Big fan of Jim Steinman but in all honesty think it'd be a stretch to say he was the best songwriter since 1973. Bono was pretty good for about a ten year spell.
Dwight Twilley has died. Great powerpopster. I’m not suggesting he belongs on an all time great songwriter list fwiw but I’ve just broken out some Jim Steinman by power of association. Imagine that second Meat Loaf record as it should have been, you know that I’ll be Bad for Good.
OGR - yes. But by that point i'd moved on from identifying the best songwriter and had started encouraging these lovely roffers to think beyond MoR pop.
Not the last 50 years, but if only the last 20 years, it’s hard to completely ignore Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic (and I’m not joking). Look at all the artists he’s written for including hits like “Halo” etc.
calling anyone the greatest songwriter of the last 50 years is utter garbage and impossible to measure. It's all opinion and the most popular songs are not popular because of words but because of the musical hook.
So, with all that out of the way, this would be my top 5:
1. Kurt Cobain
2. Bon Scott
3. Benny & Bjorn
4. Richie Edwards / James Dean Bradfield
5. Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
On Steve Harris, just read the lyrics to "Hallowed be thy name"
How about Paul Brady singing about coming to London in the 70s / 80s
Came down to their city
Where I worked for many's the year
Built a hundred houses
Must've pulled half a million pints of beer
Living under suspicion
Putting up with the hatred and fear in their eyes
You can see that you're nothing but a murderer
In their eyes, we're nothing but a bunch of murderers
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Paul Simon
Paul McCartney (except for his oompa-oompa type songs)
Lana del Rey
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Leonard Cohen
John Lennon
.
.
.
# 3,530,733 Mr Blobby
# 3,530,734 Bob Dylan
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Just put her new one on for the first time. She's in a rich vein of form at the moment.
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I'd probably vote for Elvis Costello.
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Bob Dylan is a good shout (I appreciate you weren't complimenting him!), as is Leonard Cohen.
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I've listened to it a couple of times, TSB. I could do without the sermon track but the songs are great.
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Bob, obviously, though arguably a better lyricist than tunester
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If it’s the last 50 years then half those listed are out as their best work predates 1973. Just sayin’
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who's your choice then, Bertha?
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Abba, bowie, Morrissey/Marr, that sort of thing
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Though tbf Leonard Cohen did his best work in that era too.
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Kurt Cobain
Prince
Brian May
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Heffers being relatively generous about Geldof there.
Would probably add Springsteen too.
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David Bowie, why didn't I think of him!
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Calum MacDonald (+ Rory)
Eric Bogle
Sharleen and Johnny
Jim Kerr
Ricky Ross
(Scotland rools ok)
and from over the pond
Springsteen and Jackson Browne
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Agreed re Prince
lyricist - big love for Tim Rice
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I like A&W, that's for sure. Reminds me of Doin' Time, which was great too.
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Bob Dylan wrote songs?
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Blood on the tracks was released in 1975 and is one of his best so he sneaks back in tbf
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Benny and Bjorn make the top ten as does Bowie. Also Keith Richards.
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Chris Martin.
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Just kidding.
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Agree about Paul Simon.
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What’s keef written since 1973 that’s any good?
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Chris Martin ha.
c unt cant even stand up straight
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What?
In the Anglophone world, Ben Britten.
Outside, though, surely György Ligeti.
Really, do none of you have any cultural vista beyond your own noses?
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Ha.
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Bowie, Cohen, Sting
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Bowie, Cobain, Yorke, Jack White.
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Seriously. Listen to Britten's "Les Illuminations".
If you've only ever listened to Coldplay it will blow your mind.
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Mind you, if you've only ever listened to Coldplay, pretty much anything would blow your mind.
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First two albums were great, let's be honest.
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Paul Simon
Dolly Parton
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Bob Dylan then Taytay
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You might have heard of a little ditty called STEEL BARS SUNG BY MICHAEL BOLTON?!
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I forgot - Jeff Buckley
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Big fan of Jim Steinman but in all honesty think it'd be a stretch to say he was the best songwriter since 1973. Bono was pretty good for about a ten year spell.
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Stevie Wonder wrote some nice music. I haven't heard from him lately. I hope he's ok.
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OK, if you're determined to stick to pop: Randy Newman.
