Genius songwriters.
 

Who are your favourites?

I think that Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy is a brilliant songwriter, if you listen to any of their albums you can see why I say that.

Brandon Flowers (the frontman of The Killers).

I think you can guess the list of names I'd throw out :tongue:

Paul McCartney, John Lennon, David Bowie, Noel Gallagher, Kate Bush, Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Mick Jagger/Keith Richards, Joe Strummer (The Clash), Ray Davies (The Kinks), Neil Tenant/Chris Lowe (Pet Shop Boys).

Still writing....Brandon Flowers, Chris Martin, Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams.

Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen

Morrissey.

Brian Wilson
Lennon/McCartney
John Cale
Nick Drake
Jarvis Cocker

Oh yeah, can't forget Morrissey. :tongue:

Plus, Iggy Pop, Brian Eno and Frank Zappa

Richard Ashcroft

Leona Lewis :)

The Rev.
Without a fucking doubt.

This song is crazy, but a masterpiece with godly lyrics. If you don't think this is a good song, I feel sorry for you. :L



RIP Rev, foREVer.

she doesn't write. she can't with those ****ing hooves.

amazing.

Madonna has written alot of tracks.

Oh please, get the **** out isn't a insult.

Kurt Kobain, Bob Marley, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Stevie Wonder, Nick Cave

Gershwin was more of a composer than a songwriter. I suppose he did write some musicals though... sort of like Bernstein.

Some more...

Tom Waits
Mark E. Smith
Thurston Moore
Quincey Jones
Phil Spector

I was thinking of Bernstein and Rodgers and Hammerstein. I included Gershwin just for Summertime from Porgy and Bess

Cant believe no one mentioned Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.

I listened to Springsteen non-stop a few years back, but have grown cold towards him more recently. His style of music is too earnest and bombastic for my liking.

Neil Young I really respect and you can really tell the influence he had on the likes of Mercury Rev and the Flaming Lips, but I simply haven't heard enough of his stuff.

I see your point. Springsteens rock and roll songs can be a bit much but I'd hardly call Nebraska bombastic.

Of all the people mentioned in this thread I think Neil Young should have been one of the first. Frankly I think its a joke that anyone would cal Robbie Williams or Leona Lewis a 'genius' songwriter. Neil Young has been writing songs since the 60's and can still show these young 'uns how its done.

Lady GaGa and Taylor Swift.

Perhaps not, but it has a certain rugged seriousness to it which is not for everyone, me included.

I'm sure accusations of musical snobbery will come rolling in if I said Robbie Williams is a mediocre songwriter (which he is) so I'll just say each to their own, but I think people have to be careful about using the word 'genius' too lightly. He owes most of his biggest chart successes to Guy Chambers and even those songs left a lot to be desired. In fact, songs like "Rudebox" could make Williams a candidate for one of the all time worst songwriters.

MJ
GaGa
Lily Allen (Probably not a 'genius' as such but still a talented writer)

Beat me to it.