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PrintableThis list might belong in the Non-Prince forum.
Where is Donald Fagen? Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder | |
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I must say im really happy about that list, although i would personally have Prince at number one.
I gives me great pleasure to know that he came way higher than Morrissey, and not because i dislike Morrissey, but because my big brother said i was mad for preferring Prince to him lol. Of course I'll undress in front of U!
Listen, 4 U naked I would dance a ballet Would that get U off? | |
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miguelbulcao said: kisscamille said: Well who knows what kind of rant your on, but I never said she hasn't written any songs. I just meant she doesn't deserve to be on the top 100 songwriters list. This is my opionion. If you like her and think she's a good songwriter, yippy for you. ok...this is going nowhere! Let's not fight about a stupid list!  I totally agree  | |
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An excellent list. I think Bob Dylan's right to the number one spot is beyond dispute. The amount of magical songs he's written is almost inhuman. Good to see Prince getting his due from people who obviously know their shit. There's one scandalous omission though ; Bobbie Gentry!
MJ is lucky to be included. I think there's a touch of tokenism going on there. "Look! We're not snobby! Here's MJ!" Also, Publc Enemy. It's controversial; but do we count them as songwriters? I don't know. | |
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whoknows said:[quote]An excellent list. I think Bob Dylan's right to the number one spot is beyond dispute. The amount of magical songs he's written is almost inhuman.
You got that right Whoknows. Dylan is a genius. It took me many years to appreciate him, but once I got it, I never looked back  | |
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miguelbulcao said: So where's Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Björk and Madonna?????
And why isn't MJ on the top 20 (at least!) Bowie should be the number 1 not Dylan! Kate Bush I agree with you about, Madonna is marginal, but Bjork and Tori Amos? Huh? | |
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Ummm...excuse me? Where is John Lennon? Trent Reznor? Maynard Keenan? D'Angelo? Sheila E.? Janet Jackson? Marilyn Manson? Lenny Kravitz? And on and on and on...
Once again, the music industry misses the mark by about a mile with their list. Although it's great that Prince is in the top 10, and Stevie Wonder and Pink Floyd are on the list, too, they have left off many key songwriters. Why must this keep happening? | |
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kisscamille said:[quote] whoknows said: An excellent list. I think Bob Dylan's right to the number one spot is beyond dispute. The amount of magical songs he's written is almost inhuman.
You got that right Whoknows. Dylan is a genius. It took me many years to appreciate him, but once I got it, I never looked back A lot of people never get past their initial impression and so never come to realise just what a force of nature this guy is. I know a lot of people who had completely the wrong idea about him who now love him because I sat them down and said "Listen to this! Listen to this!" Now they know more about him than I do. When he gets you he doesn't just get you, HE GETS YOU! Completely! | |
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1999n3121 said: Ummm...excuse me? Where is John Lennon? Trent Reznor? Maynard Keenan? D'Angelo? Sheila E.? Janet Jackson? Marilyn Manson? Lenny Kravitz? And on and on and on...
Once again, the music industry misses the mark by about a mile with their list. Although it's great that Prince is in the top 10, and Stevie Wonder and Pink Floyd are on the list, too, they have left off many key songwriters. Why must this keep happening?  | |
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whoknows said:[quote] kisscamille said: whoknows said: An excellent list. I think Bob Dylan's right to the number one spot is beyond dispute. The amount of magical songs he's written is almost inhuman.
You got that right Whoknows. Dylan is a genius. It took me many years to appreciate him, but once I got it, I never looked back A lot of people never get past their initial impression and so never come to realise just what a force of nature this guy is. I know a lot of people who had completely the wrong idea about him who now love him because I sat them down and said "Listen to this! Listen to this!" Now they know more about him than I do. When he gets you he doesn't just get you, HE GETS YOU! Completely! Yep, I know exactly what you mean. I used to think he couldn't sing and I hated his voice, but a friend lent me Blood on the Tracks and after one listen I had changed my mind. I don't own all his work, but I have quite a lot and I love everything. When I want to feel moved, I listen to Dylan. He sings with passion, feeling and truth. | |
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1999n3121 said: Ummm...excuse me? Where is John Lennon? Trent Reznor? Maynard Keenan? D'Angelo? Sheila E.? Janet Jackson? Marilyn Manson? Lenny Kravitz? And on and on and on...
