Who are the 5 greatest songwriters of all-time?

In your opinion?

Why don't you just post your 5 so everyone can disagree with you?

*Snigger* at Lardy.

Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Bob Dylan, Jon Fogerty, and Neil Young.

Well, i dont generally listen to many solo artists so i wont list any. But bands:

1. Dream Theater - John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess/Kevin Moore/Derek Sherinian, Mike Portnoy
2. Iron Maiden - Steve Harris, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, David Murray
3. Rage Against the Machine - Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk
4. Slayer - Tom Araya, Kerry King, Dave Lombardo
5. All the other metal bands I like

Shel Silverstein was probably the greatest.

Cole Porter (in any book), Harry Champion, Schubert, Arthur Phelps, Fulton Allen, Jerome Kern, Ann Ronell, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Ray Davies might all come close to the medals. And Brahms. And Haruomi Hosono. And Arnaldo Antunes. Or even Carlinhos Brown. Who can forget Tom Jobim?

But I go by songs, not writers, to be honest. Some of Steve Mariott's songs are very atmospheric, not all.

And what sort of songs do you like? And in what moods?

And what if you have a great lyric and weak tune, or vice versa?


How long are five pieces of string?

Clamson wrote:Well, i dont generally listen to many solo artists so i wont list any. But bands:

1. Dream Theater - John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess/Kevin Moore/Derek Sherinian, Mike Portnoy
2. Iron Maiden - Steve Harris, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, David Murray
3. Rage Against the Machine - Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk
4. Slayer - Tom Araya, Kerry King, Dave Lombardo
5. All the other metal bands I like

Bang on.

I will add Vedder and Gossard as well. Ten is as close to perfection as music gets.

Frank Black as well. Actually I think he is the best ever.

I love RATM but I'm not too sure about their stamina for good song writing over a long period. The first album was genius, but after that I think they just kept repeating themselves.

Sting has always struck me as being a truly great song writer. All the members from The Police are great song writers in their own right which is probably why they hated eachother to pieces (Andy Summers being especially good -- his solo material is vastly underrated).

Jon Crosby from VAST is pretty amazing, can't believe he was only 18 when he wrote his first album.

The Rolling Stones, even though I'm not really a fan. Their songs do have a lot of longevity.

Oh, and The Cure. Again, not a die-hard fan but I love the range of song styles -- From poppy and catchy to morbid and deadly serious.

oh, and I've changed my mind completely.

Leonard Cohen, Otis Redding, Mavin Gaye, Frank Zappa, and John Lennon.

I may change my mind completely again in a few hours.

Jim Steinman.

Will get back to you on any others I think of.

[Dem]Stock, Waterman, Aitken, Madonna, and Minogue[/Dem]

leg glancer wrote:I love RATM but I'm not too sure about their stamina for good song writing over a long period. The first album was genius, but after that I think they just kept repeating themselves.

Sting has always struck me as being a truly great song writer. All the members from The Police are great song writers in their own right which is probably why they hated eachother to pieces (Andy Summers being especially good -- his solo material is vastly underrated).

Jon Crosby from VAST is pretty amazing, can't believe he was only 18 when he wrote his first album.

The Rolling Stones, even though I'm not really a fan. Their songs do have a lot of longevity.

Oh, and The Cure. Again, not a die-hard fan but I love the range of song styles -- From poppy and catchy to morbid and deadly serious.

I stopped reading here.

Magic, tragic.

The Russians love their children too.


Hmmmm.

Björn Volvous, Agnetha Falstart, Frida Longstokin, Benny Anderwear and perhaps Rolf Harris.