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PrintableHere is my top 10:
The Top 10 10.Smokey Robinson 9. Ohio Players 8. Elton John/Bernie Taupin 7. Bee Gees 6. Stevie Wonder 5. Paul McCartney 4. Peter Gabriel 3. P-Funk 2. Stevie Wonder 1. Prince | |
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Never heard these songs really. BLowing in the Wind yes but never liked it. Knockin on Heaven's door only because of Clapton or whoever covered it.  |
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Dewrede said: alandail said: I know - they should be in the top 10, more surprising is how could they possibly get to 50 and still not have Barry Gibb in there somewhere. They completely forgot John Lennon too. And how is Bruce Springstein #3? Yes agreed However , i think Bruce Springsteen is a very good song writer Springsteen is a fine songwriter, but he's no Barry Gibb, and he's not one of the 10 best living songwriters. Some Barry Gibb, the songwriter, trivia. Once 4 songs he wrote were in the top 5 at the same time. Over a 37 week stretch in 1977/78, 7 songs he wrote hit #1, holding that spot for 27 of those 37 weeks, including 4 consecutive songs over a 15 week period. An 8th song peaked at #3 with two other Gibb songs keeping it out of #1 - and that song was the 13th best selling song of the decade. |
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Graycap23 said: Here is my top 10:
The Top 10 10.Smokey Robinson 9. Ohio Players 8. Elton John/Bernie Taupin 7. Bee Gees 6. Stevie Wonder 5. Paul McCartney 4. Peter Gabriel 3. P-Funk 2. Stevie Wonder 1. Prince I like it, Prince #1, and Stevie Wonder good enough for two spots (2 and 6)... |
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GaryMF said: Never heard these songs really. BLowing in the Wind yes but never liked it. Knockin on Heaven's door only because of Clapton or whoever covered it.
That song's been covered by over a hundred different artists, including Guns & Roses, Randy Crawford, and Wyclef Jean.  @ you not knowing "All Along The Watchtower". Jimi Hendrix's cover of that is one of his most famous recordings, and Prince sang it at the Superbowl.
btw, "Sarah" is not actually one of his better known songs. I just included that one 'cos it sounds so good. [Edited 6/19/08 2:16am] “The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.”
- Thomas Jefferson | |
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alandail said: Graycap23 said: Here is my top 10:
The Top 10 10.Smokey Robinson 9. Ohio Players 8. Elton John/Bernie Taupin 7. Bee Gees 6. Stevie Wonder 5. Paul McCartney 4. Peter Gabriel 3. P-Funk 2. Stevie Wonder 1. Prince I like it, Prince #1, and Stevie Wonder good enough for two spots (2 and 6)... Stevie for his own material.....Stevie 4 others  | |
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Whoa, whoa, whoa. As someone else pointed out, where the hell is Lennon?!
Prince definitely deserves a spot on this list, and I would have rated him higher, naturally. I am consistently championing his songs to my English professors as up there with the best poetry. I'm able to argue a convincing case time and again. | |
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Haley said: Whoa, whoa, whoa. As someone else pointed out, where the hell is Lennon?!
Prince definitely deserves a spot on this list, and I would have rated him higher, naturally. I am consistently championing his songs to my English professors as up there with the best poetry. I'm able to argue a convincing case time and again. You didn't read through the whole thread. This is a list of the best living songwriters. The world is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.
"You still wanna take me to prison...just because I won't trade humanity for patriotism." | |
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Thank you for the clarification! My outrage made me impulsive and obviously not details oriented. Haha. I feel much better now. | |
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Graycap23 said: alandail said: I like it, Prince #1, and Stevie Wonder good enough for two spots (2 and 6)... Stevie for his own material.....Stevie 4 others Good list. Can you imagine anyone else on the original list creating the unique brilliance that is "When Dove's Cry", "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "Dorothy Parker"? And no living artist has had the creative run that Stevie had from 1970-1976. I think it rivals any great period from Miles, Coltrane, JB, Gaye, Beatles. | |
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midnightmover said: GaryMF said: Never heard these songs really. BLowing in the Wind yes but never liked it. Knockin on Heaven's door only because of Clapton or whoever covered it.