Once again, the music industry misses the mark by about a mile with their list. Although it's great that Prince is in the top 10, and Stevie Wonder and Pink Floyd are on the list, too, they have left off many key songwriters. Why must this keep happening? Janet Jackson? You're kidding, aren't you? I'll give you Lennon, but not JJ and not Sheila either WTF! | |
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1999n3121 said: Ummm...excuse me? Where is John Lennon? Trent Reznor? Maynard Keenan? D'Angelo? Sheila E.? Janet Jackson? Marilyn Manson? Lenny Kravitz? And on and on and on...
Once again, the music industry misses the mark by about a mile with their list. Although it's great that Prince is in the top 10, and Stevie Wonder and Pink Floyd are on the list, too, they have left off many key songwriters. Why must this keep happening? D'Angelo is my boy; I like Sheila E; Janet is cool and I can listen to Lenny and rock out a little...But come on???? They are not making this list...I'll give you Trent Reznor...By the way, John Lennon is not on the list because he's no longer with us...The list says Best "Living" songwriters.... [Edited 6/7/06 12:59pm] | |
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namepeace said: This list might belong in the Non-Prince forum.
Where is Donald Fagen? 
I sometimes wonder why people get on a Prince site just to give props to Madonna or MJ. | |
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Susann209 said:
I sometimes wonder why people get on a Prince site just to give props to Madonna or MJ. We seem to have a lot of knowledgeable music fans on this site, but you're right . . . Madonna and MJ have devoted constitutencies here. I don't think Madonna is a particularly remarkable songwriter, though she's written some popular songs. MJ is a better in that department. Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder | |
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namepeace said: Susann209 said:
I sometimes wonder why people get on a Prince site just to give props to Madonna or MJ. We seem to have a lot of knowledgeable music fans on this site, but you're right . . . Madonna and MJ have devoted constitutencies here. I don't think Madonna is a particularly remarkable songwriter, though she's written some popular songs. MJ is a better in that department. She's "co written" some popular songs. Funnily, the music completely changes depending on who she's working with. Remember "Love Song" from Like A Prayer? Strangely, it sounded a lot like Prince, but of course they both made an equal contribution. | |
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whoknows said: namepeace said: We seem to have a lot of knowledgeable music fans on this site, but you're right . . . Madonna and MJ have devoted constitutencies here. I don't think Madonna is a particularly remarkable songwriter, though she's written some popular songs. MJ is a better in that department. She's "co written" some popular songs. Funnily, the music completely changes depending on who she's working with. Remember "Love Song" from Like A Prayer? Strangely, it sounded a lot like Prince, but of course they both made an equal contribution. "She's CO-WRITTEN some popular songs." EXACTLY. Again, have ANY of Madonna's hit songs been written and composed SOLEY by her? | |
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Kind of interesting to see this sort of list... it's more meaningful that "Top 100 Albums" or whatever, which is pretty much a waste of time.
Dylan is #1, that's beyond dispute. You either know that, or else you're not familiar with his music. Dylan would still be #1 even if he'd never made a record, as other artists' recordings of his songs have sold in the tens of millions by now. Neil Young is alright, but frankly it's a joke that he's at #2. For one thing, his most famous records are basically Dylan impersonations. He's not exactly a virtuoso musicians (a few years ago he learned a 6th chord), and his voice grates on people. Springsteen... I think he's much better than Neil Young but putting him at #3 is too high. I would probably put Prince at #2 or #3. He's certainly the most talented individual (along with Dylan) in pop-music history, in my opinion. The songwriting is just so prolific, so accessible, and so cutting-edge at the same time. Joni Mitchell is right up there at the top. She should be #3 or #4. If you don't believe me, ask Prince. I think Stevie Wonder should be higher on the list. Only Dylan and McCartney have written more standards out of the top 15. As far as Michael Jackson and Madonna go.. is that a joke? As far as I know, the two big hits on Off The Wall were not written by him; nor was Beat It or Thriller (both pretty lame songs anyway). At least he did write some good pop hits, like Billie Jean and a few good ones on Bad, but the lyrics are all pretty lame and the guy doens't even play an instrument. Basically, he's a non-musician who's had about three or four huge albums in 15 years. Not prolific enough to be consided. The same applies to Madonna, except she's more prolific. But for both of them, who's going to care in 50 years? They were pure pop artists, meaning they defined the moment, which means they aren't going to last the test of time. Bjork is good, but her genre of music probably makes it hard to include her. Trippy, ambient music doesn't strike a lot of more conservative people as "songwriting" for some reason. Also, a lot of her stuff is collaborations with others. | |
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skyecute said: whoknows said: She's "co written" some popular songs. Funnily, the music completely changes depending on who she's working with. Remember "Love Song" from Like A Prayer? Strangely, it sounded a lot like Prince, but of course they both made an equal contribution. "She's CO-WRITTEN some popular songs." EXACTLY. Again, have ANY of Madonna's hit songs been written and composed SOLEY by her? I dunno. I was trying to give her some credit for whatever she's written, even though I don't think much of her as a singer or a songwriter. And who's she fooling with that guitar? Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder | |
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The fact Bowie is omitted is a sin in itself, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was the gretest Rockera ever devised and there is nothing you can fault about the classic songwriting on albums like Hunky Dory, The Man who sold the world, Ziggy, Station to Station, Low, Lodger and Scary Monsters and Supercreeps. Someone will pay for this sin.
