Who is your favourite songwriter and why?

Dave Clemo · 08-02-2008 9:09pm

I've read through the posts and I agree with almost all of them, except of course the ones I've never heard of.
They all have something in common. They're craftsmen with words, expressing something of the human condition that touches the soul. Dylan and Young are near the top- but it's a big mountain with room for songwriters like Mick Hanley, Gretchen Peters, Mary Chapin Carpenter and my all time favourite Richard Thompson.
Anyone familiar with his work with Fairpost Convention and his solo stuff will be amazed that he's kept his standards sky high for 40 years. And you can't say that about Dylan, Young or the Glimmer Twins. Listen to "Meet on the ledge" and then "Dads gonna kill me" both genius songs written over 40 years apart. Who else can get near that? Not even Irving Berlin- and he lived to be 100.
Dave

Brother A · 12-02-2008 6:41pm

Mine is: Igor & Earl from the Hoovers & Sledgehammers

Why?
-Legendary & inspirational riffs & lyrics

Quote: "Kill your way into history you demented motherf*ckaaaaaaaaaaaa"
Also
"Shut the f*ck up bonoooooooooooooooooo"

DMBandit · 12-02-2008 8:07pm

Neil Finn
Dave Matthews
John Mayer
Chris Cornell

Drodan · 14-02-2008 9:00pm

Ace Ender, complete legend.

"I know it's not so easy when you're all alone
But I wonder if I'm alone in your head"

Quattroste · 25-02-2008 6:46pm

I suppose I'll jump in here with Leonard Cohen, Brian Molko and Matt Johnson apart from the many other great lyricists(spelling?) already mentioned.

Why? Listen. Leonards lyrics can mean anything to anyone and they cheer (yes cheer) you up. Brian's lyrics have attitude and make you wonder and Matt's lyrics are deep and meaningful. My opinion of course!

Jack DeValera · 04-03-2008 11:23pm

No mention of Hank Williams or Robert Johnson? Probably the greatest of them all those two were...

Octavarium · 05-03-2008 9:30pm

Maynard James Keenan cannot be matched for writing songs for a purpose and sticking it to it. I really admire when lyricists manage to keep away from repeatedly using "you" or "I" in a song i.e. "Cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion between supposed brothers". He really manages to make you resent the ignorance of the world.

Buckley's use of jazz fusion chords is mind boggling also...

And John Mayer, catchy, simple, yet thoroughly technical.

Finally, Ray Lamontagne. "Burn" for example; a man, a broken heart, a voice, and a guitar. Really soulful stuff!

stick-dan · 09-03-2008 6:02pm

james morrision definitely, chris martin and also ne-yo...Last dude may be a bit soppy for most your likings but is a good song-writer and doesn't compromise a song for rythm. james morrision is class, has the voice to back up his songs too, definite honestly in his songs.I can identify with his music easily. Chris martin has been accused as being very doring and depressing but everyone has their own type of music and he must be respected for his masterful lyrics.

jethro081 · 16-03-2008 9:10pm

I'm new to this forum but i thought i'd wade in.

My overall favourite would have to be mr. Ryan Adams.
In a relatively short career the wealth of material he's produced is astounding. added to that the fact that he has written most of my favourite songs
(starlight diner-29
why do they leave-heartbreaker
world war 24- love is hell
wild flowers-Gold
harder now that its over- gold
dear chicago- demolition
to name but a few)

I think in time he could well be viewed as the best songwriter of this generation.---(he already is by me):D

MattKid · 17-03-2008 8:55am

Ryan lost all appeal for me around the Whiskeytown Pnuemonia Album and Heartbreaker. Both those albums had songs I loved and hated on them.

Rural Free Delivery
Faithless Street
Strangers Almanac

Those are where it's at for me

jethro081 · 19-03-2008 1:56pm

MattKid wrote: »

Ryan lost all appeal for me around the Whiskeytown Pnuemonia Album and Heartbreaker. Both those albums had songs I loved and hated on them.

Rural Free Delivery
Faithless Street
Strangers Almanac

Those are where it's at for me

Really? well each to their own. in fairness though there's such a wealth of material in his solo gear that i'd be surprised if you couldn't find anything that appealed to you.

vincenzo1975 · 24-03-2008 9:46pm

Have to say leonard cohen, i think famous Blue raincoat is an extraordinary piece of work, tells so much. (tickets on sale tomorrow!!!!!)

