Greatest Songwriter

[ironman]

I think some of you are getting way too tied up with the lyrics thing. There are jazz artists out there that have written outstanding songs, and they don't have a single word in them.

[dream_017]

Big fan of Billy Joel myself.

[Dan Lambskin]

It's hard for me to say that guys like the Beatles are great songwriters, since most of their songs aren't very deep when it comes to lyricism. They've got excellent music, and it's very catchy, don't get me wrong. I like the Beatles a lot. That said, their songs have as many lyrics as one verse by guys like Sage.

I mean, it's great stuff, no doubt, don't get me wrong. The Beatles do have some examples of great lyricism (Penny Lane springs to mind). But I think lyricists today are more skilled in terms of wordplay.

I don't see how Lennon and McCartney have porr lyricism, esp. Lennon who wrote many great songs in his solo carrier.
Songs like A Day in the Life have great lyrics.

And I don't know how lyrics today are more skilled. I personally believe that no artist comes to close to guys like Bob Dylan, lyrics wise.

the above quote is wrongly attributed to me...altghough i do kind of see the point

[Dan Lambskin]

Waters/Gilmour are probably my favorite

i really like Bowie too

Stupid oversight on my part not to mention Waters/Gilmour. I sure do love the Floyd.

Bowie's all right, haven't listened to too much... the stuff I've heard sounds a lot like Pink Floyd actually.

Bowie is one of those guys that wrote some songs for other people too...pretty sure he wrote Iggy Pop's Lust For Life

[acsguitar]

Trent Reznor, Watters/Gilmour

All awesome

Just a little depressing at times.

Anyways the beatles wrote awesome songs.

Happiness is a warm gun!

[RynMan]

I wonder if any of you guys have heard of a band from New Zealand/Australia called Crowded House? Their lead singer was Neil Finn and apparently he was one of the greatest, people likened him to McCartney in how good a songwriter he was. I have no real opinion as I haven't listened to alot of music by the Beattles. But yeah, check him out if you get a chance and let me know your thoughts.

My favourite song by them is probably "Don't dream its over".....it actually reached number 2 in the US in the 80's.

[Another Blown Save]

I wonder if any of you guys have heard of a band from New Zealand/Australia called Crowded House? Their lead singer was Neil Finn and apparently he was one of the greatest, people likened him to McCartney in how good a songwriter he was. I have no real opinion as I haven't listened to alot of music by the Beattles. But yeah, check him out if you get a chance and let me know your thoughts.

My favourite song by them is probably "Don't dream its over".....it actually reached number 2 in the US in the 80's.

Weren't they some what huge in the 80s?
I think I have heard their self-titled album.

[NZF]

Good call mate, he is certainly one of the Top 2 or 3 New Zealand songwriters of all time.

In 1976 when he joined Split Enz with his older brother Tim, Neil Finn was a big reason for that band's international success as well.

He penned many of the band's major hits, most notably "I Got You," which virtually catapulted the Enz from obscurity to international fame.

Following the break up of Split Enz, Neil, Paul Hester and Nick Seymour created another band, which after they moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and stayed in a cramped North Hollywood home, was called Crowded House. They became a huge commercial success with their self-titled debut album. Their song "Don't Dream It's Over," reached number 2 on the US pop charts in 1987.

The success of the song was helped perhaps because it expressed hope in uncertain times. Just look back at some events of that year.

(May) Iraqi missiles killed 37 in an attack on a U.S. frigate in the Persian Gulf.

(July) Senior US govt officers testified they authorized the use of profits from illegal sales of arms Iran to aid Contra terrorists.

(1st Oct) A severe earthquake struck Los Angeles, leaving 100 injured and six dead.

(19th Oct) There was a world-wide stock market crash.


Here's the lyrics.


There is freedom within, there is freedom without
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're traveling with me

Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win

Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof
In the paper today tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the T.V. page

Now I'm walking again to the beat of a drum
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
Only shadows ahead barely clearing the roof
Get to know the feeling of liberation and relief

Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
Don't ever let them win


My personal Top 5 song writers of all time are

Bob Dylan
Van Morrison
Elton John / Bernie Taupin
Paul Simon
Burt Bacharach

[stevethumb]

hey..let's give a gal some props...lucinda williams is a first rate songwriting talent

[Phatferd]

hey..let's give a gal some props...lucinda williams is a first rate songwriting talent

Carol King was pretty awesome too.