And yes MJ deserves top 20, Thriller was a perfectly crafted album of pop songs. Saying Bob Dylan was the best is nothing new, I don't even like his down and out hippy beatnik nonsense much. 17 Years ago I made a commitment to Prince | |
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65980 said: Kind of interesting to see this sort of list... it's more meaningful that "Top 100 Albums" or whatever, which is pretty much a waste of time.
Dylan is #1, that's beyond dispute. You either know that, or else you're not familiar with his music. Dylan would still be #1 even if he'd never made a record, as other artists' recordings of his songs have sold in the tens of millions by now. Neil Young is alright, but frankly it's a joke that he's at #2. For one thing, his most famous records are basically Dylan impersonations. He's not exactly a virtuoso musicians (a few years ago he learned a 6th chord), and his voice grates on people. Springsteen... I think he's much better than Neil Young but putting him at #3 is too high. I would probably put Prince at #2 or #3. He's certainly the most talented individual (along with Dylan) in pop-music history, in my opinion. The songwriting is just so prolific, so accessible, and so cutting-edge at the same time. Joni Mitchell is right up there at the top. She should be #3 or #4. If you don't believe me, ask Prince. I think Stevie Wonder should be higher on the list. Only Dylan and McCartney have written more standards out of the top 15. As far as Michael Jackson and Madonna go.. is that a joke? As far as I know, the two big hits on Off The Wall were not written by him; nor was Beat It or Thriller (both pretty lame songs anyway). At least he did write some good pop hits, like Billie Jean and a few good ones on Bad, but the lyrics are all pretty lame and the guy doens't even play an instrument. Basically, he's a non-musician who's had about three or four huge albums in 15 years. Not prolific enough to be consided. The same applies to Madonna, except she's more prolific. But for both of them, who's going to care in 50 years? They were pure pop artists, meaning they defined the moment, which means they aren't going to last the test of time. Bjork is good, but her genre of music probably makes it hard to include her. Trippy, ambient music doesn't strike a lot of more conservative people as "songwriting" for some reason. Also, a lot of her stuff is collaborations with others. Correction: Beat it and Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough were written by Michael Jackson! Michael Jackson can also play instruments. About Madonna...she hasn't had hits since 1984 as we all know! Björk: Guess you are open minded enough to apreciate her! People also the same of Kate Bush... [Edited 6/8/06 3:23am] | |
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namepeace said: skyecute said: "She's CO-WRITTEN some popular songs." EXACTLY. Again, have ANY of Madonna's hit songs been written and composed SOLEY by her? I dunno. I was trying to give her some credit for whatever she's written, even though I don't think much of her as a singer or a songwriter. And who's she fooling with that guitar?  I heard it all before...
b][Edited 6/8/06 3:26am][/b] [Edited 6/8/06 4:18am] | |
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tane1976 said: The fact Bowie is omitted is a sin in itself, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was the gretest Rockera ever devised and there is nothing you can fault about the classic songwriting on albums like Hunky Dory, The Man who sold the world, Ziggy, Station to Station, Low, Lodger and Scary Monsters and Supercreeps. Someone will pay for this sin.
I agree 100% with you! | |
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miguelbulcao said: 65980 said: Kind of interesting to see this sort of list... it's more meaningful that "Top 100 Albums" or whatever, which is pretty much a waste of time.