Also tom waits has some really visual lyrics,

But I always find myself making my way back to Bob Dylan.

KeithMaster · 25-03-2008 8:54am

kristofferson an absolute genius songwriter, extremely underrated and write's songs that tug at the heart strings.

af_thefragile · 30-03-2008 4:15am

Dustin Kensrue of Thrice.

Don't need to explain why. All you need to do is have a listen to any one of their songs. His lyrics are absolutely magical! They're deep, they're meaningful, they're christian, they're phylosophical, they're emotional.
Dustin Kensrue is the best current lyricist out there in my opinion.
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=W6v6CdTWoZA

Saul Williams comes close. He's more of a poet than a songwriter but woah his stuff is powerful! He is the most powerful black writer out there in my opinion.
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=jzY2-GRDiPM
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=U2t-yqYOvCM

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails,
Maynard James Keenan of Tool and
Thom Yorke of Radiohead come close next.

nycman · 16-11-2008 12:30am

Paul Simon
Bruce Springsteen
Hank Williams
Glenn Frey/Don Henley
Leonard Cohen

All fantastic artists who could fit great tunes around their masterful lyrics/

Lennon/Mccartney are a bit over-rated,Lennon especially.

Dylan was always a little whiney for me but I do enjoy the odd one(Hurricane for example)

Latchy · 16-11-2008 12:38am

As OP said there are so many ie, Lennon McCartney ,Jagger Richards ,Brian wilson ,james taylor ,goffin king , bacharach and david ,Dylan ,and just noticed my selction is manly sixties artists but perhaps that says more of that period when songs were being written and put to a record like a production line .

FlipperThePriest · 26-11-2008 3:52am

John Frusciante

Some of his solo stuff is beautiful! Shadows Collide with People is a great album.

shakespeare · 01-12-2008 10:36am

Springsteen still surprises me with his songwriting...amazing to this day...
Mark Kozelek is unbelievebly under rated...

but for me...no one touches the imagintation of tom waits...

KonFusion · 26-12-2008 3:19am

Bob Dylan by far

imo

its like he's in my head, knowing what im thinking before i think it and making songs about my thoughts that I havent thought yet lol

I

bob...cant wait to see him in July

(july right?...yeah...july....*goes off to check tickets)

emmemm · 26-12-2008 11:02am

Neil Young hasn't been mentioned for a while...prolific through four decades, no one comes close.

sambuka41 · 01-01-2009 4:24am

Would have to be Sarah McLachlan,her stuff is brilliant. And i dont mean Angel its a great song but imo not her best. Fumbling Towards Ecstacy album is amazing.

Would be partial to some Neil Finn myself!!!!!!! Into Temptation is a great track!;)

cufroige · 04-01-2009 4:01pm

sambuka41 wrote: »

Would have to be Sarah McLachlan,her stuff is brilliant. And i dont mean Angel its a great song but imo not her best. Fumbling Towards Ecstacy album is amazing.

Ditto!!!!:cool:

column · 08-01-2009 4:05pm

Tori Amos
Kate Bush

After that it's really only a hand-ful of songs by each singer that I like.

Good songwriters with bands - Neil Finn, Michael Stipe, Damon Albarn

cautioner · 01-02-2009 3:37am

Mark Kozelek and Matt Berninger (of The National).

tbaymusicman · 01-02-2009 1:00pm

don mescal would be up there anyway but thats quite the question

Doolee · 01-02-2009 1:11pm

Declan O Rourke people! Cant believe no one mentioned him yet. He is an unbelievable poet...
If you do one thing today, buy Since Kyabram and listen to Marrying the Sea. Thank me later.

thinerlizzy · 04-02-2009 3:05pm

Bono is the greatest song writer of all time... his lyrics are absolutely amazing and he will always be an inspiration to millions!

Dave! · 06-02-2009 1:21am

Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Eddie Vedder are the ones that come to mind!

tbaymusicman · 07-02-2009 11:25pm

thinerlizzy wrote: »

Bono is the greatest song writer of all time... his lyrics are absolutely amazing and he will always be an inspiration to millions!

worst forst post ever hahaha:p:p:p:pjust kidding

flav · 11-02-2009 4:00pm

John Darnielle, David Berman, Bill Calahan, Thurston Moore

im gone all americano underground

Lynskey · 15-02-2009 12:12am

Thom Yorke--Emotive,Grungy,Satiric,Observant and Honest. An absolute genius

degausserxo · 15-02-2009 9:57pm

Right now, Julia Nunes.

http://www.youtube.com/user/jaaaaaaa

the hero game · 20-02-2009 2:32pm

DAMIEN JURADO
his songs are simply astonishing & he has a great voice
check out secretlycanadian.com for free mp3s, try 'what were the chances' to start with

column · 21-02-2009 12:27pm

thinerlizzy wrote: »

Bono is the greatest song writer of all time... his lyrics are absolutely amazing and he will always be an inspiration to millions!

nah...I dont agree. He is good but hardly the greatest.

