1sotrue said:

Diane Warren Babyface Billy Joel John Mellencamp Marvin Gaye Berry Gordy Mariah Carey Freddy Mercury Carly Simon Bob Dylan Of course the sleuth other songwriters already posted

I strongly considered Babyface, Mellencamp and Marvin Gaye.

I knew Diane Warren would be on someone's list but I associate her with shallow and Babyface with formulaic.

SUPRMAN said:

1sotrue said:

Diane Warren Babyface Billy Joel John Mellencamp Marvin Gaye Berry Gordy Mariah Carey Freddy Mercury Carly Simon Bob Dylan Of course the sleuth other songwriters already posted

I strongly considered Babyface, Mellencamp and Marvin Gaye.

I knew Diane Warren would be on someone's list but I associate her with shallow and Babyface with formulaic.

Shallow? What do you mean by that? I think she's written some great loves songs over the years. Yet very few people know who she is.

1sotrue said:

SUPRMAN said:

I strongly considered Babyface, Mellencamp and Marvin Gaye.

I knew Diane Warren would be on someone's list but I associate her with shallow and Babyface with formulaic.

Shallow? What do you mean by that? I think she's written some great loves songs over the years. Yet very few people know who she is.

Um, who doesn't know who Diane Warren is?

Are you kidding me?! I don't have a top ten, there are too many deserving people and really I wouldn't get to the 1960's until . . . 25 names down the line at best.

George & Ira Gershwin

Lorenz Hart

Yip Harburg

Oscar Hammerstein

Billy Strayhorn

Ray Charles

Curtis Mayfield

Smokey Robinson

Carolel King

Thomas A. Dosery

Johnny Mercer

yeah I know it's 11, i couldn't help it.

1sotrue said:

SUPRMAN said:

I strongly considered Babyface, Mellencamp and Marvin Gaye.

I knew Diane Warren would be on someone's list but I associate her with shallow and Babyface with formulaic.

Shallow? What do you mean by that? I think she's written some great loves songs over the years. Yet very few people know who she is.

She's written a lot of chart topping schmaltz.

But that's just my opinion.

I have no idea what she's written that has never been performed or recorded admittedly.

Truth be told Peabo Bryson and Berry White wrote some smooth lyrics.

• Ed Cobb
• Eddie Holland (the lyricist behind HDH)
• Marvin Gaye
• Curtis Mayfield
• Gerry Goffin
• Ellie Greenwich
• Cynthia Weil
• Smokey Robinson (and The Miracles)
• Otis Blackwell
• Richard Marx
• Freddie Mercury
• David Bowie
• Bernie Taupin
• Jim Steinman
• Todd Rundgren
• Carole King
• Cole Porter
• Lennon/McCartney
• Jagger/Richards
• Burt Bacharach/Hal David
• Linda Creed
• McFadden & Whitehead
• Isley-Jasper-Isley (Ernie, Chris & Marvin)
• Sylvia Robinson
• Ike Turner
• Prince
• Barrett Strong/Norman Whitfield
• Laura Nyro
• Nona Hendryx
• Ashford & Simpson

...I could go all night and yes I cheated so what?

[Edited 3/13/11 19:04pm]

james taylor

• Bob Dylan
• Tom Waits
• Joe Strummer
• Harry Nilsson
• Allen Toussaint
• James Taylor
• Donny Hathaway
• Michael Jackson
• Deke Richards
• Freddie Perren
• Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds
• Lionel Richie
• Phil Collins
• John Bettis
• Richard Carpenter
• Bunny Sigler

• Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
• Isaac Hayes & David Porter
• Sam Cooke
• Berry Gordy
• Gwen Gordy
• Harvey Fuqua
• Billy "Roquel" Davis
• Gershwin
• Hammerstein & Rodgers
• Mick Hucknall
• George Michael

Billy Preston & Donny Hathoway

Timmy84 said:

• Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
• Isaac Hayes & David Porter
• Sam Cooke
• Berry Gordy
• Gwen Gordy
• Harvey Fuqua
• Billy "Roquel" Davis
• Gershwin
• Hammerstein & Rodgers
• Mick Hucknall
• George Michael

for sure...

Fiona Apple is the one that really jumps out at me right now - her lyrics are regularly peppered with phrases like :

"Conversation once colored by esteem
Became dialogue as a diagram of a play for blood
Took a vacation, my palate got clean
Now I can taste your agenda
While you're spittting your cud

And it doesn't make sense
I should fall for the kingcraft
of a meritless crown
No, it doesn't seem right
To take information
Given at close range
For the gag
And the bind
And the ammunition round"

"Adagio breezes fill my skin with sudden red"

And my favorites :

"Chuggin' along to the song that belongs to the shifting of gears"

"My derring-do allows me to
Dance the rigadoon around you
But by the time I'm close to you
I lose my desideratum"

"My pretty mouth will frame the phrases that will disprove your faith in man"

She's an absolute beast when it comes to lyrics.

[Edited 3/14/11 12:23pm]

FrenchGuy said:

When I was younger I never paid much attetion to the lyrics, I was more into the "music" itself... But for the past few years i've been listening to the words and some songwriters are great poets...

Her's my top 10 when it comes to songwriters (lyrics), in no particular order:

- Tom Waits

- Bob Dylan

- Bob Marely

- PJ Harvey

- Eminem

- Tupac

- David Bowie

- Trent reznor

- Prince ()

- Lauryn Hill

- Lil wayne (kidding )

... Who are your favorite songwriters?

Quotes from your favorite songs are welcome

...Trent Reznor? Really?

I love NIN. I do. Reznor manages to come up with some of the best music to me. But his lyrics, have always been his weak-spot imo. Barring stuff like "Reptile" where he really somehow managed to pull epic shit out of his ass .

-siedah garrett

-glenn ballard

-bill withers

Michael Jackson

Janet Jackson

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

Rod Temperton

The Corporation

Gamble & Huff

Prince

John Lennon

Diane Warren

Mariah Carey

others:

Lauryn Hill

Salt N Pepa

Left Eye

Eminem

Tupac

Stevie Wonder

[Edited 3/15/11 22:45pm]

This is difficult! I do know these are my favorites:

Neil Finn

Smokey Robinson

Stevie Wonder

Marvin Gaye