The Greatest Of Lyricists.
Last night Ian and I, along with Childish and two of my other friends, went skiing. (That was a lot of fun, but it’s not what I’m going to write about.)
On the way home we were talking about a lot of stuff. One of our conversations was interesting enough to be blogworthy. We were trying to list some of the best lyricists ever. Here is a list of a few of them that we came up with:
Jason Latshaw (The Look Machine) I had to put that one first.
Chris Roe (The Ataris)
Adam Duritz (The Counting Crows)
Arlo Guthrie (Arlo Guthrie)
Bono (U2)
Ben Herper (Ben Harper)
Rich Mullins (Rich Mullins) Memorial To Rich Mullins
Christian Lindskog Blindside
Geoff Rickly (Thursday)
Nathan Gray (Boysetsfire)
That list is just a starter. I'm tired of writing HTML stuff. You should comment and write your own list of best lyricists.
Who are some of the great lyricists that I left out?
posted by Shane - Band Member at 2/12/2005 12:40:00 PM
30 Comments:
I got a haircut :-) from halfway down my butt to above my shoulders... bangs... doesn't hang over ears short... yup yup <3 to all
uh...... Jeremy Camp rockifies in the lyrics dept...
I have to agree with all of those...especially The Ataris and Christian from Blindside...Oh man how i love that song Pitiful. Anyways I think Rodger Waters from Pink Floyd and Thome Yorke from Radiohead make some AWESOME songs, but thats just me. My brother just said what about Bob Dylan...yea him too. Ok well im out
-Someone loves thursday a whole bunches! lolz I love them too so props to Geoff....TUCKER ROCKS MY WORLD!!!
Poncho, You have mentioned several times that you saw thursday in concert (they put on a great show don't they)? Where and when did you see them?
Some notables that I definitely noticed being left off the list:
Kurt Cobain from Nirvana
Michael Stipe from REM
Lennon/McCartney
Eminem
I'd have to say Eminem. I've never heard anyone express themselves as well as he does.
I'd have to agree with Sha'uri.
Oh, and I like the "Dude of Life". (Google it. You'll see.)
Hahaha! Oh man you won't believe it Collin but i was at the same concert as you! Shane told me, it was kinda freaky that i didnt see you guys. I was like one of the first on the line...weird right? Yea during the concert i was standing in the front on the left of the stage...where were you guys? I heard you went crowd surfing how cool! lolz....and yes that had to be one of the best shows to me!
Btw erm i cant really agree with eminem...err ok he writes ok songs but i dont think hes the best.
I really like Fernando Ortega for really mediative lyrics, I like Jimmy Eat World's lyrics, and I like Dan from Jars of Clay too. And how about Kermit the Frog? I'm surprised no one's mentioned him yet - he's got a lot of great hits!
pocho, we were right in the same place at that concert!!! That is, until Thursday started playing and the crowd went crazy. Then we were all over the place.
I love almost all of the writers mentioned in the comments above.
I think there are several different kinds of great writers. Some, like Adam Duritz, produce a complete package where the words, the melodies, and the subtleties of the music all come together to form something beautiful. If you were to read the words without the music, though, they wouldn't have the same impact. They are perhaps my favorite band though, because of the end result of the combined efforts of so many talented people.
Other lyricists write so strongly about something that the music almost takes away from the power of the words. For example, Zach DeLaRocha from Rage Against the Machine is one of the most passionate political and humanitarian writers I know of, but Rage's music is so catchy, so talented, so heavy, and so fun, that you often can't hear all of the words. You don't realizing that you are rockin' out to a song about the genocide of an entire people group.
Other writers tell stories and the music, while very good, is secondary to the poetic portrayal of an event and the emotions associated with it. You see that a lot in folk music. I have to say that some of my all time favorite lyricists fall into that category. James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, Dar Williams, Cat Stevens, the Indigo Girls, John Denver, and Robert Earl Keen... all of them are amazing writers. Also, I know she is not folk, but Tori Amos is incredible.
Darn thing erased my comment lolz. Anyways Collin thats crazy!!! Well i was more to the center and i made a mistake i was on the right of the stage sorta center whoops but wow! Now that i think hard i swear i told my friend that a guy in the crowd looked liked Ian and it probably was but i didnt go investigate. Stupid me huh? ha wow lolz but I almost got hit by someone when Thursday started up...then i moved to the center where i got even more crushed. Tis ok I SAW TUCKER!!! *faints* lolz i love that guy. Ok and yes i agree with you about Rage aganist the machine. Although they were never my fav band, they made awesomely cool lyrics. The funny thing is my mom has their cd and she doesnt know why lolz. Ok well stay cool look machiners and all blogger peoples
I once watched a doccumentary on Rage Against the Machine with my grandmother. She really liked them by the end of the program. Given the language they use and the style of music they play, it was a bit of a surprise, but, then again, they were really all about helping people and making a positive difference in the world. Even aside from likeing RATM, my Grandma is awesome.
I've always thought Blur put out some great lyrics. Like in Song 2...
WOO hoo!
WhenIfeelshomethinatall,
WOO hoo!
Anallinsulinfeedlaws
WOO hoo!
WelloneyeandImadeit
All of the times that I'm never sure what I need ya
Pleased to meet ya...
[Note: the above lyrics are not the real lyrics to Song 2 and the Snake Man does know the real words. Sucka!]
snakeman did you mean to write
Anal insulin feed laws... (sorry ian if you read this :P)ha i crack myself up, and yes i know i left out an L...
Who is "Ben Herper" :-)
I like Fernando too, I like any musician who can mix two languages so well, the way he mixes spanish into his songs is beautiful. And he just has such a way of evoking the wonder of God's creation.
Every grandmother in the world is cool. peace up to the g'mas!! Ha sorry...i wish i had one that at least spoke english. They don't understand me literally lolz so all i can do while over their house is sit and nodd. Ah language barriers hurt.
Ocean's 11 was great. Now 12 on the other hand...
12....i liked it enough for my friend to get that poster thing of it. You know when you go up to see the showtimes and it says the movie next to it. That thing....lolz it cool cause i sometimes get in for free cause he works there....ok yea...lolz Ocenas 11 was awesome! I know all the words i love it! Poncho approves of this movie lolz
Bob Dylan
Joni Mitchell
Paul Simon
John Lennon
Paul Mccartney
Roger Waters
RICHEY EDWARDS from the manics
hes simply the best lyricists i have seen
and ELLIOTT SMITH is a great lyricists too
heres my top 5
1.Richey Edwards
2.Elliott Smith
3.Bob Dylan
4.Tracy Chapman
5.Nicky Wire
1. Bob Dylan
2. John Lennon
3. Neil Young
4. Roger Waters
5. Paul Simon
6. Pete Townshend
7. Ray Davies
8. Lou Reed
9. Paul Mccartney
10. Jim Morrison
Neil Peart is a master though much of his lyrics are borrowed from literature and he is a far better drummer
im soory about the language, but why the F*CK am I the first person to mention Morrissey (of the Smiths)?
John Darnielle, Joanna Newsom, and Sam Beam should not be overlooked on any list of amazing lyricists, ever. :)
Richey Edwards is the best in my opinion /Helen
Conor Oberst
Richey Edwards
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