The 20 greatest lyricists...according to NME readers.

[Shaun]

I hate this ****ing magazine.

1. Leonard Cohen - average rating: 9.24
2. Matt Bellamy (Muse) - average rating: 8.84
3. Morrissey (The Smiths) - average rating: 7.90
4. Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) - average rating: 7.84
5. Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) - average rating: 7.41
6. Bob Dylan - average rating: 7.22
7. Brandon Flowers (The Killers) - average rating: 6.97
8. John Lennon - average rating: 6.86
9. Noel Gallagher (Oasis) - average rating: 6.72
10. Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) - average rating: 6.72

11. Richey Edwards (Manic Street Preachers) - average rating: 6.69
12. Ian Curtis (Joy Division) - average rating: 6.50
13. David Bowie - average rating: 6.34
14. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) - average rating: 6.30
15. Pete Doherty - 6.11
16. Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz) - 6.07
17. Johnny Cash - 6.07
18. Jim Morrison (The Doors) - 5.86
19. Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) - 5.74
20. Thom Yorke (Radiohead) - 5.67

---------------------------------------

MATT BELLAMY? GERARD WAY? BRANDON FLOWERS? REALLY? ABOVE DAVID BOWIE AND JOHN LENNON? **** OFF.

WHERE IS KATE BUSH. AND ELTON JOHN.

[Smithy]

I have heard of about 4 of them, so I hate it too :P

[Enid]

Gerard Way, lol.

[GypsyGoth]

WHERE IS KATE BUSH. AND ELTON JOHN.

Maybe they just did a boys list first.

[Shaun]

lmao

wait, in that case - what's Gerard Way doing there?

[Enid]

Remember this is NME readers, most of which consist of ******* and cvnts.

[Twilight]

i like Gerard Way,Matt Bellamy and Brandon Flowers, but ROFL their hardly the best lyricists ever.

[ChristmasNeeve]

haha, as much as I like Oasis Noel Gallagher??

She's Electric

She's electric
She's in a family full of eccentrics
She done things I never expected
And I need more time
She's got a sister
And god only knows how I've missed her
On the palm of her hand is a blister
And I need more time

And I want you to know
I've got my mind made up now
But I need more time
And I want you to say
Do you know what I'm saying?
But I need more ....
Coz I'll be you and you'll be me
There's lots and lots for us to see
There's lots and lots for us to do
She is electric, can I be electric too?

She's got a brother
We don't get on with one another
But I quite fancy her mother
And I think that she likes me
She's got a cousin
In fact she's got 'bout a dozen
She's got one in the oven
But it's nothing to do with me

And I want you to know
I've got my mind made up now
But I need more time
And I want you to say
Do you know what I'm saying?
But I need more ....
Coz I'll be you and you'll be me
There's lots and lots for us to see
There's lots and lots for us to do
She is electric, can I be electric too?

[InOne]

haha, as much as I like Oasis Noel Gallagher??

She's Electric

She's electric
She's in a family full of eccentrics
She done things I never expected
And I need more time
She's got a sister
And god only knows how I've missed her
On the palm of her hand is a blister
And I need more time

And I want you to know
I've got my mind made up now
But I need more time
And I want you to say
Do you know what I'm saying?
But I need more ....
Coz I'll be you and you'll be me
There's lots and lots for us to see
There's lots and lots for us to do
She is electric, can I be electric too?

She's got a brother
We don't get on with one another
But I quite fancy her mother
And I think that she likes me
She's got a cousin
In fact she's got 'bout a dozen
She's got one in the oven
But it's nothing to do with me

And I want you to know
I've got my mind made up now
But I need more time
And I want you to say
Do you know what I'm saying?
But I need more ....
Coz I'll be you and you'll be me
There's lots and lots for us to see
There's lots and lots for us to do
She is electric, can I be electric too?

You're making it seem like that's the only song he's written :rolleyes:

[Shaun]

haha, as much as I like Oasis Noel Gallagher??

She's Electric

She's electric
She's in a family full of eccentrics
She done things I never expected
And I need more time
She's got a sister
And god only knows how I've missed her
On the palm of her hand is a blister
And I need more time

And I want you to know
I've got my mind made up now
But I need more time
And I want you to say
Do you know what I'm saying?
But I need more ....
Coz I'll be you and you'll be me
There's lots and lots for us to see
There's lots and lots for us to do
She is electric, can I be electric too?

She's got a brother
We don't get on with one another
But I quite fancy her mother
And I think that she likes me
She's got a cousin
In fact she's got 'bout a dozen
She's got one in the oven
But it's nothing to do with me

And I want you to know
I've got my mind made up now
But I need more time
And I want you to say
Do you know what I'm saying?
But I need more ....
Coz I'll be you and you'll be me
There's lots and lots for us to see
There's lots and lots for us to do
She is electric, can I be electric too?

kind of glossing over Wonderwall, Don't Look Back In Anger, Live Forever, Champagne Supernova, Morning Glory, Acquiesce, Fade Away...

[teamandre]

never heard of any of them

[Shaun]

You've never heard of John Lennon, Bob Dylan or Noel Gallagher? Sure...

[ChristmasNeeve]

You're making it seem like that's the only song he's written :rolleyes:

I'm sorry but that one always jumps out in my head as really bad lyrics :joker:

[InOne]

I'm sorry but that one always jumps out in my head as really bad lyrics :joker:

There are alot worse lyrics lol and I like that song, it's quite a feel good tune

[KG.]

What?

WHERE IS KE$HA?

[Iceman]

alex turner?? a year ago i'd have been happy.....after that third album its quote funny, really changed my perspective of him.....

[ChristmasNeeve]

There are alot worse lyrics lol and I like that song, it's quite a feel good tune

I love that song! Just the lyrics are a bit bizarre :joker:

[Shaun]

What?

