Favorite Lyricists

[Desolation]

I'm gonna go ahead and take a wild guess here, and say that people on this forum are probably pretty fond of words.

Surely this applies to music as well...So, who are your favorite lyricists?

Mine, in no particular order other than the first three:
Bob Dylan
Leonard Cohen
Townes Van Zandt
Patti Smith
Neil Young
Tom Verlaine (Television)
Tom Waits
Lou Reed
Kurt Cobain
Warren Zevon
David Bowie

[YesNo]

I like Johnny Mercer's Moon River lyrics, but I don't know any of his other lyrics. Also Hal David's Alfie.

[suprematist]

Patti Smith
Nick Cave
Lou Reed
PJ Harvey
Ian Curtis (!)
Thom Yorke
Elliot Smith
Nick Drake...etc

[jajdude]

Some good ones mentioned. I might add Paul Simon and Springsteen of old to the list. And oh, forgot one of my favorites, Shane MacGowan of the Pogues. Surely there are more.

[paradoxical]

Yes, I second Paul Simon. And Townes Van Zandt. Would also add Joan Baez and Johnny Cash just for the tone of his voice, I've never actually been a big fan of his music.

Other random personal favorites: Roger Waters, the lead singers of Jesus and Mary Chain and New Order. The guy from XTC, what was his name, Andy Partridge? I thought he had a unique voice. Also Sinead O'Connor when her first record came out. I though it was amazing.

I think Bruce Dickinson had one of the best voices in rock, ever. Would that title ultimately go to Plant? Perhaps, but I'd rather listen to something more like David Lee Roth. I also always loved Vince Neil's voice. I still think he has a great voice. And all the Motely Crue records were so well produced. Still love the early stuff.

[Helga]

My list would be:

Nick Cave
Amee Mann
Leonard Cohen
and it's no secret, I am a big Morrissey fan solo and The Smiths

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Beyond several that have been mentioned above, here’s a few that also come to mind:

Harry Warren
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Warren
Ex by Glenn Miller:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XQybKMXL-k

Woody Guthrie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaI5IRuS2aE

Mississippi John Hurt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pm1gVHPexI&feature=related

Shel Silverstein
Ex for Johnny Cash…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gbtm-93oqE

Johnny Cash
Pete Townshend

.

[YesNo]

Jimmy Webb: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Webb

[RicMisc]

Some of my favourite lyricists are:
Zucchero
Andrea Bocelli
Florence and the Machine
John Mayer

[KCurtis]

Richard Thompson
www.richardthompson-music.com

Elvis Costello
Death Cab for Cutie

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Justin Beiber, Katy Perry, Beyonce, and that weirdo who sung the song about the karma-karma-karma-karma-karma-chameleon.

[Basil]

Justin Beiber, Katy Perry, Beyonce, and that weirdo who sung the song about the chame-chame-chame-chame-chame-chameleon.
I find this post humorous, for these are not singers one would normally expect to find on a list of exceptional lyricists.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Boy George was a genius:

Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon
You come and go
You come and go
Loving would be easy
If your colours were like my dream
Red, gold and green
Red, gold and green

If Milton, Dante, and Shakespeare merged and became one, they still wouldn't be able to create such beauty.

[Jack of Hearts]

That dude from Talking Heads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNnAvTTaJjM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX6FsTIq6ls







J

[RicMisc]

Justin Beiber, Katy Perry, Beyonce, and that weirdo who sung the song about the karma-karma-karma-karma-karma-chameleon.

This was obviously ment mockingly but in my opinion Beyoncé is not one of the world's great lyricists but she's definitely not to be mocked over her lyrics. Justin Bieber and Katy Perry should be joined by Ke$ha for example.

[smerdyakov]

Albarn, Coxon, Cobain, Paul Hewson, Layne Staley, Thom Yorke, Ian Curtis, Syd Barrett, Seasick Steve....