:

Votes for Elvis Costello, Adam Durritz and Billy Bragg here

Now you've done it. Duritz aside the other two would no doubt, Elvis especially, acknowledge Nick Lowe as a BIG influence....and I'll have to chip in with The 'Tones John O'Neill, undisputed king of the infectious guitar hook.

[Twincam16]

For pure gothic poetry, Wayne Hussey
For iconic '60s coolness, Don Black
For a gut-wrenching sense of reality, Bruce Springsteen

[Einion Yrth]

Richard Thompson, very moody, very 'black'.

[Mon Ami Mate]

Love him or hate him, Jim Steinman.

[Twincam16]

From a completely different angle, Chuck D.

In a time where rap is dominated by tosspots wiggling tasteless jewellry at cameras and enlightening us all to the financial benefits of prostitution, listening to this guy rap with Public Enemy is amazing. it's like the best of punk protest on rapid-fire. It rhymes perfectly but at a pace that would leave Johnny Rotten breathless.

Also, Joe Strummer, for his ability to combine so many kinds of wildly different music - from traditional British punk to '50s rockabilly, Deep Southern Soul, Reggae and Ska.

And what about Bob Marley, a guy whose music simultaneously puts a smile on your face, and gets you thinking about social inequality - that's quite an art.

[ferg]

Mon Ami Mate said:

Love him or hate him, Jim Steinman.

Absolutely..I hate him and would include him on this list!!

Twincam16 said:

Also, Joe Strummer, for his ability to combine so many kinds of wildly different music - from traditional British punk to '50s rockabilly, Deep Southern Soul, Reggae and Ska.

I'd hesitate to seperate Strummer from Mick Jones, especially under the reasons you've quoted. (see Big Audio Dynamite)

[Selmer]

wizzpig said:

Also Burt Backarack.

Burt Bacharach was generally regarded as the tunesmith rather than lyricist. That was more Hal David's job in this partnership IIRC.

[Selmer]

But my two bob: Cole Porter and the Gershwins.
Nick Drake too.

[Hugh1]

Someones got to say it: David Gray. Not the last 2 albums (White Ladder and A New Day at Midnight) but the 5 before that are awesome

[Eric Mc]

I'd definitely suggest Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwins along with John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein and also Rodgers with Lorenz Hart. Sammy Cahn, Noel Coward and Ivor Novello were also great songwriters.

[Wacky Racer]

Pigeon said:

I've got to put in a word for John Lees.

www.bjharvest.co.uk/index.htm

[DanBoy]

johnny cash

[driller]

No-one said Roger Waters yet?

[Frik]

Paul Simon.

[Eric Mc]

Yep, Paul Simon too.