That song's been covered by over a hundred different artists, including Guns & Roses, Randy Crawford, and Wyclef Jean. @ you not knowing "All Along The Watchtower". Jimi Hendrix's cover of that is one of his most famous recordings, and Prince sang it at the Superbowl.
btw, "Sarah" is not actually one of his better known songs. I just included that one 'cos it sounds so good. [Edited 6/19/08 2:16am] HEAVEN"S DOOR: Yeah i've heard it from covers WATCHTOWER: Never heard of it until Prince did it, and assumed it was some JW stuff. Still don't really get what's so great about it SARA: Sounded very whiney. don't really get what's so great about the lyrics. Sorry. And so what is so great about Neil Young? Another overheyped "rocker". The people who deserve to be on this list: Prince, Stevie, Ashford & Simpson, Gamble & Huff, Donny Hathaway, ..... and..... very seriously..... (I know people will go off topic here but) MARIAH. She writes all her own stuff (admitedly with various partners) but is very poetic and musical,, specifically her pre-Emancipation of Mimi stuff. Even David Foster and Dianne Warren probably should be on the top 50. [Edited 6/19/08 20:11pm] |
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what about The Notorious BIG!!!?! lol | |
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GaryMF said: midnightmover said: That song's been covered by over a hundred different artists, including Guns & Roses, Randy Crawford, and Wyclef Jean. @ you not knowing "All Along The Watchtower". Jimi Hendrix's cover of that is one of his most famous recordings, and Prince sang it at the Superbowl.
btw, "Sarah" is not actually one of his better known songs. I just included that one 'cos it sounds so good. [Edited 6/19/08 2:16am] HEAVEN"S DOOR: Yeah i've heard it from covers WATCHTOWER: Never heard of it until Prince did it, and assumed it was some JW stuff. Still don't really get what's so great about it SARA: Sounded very whiney. don't really get what's so great about the lyrics. Sorry. And so what is so great about Neil Young? Another overheyped "rocker". The people who deserve to be on this list: Prince, Stevie, Ashford & Simpson, Gamble & Huff, Donny Hathaway, ..... and..... very seriously..... (I know people will go off topic here but) MARIAH. She writes all her own stuff (admitedly with various partners) but is very poetic and musical,, specifically her pre-Emancipation of Mimi stuff. Even David Foster and Dianne Warren probably should be on the top 50. [Edited 6/19/08 20:11pm] Okaaaay. You don't think Dylan should be on here, but you think Mariah Carey and Diane Warren should. I just realised what your level is. I'm sorry for taking up your time.“The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.”
- Thomas Jefferson | |
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Moving on, here are some "old man Bob" tracks. Unlike Prince, he carried on producing great works as the decades rolled by. This particular one ain't exactly "Happy Day", so I recommend the shallow folks skip it. "Not Dark Yet" from 1997. I love the lines "I was born here and I'll die here, against my will/ I know it looks like I'm moving, but I'm standing still".
And another late masterpiece. "Most of the Time" from 1989. This is more a Prince theme. Picking over the pieces of a relationship that fell apart. Lyrically, it's a monster. Again, it's not one for the Billboard Hot 100 crowd, but if you crave something a bit deeper than that, Bob is your man. [Edited 6/20/08 5:39am] “The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.”
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* [Edited 6/20/08 4:47am] “The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.”
- Thomas Jefferson | |
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mirrorbestfriend said: paste magazine said:
The Top 10 10. Prince 9. Joni Mitchell 8. Elvis Costello 7. Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys) 6. Leonard Cohen 5. Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings) 4. Tom Waits & Kathleen Brennan 3. Bruce Springsteen 2. Neil Young (Buffalo Sprinfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) 1. Bob Dylan do u agree with the order? I'd rank Van Morrison above Costello, Mitchell & Prince. | |
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Riverpoet31 said: This list was a travesty for the low and non-existent representation of African-Americans. How can Smokey, Stevie, Curtis Mayfield be shut out of the top ten? And no James Brown on the list...please.
Should political correctness be an issue when compiling a list like this? I don't think so. I really think some afro-americans here are to quickly coming up with the 'racism' card. James Brown is a great riff-producer (he belongs in the top 10 of all times), but a top 10-songwriter? naaah Smokey and Curtis did some great things in their respective fields (romantic ballads and orchestrated soul-funk) but in no way they are as versatile and influential as Neil Young and Paul McCartney. And, Jimi Hendrix, is a groove-and guitarmaster, but not a songwriter in the first place. The weak spot in the top 10 IMO is Elvis Costello, he is a good songwriter, but definitely not as good as John Lennon, who really should be in that top 10. Agree absolutely 100%  | |
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Thanks, Flaming Raindrop.
But, by the way, i learned that it is a list of 'living' songwriters, so that explains John Lennon not being on it. Some other remarks: Van Morrison belongs higher in that list i think. And why isn't Sly Stone in that list? The fact he is 'hiding' in LA, doesnt mean he is dead allready.  | |
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Again the list is for songwriters NOT TAKING DIRT NAPS! | |
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midnightmover said: Okaaaay. You don't think Dylan should be on here, but you think Mariah Carey and Diane Warren should.
