Greatest Ever Songwriter

This has to be a tough call so many great songwriters out there

But I am going with Ray Davies of the Kinks…



This guy has his base on the streets and in public places, he has a near genius ability to get what he sees mixed into some of the greatest rock songs ever written…

Here is a taster, the mesmerizing Waterloo Sunset

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night
People so busy, makes me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright
But I don't need no friends
As long as I gaze on waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunsets fine

And more…

Just to show you how normal Ray Davies is – clip – from a recent interview

Who do you call to have fun?
My local cab service because for some reason they don’t let their cab drivers use sat nav and most of them do not come from London, therefore I’m in for a very interesting journey that is often entertaining, if a little time consuming — and expensive.

Love the way he looks at life and makes it so fulfilling and enjoyable…

The Kinks Profile
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kinks

Who is your favorite songwriter?

Eminem's Lyrics are best

My Fav is lil wayne .. YO_0y

EMINEM -- > I never seen an Ass like that

The way you shake it, I can't believe it.. I ain't never seen an ass like that
The way you move it, you make my pee pee go
Doing, doing, doing!!!

Im a big fan of Ray Davies myself. One of the first albums I bought as a kid was compilation called Spotlight on the Kinks(no that wasnt in the 60s!)

I could reel off a list of great songwriters Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen,Paul Weller,Jonathan Richman,Neil Hannon,Tom Petty But when it comes to the best its kind of hard to touch Bob Dylan.

I am loving these "Best" and Greatest" threads. My personal favorite is Jim Morrison for his Charismatic style and lyrics. He's legend in my eyes irrespective of what others think of him.

Bob Dylan. Who Else?

Times They Are-A Changin

Maynard James Keenan

Elvis Costello has written some of the most sardonic lyrics ever but Ray Davies and Dylan are both immortal! Lennon/McCartney, Fagen/Becker plus Townshend, David Byrne, Trent Reznor, Beck, Paul Simon, Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder should all be in the discussion as well.

Please don't make me choose!

Originally Posted by xavier00

Maynard James Keenan

Tool - Sober 1993

Frontman
Maynard James Keenan

Burt Bacharach (and his work with Hal David)

I do listen to modern music too....honest !

Originally Posted by Duffers5000

Burt Bacharach (and his work with Hal David)

I do listen to modern music too....honest !

Well, that kinda of came out of left field!

And as I dont see any female songwriters represented heres a few

Polly Jean Harvey
Kate Bush
Suzanne Vega
Nerina Pallot
Michelle Shocked

Originally Posted by steelballs

Tool - Sober 1993

Frontman
Maynard James Keenan

Another Masterpiece
Momma Sed - Puscifer (M.J.Keenan)

I'll go with Kate Bush and Carole King. Couple of songs of Carole King are exceptional, but it's sad that female songwriters are easily outclassed by their male counterparts.

Originally Posted by Duffers5000

And as I dont see any female songwriters represented heres a few

Polly Jean Harvey
Kate Bush
Suzanne Vega
Nerina Pallot
Michelle Shocked

Originally Posted by Duffers5000

And as I dont see any female songwriters represented heres a few

Polly Jean Harvey
Kate Bush
Suzanne Vega
Nerina Pallot
Michelle Shocked

And Duffers you will rate this girl too…

Amy Winehouse

Hell this girl could write and man what a voice!

Rehab


Arguably the best female singer songwriter of the modern era…

Oozing with so much talent that in time history will rank her as an all time great…

She was a good singer. I recently came across an article wherein her mother blamed Amy's boyfriend for her death. It's sad that people like Amy despite having all the world's wealth and talent resort to drugs.

Originally Posted by steelballs

And Duffers you will rate this girl too…

Amy Winehouse

Hell this girl could write and man what a voice!

Rehab


Arguably the best female singer songwriter of the modern era…

Oozing with so much talent that in time history will rank her as an all time great…

Amy was great! As to other women add Sarah MacLachlan (no I will not hand in my man card), Siouxsie Sioux and Karen O.

Neil Young and Bob Dylan get my vote