Dylan is #1, that's beyond dispute. You either know that, or else you're not familiar with his music. Dylan would still be #1 even if he'd never made a record, as other artists' recordings of his songs have sold in the tens of millions by now. Neil Young is alright, but frankly it's a joke that he's at #2. For one thing, his most famous records are basically Dylan impersonations. He's not exactly a virtuoso musicians (a few years ago he learned a 6th chord), and his voice grates on people. Springsteen... I think he's much better than Neil Young but putting him at #3 is too high. I would probably put Prince at #2 or #3. He's certainly the most talented individual (along with Dylan) in pop-music history, in my opinion. The songwriting is just so prolific, so accessible, and so cutting-edge at the same time. Joni Mitchell is right up there at the top. She should be #3 or #4. If you don't believe me, ask Prince. I think Stevie Wonder should be higher on the list. Only Dylan and McCartney have written more standards out of the top 15. As far as Michael Jackson and Madonna go.. is that a joke? As far as I know, the two big hits on Off The Wall were not written by him; nor was Beat It or Thriller (both pretty lame songs anyway). At least he did write some good pop hits, like Billie Jean and a few good ones on Bad, but the lyrics are all pretty lame and the guy doens't even play an instrument. Basically, he's a non-musician who's had about three or four huge albums in 15 years. Not prolific enough to be consided. The same applies to Madonna, except she's more prolific. But for both of them, who's going to care in 50 years? They were pure pop artists, meaning they defined the moment, which means they aren't going to last the test of time. Bjork is good, but her genre of music probably makes it hard to include her. Trippy, ambient music doesn't strike a lot of more conservative people as "songwriting" for some reason. Also, a lot of her stuff is collaborations with others. Correction: Beat it and Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough were written by Michael Jackson! Michael Jackson can also play instruments. About Madonna...she hasn't had hits since 1984 as we all know! Björk: Guess you are open minded enough to apreciate her! People also the same of Kate Bush... [Edited 6/8/06 3:23am] The list is more about lyrical content rather than "Muzak" if it where any other liste mike would be pretty high on the list, but when it comes to lyrical content, i actually believe he deserves a higher number. Jackson is a good songwriter, but i their not deserving of being great. IMO his only good songs lyrically where Stranger in Moscow, Who Is It and Billy Jean... of course this is my opinion... but as a song writer myself... i can't say mike is one of my idols... he's a great arranger and musician, but song writer, no... "Skin Head , Dead Head, every body gone bad" baby garble... Bowie, another great song writer, i believe it's blasphemy he wasn't in... but this is just one persons list... make your own list if it'll make ya feel better 
The list is pretty decent, Dylan Def deserves number one... cause even if you don't like him musically, The mans song writer capabilities is phenominal just listen to the lyrics of every song on Highway 61 Revisited or Blonde on Blonde... And Neil Young just for "Cortez The Killer" deserves the number 2 spot I think prince needs to be higher on the list....  [Edited 6/8/06 4:23am] I am a Rail Road, Track Abandoned
With the Sunset forgetting, i ever Happened http://www.myspace.com/stolenmorning | |
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Housequake has this article.
Created by 50 journalists and musicians. http://www.pastemagazine.com/ By the way, that Madonna list, I know Lenny Kravitz wrote Justify My Love, even tho its still a crappy song [Edited 6/8/06 5:05am] | |
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miguelbulcao said: 65980 said: Kind of interesting to see this sort of list... it's more meaningful that "Top 100 Albums" or whatever, which is pretty much a waste of time.