WHERE IS KE$HA?

She was joint 26th with Joni Mitchell.

[Stu]

Compare and contrast :

I hope some day you will join us, and the world will live as one.

Annnd ....

I'M NOT OKAY-AY-HEY-YEAH-AY-AY.

NME. Another reason for a healthy sense of misantrophy.

[CaraRawr]

I can understand Matt Bellamy but Gerard Way? Get real.

[Shaun]

You can understand Matt Bellamy second cara? *sharpens knife* :p

[InOne]

I was gonna say, Matt Bellamy is not that great. Muse are pretty overrated.

[Tom4784]

I hate this ****ing magazine.

1. Leonard Cohen - average rating: 9.24
2. Matt Bellamy (Muse) - average rating: 8.84
3. Morrissey (The Smiths) - average rating: 7.90
4. Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) - average rating: 7.84
5. Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) - average rating: 7.41
6. Bob Dylan - average rating: 7.22
7. Brandon Flowers (The Killers) - average rating: 6.97
8. John Lennon - average rating: 6.86
9. Noel Gallagher (Oasis) - average rating: 6.72
10. Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) - average rating: 6.72

11. Richey Edwards (Manic Street Preachers) - average rating: 6.69
12. Ian Curtis (Joy Division) - average rating: 6.50
13. David Bowie - average rating: 6.34
14. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) - average rating: 6.30
15. Pete Doherty - 6.11
16. Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz) - 6.07
17. Johnny Cash - 6.07
18. Jim Morrison (The Doors) - 5.86
19. Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) - 5.74
20. Thom Yorke (Radiohead) - 5.67

---------------------------------------

MATT BELLAMY? GERARD WAY? BRANDON FLOWERS? REALLY? ABOVE DAVID BOWIE AND JOHN LENNON? **** OFF.

WHERE IS KATE BUSH. AND ELTON JOHN.

I adore Muse but Matt shouldn't be that high and the fact Gerard Way is there is laughable. It's almost as though they got the two parts mixed up :laugh:

[CaraRawr]

You can understand Matt Bellamy second cara? *sharpens knife* :p

naaah, i can understand why he's on the list. :p I do agree, Bowie should be higher, he's a genius.

[setanta]

Well, at least they have a poet in at number 1.

[BB_Eye]

I love Leonard Cohen's first couple of albums, but "best lyricist ever"? WTF. A lot of his lyrics are full of beat generation cliches.

And Brandon Flowers is not even a competent musician, let alone a good lyricist.

And where is Mark E. Smith, Nick Drake, Liz Phair, Thurston Moore, etc?

Jarvis Cocker should be number 1. It's not even up for debate.

[setanta]

Yeah, Jarvis should be higher, but then I can't see Joni Mitchell or Nick Drake on the list, so I'm pi$$ed.

[BB_Eye]

Lol, I only took a brief look at the list at first. Just realised Gerard Way, Alex Turner and Noel Gallagher are in there. Kill me now.

[Deirdre]

I'm glad Alex Turner is there. Him and John Lennon are the only ones there that stand out to me as good lyricists.
But why are they all men?

[InOne]

I'm glad Alex Turner is there. Him and John Lennon are the only ones there that stand out to me as good lyricists.
But why are they all men?

Cos women are schyte

[Z]

I hate this ****ing magazine.

1. Leonard Cohen - average rating: 9.24
2. Matt Bellamy (Muse) - average rating: 8.84
3. Morrissey (The Smiths) - average rating: 7.90
4. Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) - average rating: 7.84
5. Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) - average rating: 7.41
6. Bob Dylan - average rating: 7.22
7. Brandon Flowers (The Killers) - average rating: 6.97
8. John Lennon - average rating: 6.86
9. Noel Gallagher (Oasis) - average rating: 6.72
10. Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) - average rating: 6.72

11. Richey Edwards (Manic Street Preachers) - average rating: 6.69
12. Ian Curtis (Joy Division) - average rating: 6.50
13. David Bowie - average rating: 6.34
14. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) - average rating: 6.30
15. Pete Doherty - 6.11
16. Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz) - 6.07
17. Johnny Cash - 6.07
18. Jim Morrison (The Doors) - 5.86
19. Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) - 5.74
20. Thom Yorke (Radiohead) - 5.67

---------------------------------------

MATT BELLAMY? GERARD WAY? BRANDON FLOWERS? REALLY? ABOVE DAVID BOWIE AND JOHN LENNON? **** OFF.

WHERE IS KATE BUSH. AND ELTON JOHN.


AND WHERE IS SIOBHAN DONAGHY?

LOL jk


NME, once again, showing why it is not to be trusted on anything ever.

[AJ.]

What a joke.

[Ramsay]

lol Leonard Cohen is playing in my town in a few weeks

[Jessica.]

I have actually heard of 9 of them
*is surprised*

[setanta]

lol Leonard Cohen is playing in my town in a few weeks

Go. He's magic. Although I went to his tribute tour thingy, where loadsa artists reinterpreted his songs. You had people like Lou Reed, Antony, Nick Cave and Beth Orton playing. Class stuff.

[MrGaryy]

wtf? Not a single female?

[setanta]

wtf? Not a single female?

Yep, Joni should have been up there. Ridiculous.

[MrGaryy]

Yep, Joni should have been up there. Ridiculous.

Some of the greatest ever lyricists have been female including the aforementioned Joni. I also think Linda Perry deserves a mention.

[teabag.]

you lot seem to have no sense of good music and what a good lyricist is..
matt belamy shouldn't be so high though but i'm not surprised as NME readers seem to bum him and muse..
Ian curtis and damon albarn should be way higher, so should johnny cash