I would put Morrissey ahead of him and Eminem.

Tawfee · 21-02-2009 8:19pm

Robert Forster & Grant McLennan (The Go-Betweens) - writers of so many perfectly crafted songs

Lloyderz · 27-03-2009 12:50am

JOSHUA RADIN

www.joshuaradin.com

lordgoat · 14-04-2009 5:54pm

Elliott Smith without a question and amongst the still living - Jeff Tweedy

Glassheart · 15-04-2009 1:21pm

John Lennon had it all.

Lyrics,Melody,Originality,Consistency...

Overall nobody else comes close imo.

melahide · 13-05-2009 12:10am

My favorite Songwriter was, is and always will be... Brian Wilson! He is well known for his work in the 1960... he wrote songs, arranged them and produced them... and he used chords which are hardly to find in any other pop song...

I love his melodies and his music... I can´t say anymore about it... it´s just love.

pauline fayne · 30-06-2009 4:55am

my favourites are Jimmy mac'Carthy ('Ride On' 'No Frontiers ''The Contender' etc.,) , surprised no one has mentioned him ..
also Emily Saliers -(from the Indigo Girls )
and Nick Cave

Dave! · 01-07-2009 9:34pm

Recently I've taken a liking to Tom Waits, and Leonard Cohen

Great lyrics

igotone · 10-07-2009 4:54pm

Honestly I'd have to say me.

Seriously, I have been writing for years and some of my songs have made complete strangers cry. I just have a natural way with words and can wrap them in a melody very quickly

I don't mean to sound arrogant but I think I have a gift from God and I want to use it in the best way I can and touch as many hearts in this world as possible.

Maccattack · 11-07-2009 11:48pm

igotone wrote: »

Honestly I'd have to say me.

Seriously, I have been writing for years and some of my songs have made complete strangers cry. I just have a natural way with words and can wrap them in a melody very quickly

I don't mean to sound arrogant but I think I have a gift from God and I want to use it in the best way I can and touch as many hearts in this world as possible.

lets hear some so...

igotone · 12-07-2009 1:43am

Maccattack wrote: »

lets hear some so...

Have a look back at the Songwriting forum, I've posted a few there recently

humberklog · 12-07-2009 2:48am

igotone wrote: »

Have a look back at the Songwriting forum, I've posted a few there recently

No music posted with those lyrics, unless I'm mistaken. So your statement about your ability is a little out there.

It's a better thread if there's some sort of reference point, something more tangible than lyrics to two songs.

Knon · 12-07-2009 7:38am

Almost completely forgotten, her songs are amazing: Jesus was a crossmaker, The Phoenix, There's a rugged road, The Vigilante.

If one of these songs got in a famous ad or film, we'd all know about her.

Also the guy who wrote 'In the rare oul' times'. What a great song that is! Gonna look up his wiki page.

igotone · 18-07-2009 12:58am

humberklog wrote: »

No music posted with those lyrics, unless I'm mistaken. So your statement about your ability is a little out there.

It's a better thread if there's some sort of reference point, something more tangible than lyrics to two songs.

Yep, you're right, I'm keeping pretty much in line with all others who post songs here too.

K-Ren · 18-07-2009 2:38am

I think Dylan is the main one, he's sort of the origin of many songwriters afterwards such as my other favourite, Lennon. My respect for Bono as a song writer has slowly been peeled away throughout the years, but at his Actung Baby prime, he was hard to touch. I think those 3 form the bedrock of what I like to listen to with regards to lyricists.

JohnnyQuid · 18-07-2009 9:32pm

It's so hard to pick just one when there are so many of them out there.

Clayton Stroope
Billie Joe Armstrong
J'Lostein
Chris Hendricks
Danny O'Donoghue

Dave! · 19-07-2009 3:47am

Can't believe I neglected to mention Paul Simon :eek:

He's one of my favourites of all time

Who is your favourite songwriter and why?

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