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Heh @ TSB
Nigel Blackwell
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Bowie
Joel
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lots of these people - probably all of them - wrote quite a few really good songs
but for the combination of volume and quality BB must be a strong contender for GOAT
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List of songs written by Burt Bacharach - Wikipedia
Last 50 years though? Arthur's theme sung by Christopher Cross.
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Peter Gabriel
Billy Joel
Roland Orzabal
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Qunicy Jones wins this hands down.
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As someone else said, Springsteen is excellent.
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Kris Kristofferson should be on here too.
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Yorke / Greenwood together.
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There are probably a couple of Dylan songs that are below blobby's standard but most of them are ok.
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NB Slash payed guitar on Wiggle Wiggle.
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Nigel Blackwell
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Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie
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Nigel Blackwell it is then.
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I listened to some Ligeti. A bit avant-garde. Mostly instrumentals.
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Dwight Twilley has died. Great powerpopster. I’m not suggesting he belongs on an all time great songwriter list fwiw but I’ve just broken out some Jim Steinman by power of association. Imagine that second Meat Loaf record as it should have been, you know that I’ll be Bad for Good.
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No one can touch McCartney on top form
Yes he's written alot of pish among the classics but it doesn't matter
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Oliver Anthony
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https://youtu.be/0q8f-XTeZ3I?si=xsY98tpIQOug0fy_
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Oh man Brian Wilson is all over this. Barbershop style
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Cathy Dennis deserves a mention -
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Or that bloke from Mud
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Maccas best work was pre 1973 so presumably irrelevant for the op’s question
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Its Phil collins
The man is a genius
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there must be some misunderstanding
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Les Illuminations was written in the 1930s m8.
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Tony Banks.
Clifford T Ward
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And Benny Andersson
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I also do think Gary Barlow should be noted here. 'Drowning in my autocratic ways' was a mesmerising lyric in the top hit 'open road'
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VtPLdL5GWDg
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Who even are half these people? And why has no one said Adele?
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If you think she actually wrote any of those songs you are rather naive.
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💔
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💔
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Joel maybe
joni mitchell
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Josh Homme
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You fooking idiots
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Gilmour
Waters
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Since ‘73 I would expect at least an honourable mention for Mr Paul Weller.
Also David Byrne.
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I’d probably go with Abba.
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OGR - yes. But by that point i'd moved on from identifying the best songwriter and had started encouraging these lovely roffers to think beyond MoR pop.
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Not the last 50 years, but if only the last 20 years, it’s hard to completely ignore Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic (and I’m not joking). Look at all the artists he’s written for including hits like “Halo” etc.
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Noel Gallagher
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lol
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No mention of the writing powerhouse of Chisholm, Addams, Brown, Halliwell and Bunton?
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Ahhh the iconic zig-a-zig-aa. Debate over.
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calling anyone the greatest songwriter of the last 50 years is utter garbage and impossible to measure. It's all opinion and the most popular songs are not popular because of words but because of the musical hook.
So, with all that out of the way, this would be my top 5:
On Steve Harris, just read the lyrics to "Hallowed be thy name"
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SCT nailed it with Dolly. Surprised she only received one nomination.
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So many hehs
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Paddy McAloon in the 'Steve McQueen' era.
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Best, or most popular? Best, wisest, most insightful, most likeable? Cleverest?
Paul Simon for combining insights with broad appeal
" .. And tell me why, why won't you love me for who I am, where I am?
Cause that's not the way the world is, baby"
Sinead O'Connor for truths
"I've said this before now
You said I was childish and you'll say it now
Remember what I told you
If they hated me they will hate you
England's not the mythical land of Madam George and roses,
it's the home of police who kill black boys on mopeds...
These are dangerous days
To say what you feel is to dig your own grave
Remember what I told you
If you were of the world they would love you"
Jarvis Cocker for cleverness.
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Rufus Wainwright
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McCartney is disqualified by virtue of the Frog Song.
Lou Reed for me.
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"Gonna write a song, so she can see
Give her all the love she gives to me
Talk of better days that have yet to come
Never felt this love from anyone"
Gonna have to change my original choice to Liam Gallagher for this beauty
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How about Paul Brady singing about coming to London in the 70s / 80s
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Natalie Merchant for giving us courage.
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Bernie Taupin
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Some good choices up there along with a fair amount of tat. But, no mention of Becker and Fagen?
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Excellent point Sven.
Donald's much more prolific and better solo stuff also elevates him over Walter.
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Fagen yes, Becker no.
Anything off The Nightfly.
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