Dylan is #1, that's beyond dispute. You either know that, or else you're not familiar with his music. Dylan would still be #1 even if he'd never made a record, as other artists' recordings of his songs have sold in the tens of millions by now. Neil Young is alright, but frankly it's a joke that he's at #2. For one thing, his most famous records are basically Dylan impersonations. He's not exactly a virtuoso musicians (a few years ago he learned a 6th chord), and his voice grates on people. Springsteen... I think he's much better than Neil Young but putting him at #3 is too high. I would probably put Prince at #2 or #3. He's certainly the most talented individual (along with Dylan) in pop-music history, in my opinion. The songwriting is just so prolific, so accessible, and so cutting-edge at the same time. Joni Mitchell is right up there at the top. She should be #3 or #4. If you don't believe me, ask Prince. I think Stevie Wonder should be higher on the list. Only Dylan and McCartney have written more standards out of the top 15. As far as Michael Jackson and Madonna go.. is that a joke? As far as I know, the two big hits on Off The Wall were not written by him; nor was Beat It or Thriller (both pretty lame songs anyway). At least he did write some good pop hits, like Billie Jean and a few good ones on Bad, but the lyrics are all pretty lame and the guy doens't even play an instrument. Basically, he's a non-musician who's had about three or four huge albums in 15 years. Not prolific enough to be consided. The same applies to Madonna, except she's more prolific. But for both of them, who's going to care in 50 years? They were pure pop artists, meaning they defined the moment, which means they aren't going to last the test of time. Bjork is good, but her genre of music probably makes it hard to include her. Trippy, ambient music doesn't strike a lot of more conservative people as "songwriting" for some reason. Also, a lot of her stuff is collaborations with others. Correction: Beat it and Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough were written by Michael Jackson! Michael Jackson can also play instruments. About Madonna...she hasn't had hits since 1984 as we all know! Björk: Guess you are open minded enough to apreciate her! People also the same of Kate Bush... [Edited 6/8/06 3:23am] Songs Written and Composed SOLEY by Michael Jackson INCLUDE(This is just a SMALL samplling): Billie Jean Beat It The Girl Is Mine Don't Stop Till You Get Enough Working Day and Night Bad Dirty Diana The Way You Make Me Feel Another Part Of Me Leave Me Alone Speed Demon Smooth Criminal In The Closet (I'm In Love With A)Beautiful Girl The Way That You Love Me That's What You Get For Being Polite Heartbreak Hotel/This Place Hotel Who Is It? Will You Be There? Little Susie Morphine They Don't Care About Us D.S. In The Back Black or White Heal The World Earth Song Stranger In Moscow Childhood On The Line | |
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Two other MAJOR songwriters who are unforgivably missing from this list. Laura Nyro and Townes Van Zandt. Kate Bush also, but again the biggest oversight is Bobbie Gentry. "Ode To Billie Joe" by itself would justify a place in the Top 20! Neil Young is too high on the list. So is David Bowie. He's made a big contribution to the story of rock, but purely as a songwriter he can't compare with the Paul Simons or even the Smokey Robinsons of this world. Or the Bob Marleys; where is he???? Also, while I love JB I can't say I consider him a great songwriter per se. Certainly a genius, but not particularly as a writer. | |
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blumer said: Housequake has this article.
Created by 50 journalists and musicians. http://www.pastemagazine.com/ By the way, that Madonna list, I know Lenny Kravitz wrote Justify My Love, even tho its still a crappy song
[Edited 6/8/06 5:05am] Actually Ingrid Chavez and Lenny Wrote it! Madonna only changed a verse  | |
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miguelbulcao said: I heard it all before...just an opinion, boss. Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016
Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder | |
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whoknows said: Two other MAJOR songwriters who are unforgivably missing from this list. Laura Nyro and Townes Van Zandt. Kate Bush also, but again the biggest oversight is Bobbie Gentry. "Ode To Billie Joe" by itself would justify a place in the Top 20! Neil Young is too high on the list. So is David Bowie. He's made a big contribution to the story of rock, but purely as a songwriter he can't compare with the Paul Simons or even the Smokey Robinsons of this world. Or the Bob Marleys; where is he???? Also, while I love JB I can't say I consider him a great songwriter per se. Certainly a genius, but not particularly as a writer.
I just realised Bob Marley's dead. So are Laura Nyro and Townes Van Zandt. Oh well, worth it just to give props to these guys. | |
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kisscamille said: whoknows said: A lot of people never get past their initial impression and so never come to realise just what a force of nature this guy is. I know a lot of people who had completely the wrong idea about him who now love him because I sat them down and said "Listen to this! Listen to this!" Now they know more about him than I do. When he gets you he doesn't just get you, HE GETS YOU! Completely! Yep, I know exactly what you mean. I used to think he couldn't sing and I hated his voice, but a friend lent me Blood on the Tracks and after one listen I had changed my mind. I don't own all his work, but I have quite a lot and I love everything. When I want to feel moved, I listen to Dylan. He sings with passion, feeling and truth. It just goes to show how primitive human beings still are. They see something for the first time, and then think that's the way it always will be. Or should I say primat-ive? | |
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