Any good songwriters since Lennon/McCartney?

[cantdrv55]

Can you name any songwriter(s) on the same level as Lennon/McCartney? I think separately they were good but together they were the best. I can't think of any other modern musician who's had as much influence on pop/rock music since the duo. What do you think?

I'd love to see McCartney help write songs for some up and coming young groups. Maybe spawn a Beatles II. Oasis, Squeeze and Jet has the sound down but something's lacking.

[dd74]

Bernie Taupin/Elton John, Robert Smith, Bryan Ferry, Morrissey, Black Francis, Sting, Bono...and tons of indie stuff.

The list can go on...

Go see "Love" at The Mirage in Las Vegas. It's very cool.

[Sonic dB]

This is a huge topic, open for much debate, discussion, opinion, speculation, innuendo...ok not much innuendo...but anyway...

The concept of what is considered "songwriting" is much too vague and far to convoluted compared to what it used to be.

In the old days of the 20th century, it was Gershwin, Rogers & Hammerstein or Hart, Cole Porter etc....
then came R & B (true R & B)... Elvis, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, the Beatles etc.

But the question remains...what is a great song?
Is it a 4 chord I-IV-V-I Rocker with a catchy melody thrown on top... is it a complex composition from Progressive rockers like Yes or ELP... is it making the asssess move like James Brown did... wowing the crowd with musicianship such as Rush or Yngwie.... rocking out with defiance like old Van Halen... dirty grooves of ACDC... uptempo Pop like Billy Joel, Elton John or 80s pop such as Hall and Oats... Roots of Heavy Mettle with Zepplin, Deep Purple... later Metal crush from Metallica etc. Critically acclaimed rockers such as Elvis Costello, new wavers like the Police...punkers the Sex Pistols or Ramones, etc. etc. the list goes on and on.

So with "whats a good song" being so debatable, and "whats a good songwriter" being equally debatable... there can be no clear cut winner to the question.

Certainly though, one would have to say that the Beatles were the most consistant in their quality, innovation (both songwriting and sonically in the studio) as well as consistant hit making, unstoppable influence on future generations of songwriters.... as well as influence and impact on the world as a whole... so yeah, if you had to pick one Lennon and McCartney would probably be as good of choice as any...

But some people think that Jeff Buckley was a genius and wrote the 2nd best LP of all time. I dont happen to be one of these...but it shows that opinions vary and are impossible to rate....

and Music was never intended to be a competition...unless one is competing for a scholarship or battle of the band...which in that case School of Rock got screwed and should have won.

[MichiganMat]

Stevie Wonder
Jeff Buckley - oh man, he was incredible
Elvis Costello
John Hiatt

[Nostril Cheese]

Nick Cave
Elvis Costello
Stevie Wonder
Joni Mitchell
Neil Young
Joe Strummer
Thom Yorke
Roger Waters

[stomachmonkey]

Agree with every mention so far.

Bruce (pre Born in the USA)

And of course must give props to a local boy, Billy Joel.

Also like Fiona Apple

[IROC]

What about Dolly Parton? Hasn't she written alot of songs? It seems I heard a number of "over 3000". And alot of them successful? I must admit I can't stomach country music, though.

I would throw Neil Peart's name in the hat, too. I am just now (after being a Rush fan for about 30 years) appreciating some of his lyrics.

Mike

[on-ramp]

Axl Rose.

"I see you standing there - you think you're so cool - why don you just......F*CK OFF".

instanst classic.

woooooo

[notfarnow]

Jagger:

"She blew my nose, and then she blew my mind"

In all seriousness, I think eddie vedder is a pretty good songwriter. Big, big fan of Gordon Lightfoot too, but he's not a newer songwriter.

[billwagnon]

Tiffani Ginn of the The Ginn Sisters... http://www.theginnsisters.com

[CJFusco]

+1 for...

Nick Cave
Elvis Costello
Joe Strummer
Thom Yorke
Roger Waters

And I'd like to add...

Nick Drake
Elliott Smith

[legion]

Ben Folds
Trent Reznor
Alex Kapranos
Billy Corgan (though everything after Mellon Collie stunk)

[CJFusco]

Originally posted by legion
Ben Folds

Ben Folds is a "fun" songwriter, but hardly a great one. His lyrics, although mostly from the heart, can be a little on the cheesy side.

[Jims5543]

Old - Black Eyed Peas - Pre Fergie
Emminem
Outkast

Most of you will blast these artists as crap. These are a few in the rap world that I would actually buy their albums.

I listen to Country, Rap, classical, pop, rock and everythign in between.

Some of Black Eyed Peas really old stuff, before they were big is great.

[legion]

Originally posted by CJFusco
Ben Folds is a "fun" songwriter, but hardly a great one. His lyrics, although mostly from the heart, can be a little on the cheesy side.

Some songs, yes.

But songs like "Brick" and "Smoke" have a lot going on below the surface.

Besides, you can't tell me that lines like:

"Rocky Racoon, went to his room" and songs like Maxwell Silver aren't a little silly.

[Dottore]

And then there's the greatest of them all: Bob Dylan.

[legion]

Bob Dylan is way overrated IMO.

[KFC911]

Originally posted by CJFusco
Ben Folds is a "fun" songwriter, but hardly a great one. His lyrics, although mostly from the heart, can be a little on the cheesy side.

Ben is talented... I used to work with his mom, and saw "The Ben Fold's Five" very first gig at a local bar where Ben & his brother used to hang out. (A trio btw: Ben on baby grand, an upright bass, and drums). I like Ben, and his music, but I agree...not one of the GREAT ones...that's lofty territory.

[Shuie]

Willie Nelson, Neil Young

[Dottore]

Originally posted by legion
Bob Dylan is way overrated IMO.

And way underrated IMHO!