I just realised what your level is. I'm sorry for taking up your time.I don't love Dianne Warren but she did know how to write cathcy pop ballads that became hits. And say want you want about how Mariah dresses or chooses to portray herself nowadays, but if you ever listened to her first few albums, including the non-single tracks, she is a great songwriter. I'm not talking about Loverboy or Touch My Body. But tracks like Vanishing, Outside, Fly Like A Bird, Lead The Way, Underneath the Stars..... all beautiful songs both musically and lyrically. And PS you can drop the snottiness about "level". Jsut cuz I don't get Dylan's alleged "genius" doesn't put me on any level above or below anyone else. [Edited 6/20/08 19:25pm] |
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FlamingRaindrop said: Riverpoet31 said: Should political correctness be an issue when compiling a list like this? I don't think so. I really think some afro-americans here are to quickly coming up with the 'racism' card. James Brown is a great riff-producer (he belongs in the top 10 of all times), but a top 10-songwriter? naaah Smokey and Curtis did some great things in their respective fields (romantic ballads and orchestrated soul-funk) but in no way they are as versatile and influential as Neil Young and Paul McCartney. And, Jimi Hendrix, is a groove-and guitarmaster, but not a songwriter in the first place. The weak spot in the top 10 IMO is Elvis Costello, he is a good songwriter, but definitely not as good as John Lennon, who really should be in that top 10. Agree absolutely 100% He's wrong about Hendrix though. Jimi wrote "Purple Haze", "The Wind Cries Mary", and quite a few other great songs. “The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.”
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Someone please explain to me why Stevie Wonder isn't in the top 10 or at least the top 5? | |
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YOU KNOW SOMETHINGS WRONG WITH THE LIST WHEN JOHN LENNON ISN'T EVEN IN THE TOP 50!!!
HELLO??? THE BEATLES??? formandforum | |
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formandforum said: YOU KNOW SOMETHINGS WRONG WITH THE LIST WHEN JOHN LENNON ISN'T EVEN IN THE TOP 50!!!
HELLO??? THE BEATLES??? he's dead | |
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midnightmover said: FlamingRaindrop said: Agree absolutely 100% He's wrong about Hendrix though. Jimi wrote "Purple Haze", "The Wind Cries Mary", and quite a few other great songs. Little Wing... + Voodoo Chile Castles Made of Sand "We've never been able to pull off a funk number"
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prince hasnt wrote a great song since the most beautiful girl | |
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jdcxc said: Graycap23 said: Stevie for his own material.....Stevie 4 others Good list. Can you imagine anyone else on the original list creating the unique brilliance that is "When Dove's Cry", "If I Was Your Girlfriend", "Dorothy Parker"? And no living artist has had the creative run that Stevie had from 1970-1976. I think it rivals any great period from Miles, Coltrane, JB, Gaye, Beatles. I think Sting is one of the greatest living songwriters also. I don't want you to think like me. I just want you to think. |
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I totally forgot about Neil Diamond who should be close to the top 10 as well. Even his new album at age 67 is better than most new acts can come up with. Andrew Lloyd Webber should also be up there on this list.
I also do not understand the Bob Dylan reverence. I love "The Hurricane", which I think is his best song, but he had help writing that one. He has a few memorable songs in his career, "Like a Rolling Stone", "All Along the Watchtower" and "Stairway To Heaven". Nothing compared to the Brothers Gibb, Bruce Springsteen, or Prince. Sting is also a great songwriter and deserves to be high up on the list. | |
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How do you all define great songwriting? Is it a catchy pop melody, brilliant/clever/deep verse, genre defying sound, rythmically complex beat, revolutionary/progressive influence or creating standards? I would argue that Prince has been all of these.
And what about Bjork, PJ Harvey, Meshell, Fiona, Rufus Wainwright, Al Green/Willie Mitchell - to throw some more names into the debate. The Sly vote was brilliant. He may not be adding anything new to the argument but neither is McCartney or most of the other names on the list. | |
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jdcxc said: How do you all define great songwriting? Is it a catchy pop melody, brilliant/clever/deep verse, genre defying sound, rythmically complex beat, revolutionary/progressive influence or creating standards? I would argue that Prince has been all of these.
And what about Bjork, PJ Harvey, Meshell, Fiona, Rufus Wainwright, Al Green/Willie Mitchell - to throw some more names into the debate. The Sly vote was brilliant. He may not be adding anything new to the argument but neither is McCartney or most of the other names on the list. 
Is it a catchy pop melody, brilliant/clever/deep verse, genre defying sound, rythmically complex beat, revolutionary/progressive influence or creating standards? I would argue that Prince has been all of these. ..And some good ol' rock n roll. follow the leader follow the leader | |
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