NationStates Jolt Archive

My favorite is Bob Dylan. He did really good folk stuff that influenced The Beatles (You can see their change from boy meets girl songs to more surreal songs. In the Beatles Anthology, Paul Mcartney said it was because of Dylan) and everyone else around at that time. Then he did Rock, and one of his first rock songs, "Like A Rolling Stone" was the best song of all time, according to the famous magazine, Rolling Stone. His latest two albums got grammys.
However, there is alot of compitition up there.

E.

(Mark Oliver Everett)


Out of the ones on the poll: David Bowie. But it was hard picking between him and Bob Dylan.

E.

(Mark Oliver Everett)
I officially love you for that.


Hmm, maybe they're not exactly as seminal as those on the poll, but you asked for favourite, so I'll actually go with a nice mix of John Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, Damien Rice, and Billy Joel, if the latter one counts as singer & song writer (I'm never really sure with that category).

ETA: And probably Rufus Wainwright. How could I forget the Gay Messiah?

I chose Bob Dylan, but i also love The Beatles and John Lennon, and Queen is my favorite band, i think they were good songwriters too.

who chose david bowie? that gay ziggy has 3 good songs. It ends there.

Jeff Buckley.

One proper album, bit it's one of the best.

Jeff Buckley.

One proper album, bit it's one of the best.
did you vote?

who chose david bowie? that gay ziggy has 2 good songs. It ends there.

And they are which two, pray tell?

Frank Sinatra was not a singer/songwriter. He was certainly a great jazz vocalist, but if he ever wrote a song of his own then it never made it to record.

That said, I have to throw in a LOUD vote for Nick Drake. It took rather a long time (over two years) for me to realize that he wasn't contemporary; I think that speaks pretty favorably for the timelessness of his music.

Also, he has influenced scores of great musicians, including Jeff Buckley, Richard Thompson, Damien Jurado, Elliott Smith...the list goes on. A huge number of greats have either been influenced by Drake or by others who bore his mark strongly.

Paul Simon also deserves a spot on the list.

Electric Light Orchestra.

Paul Simon

Prince

My favorite solo songwriters...

1.Kurt Cobain
2.Johnny Cash
3.Bob Dylan
4.Steve Winwood
5.Van Morrison

~Satanic Reverend Medivh~

Bob Marley

Beck, just cause no-one's mentioned him yet.
Also Leonard Cohen and Cats Steven.

Billy Joel.

skipping that, I'll say Dylan or Elton

Elton John or maybe Bowie on the poll. I like Dylan too, Leonard Cohen and Neil Young. As for contemporaries I like Devendra Banheart, Tori Amos, Bjork, Fiona Apple and Sufjan Stevens.

Madonna!

Forgot Cat Stevens & Leonard Cohen. *curses*

And I really have to get that new Fiona Apple album & see if she doesn't merit a mention after all.

Well, Ol' Dirty Bastard is interesting, but Will from Orchid/Bucket Full of Teeth/Ampere has been in three of the most important hardcore bands ever...

Toby Keith, that boys American!

1.Thom Yorke
2.Nick Drake
3.Bob Dylan (best lyrics)
4.Morrisey/Marr (ya cant have one without the other)
5.Tim Buckley(more of a performer than a songwriter but some really beautiful songs)
6.Neil Young (can be a bit tactless but he knows how to tug yr strings)
7.Elvis Costello (personally i think costello is the greatest songwriter of all time)
8.Tom Waits
9.Frank Black (weird)

Not someone who i really listen to but someone who definitely deserves a mention: leonard cohen.

Tom Lerher

But on a more contemporary note Katie Melua

Go Croydons own!

Kurt Cobain, with Billy Corgan being my favorite living singer/songwriter.
For women, the choice is more difficult, but I'd have to say Diamanda Galas or Jarboe.

My favorite is Bob Dylan. He did really good folk stuff that influenced The Beatles (You can see their change from boy meets girl songs to more surreal songs. In the Beatles Anthology, Paul Mcartney said it was because of Dylan) . . .

However, that influence was not from Dylan's music, rather from introducing the Beatles to his good friend Mary Jane ;)

Paul Simon
Good pick. For me it's a toss up between him and Suzanne Vega.

John Tams,Woody Guthrie, Noel Coward

Hank Williams Sr.

http://www.hank3.com/imag3s/papers/nosize/hank_sr_obey.jpg

Bob Mould.

http://idisk.mac.com/granarymusic/Public/bobpride1.jpg

Second to him is Billy Joel.

And I really have to get that new Fiona Apple album & see if she doesn't merit a mention after all.

It's good. I'd say better than either of her others.

Hmm. I knew I was missing many people from the start, good people yet small-time. :headbang: :headbang: Kurt Cobain is not really solo, and David Bowie's only good songs are Changes, Rebel, Rebel, and Space Oddity.

Morrissey. He's not only a genius, but probably also God.

the best thing about morrissey is that i think he is both a twat and a genius. ever seen him in an interview; so stuck up his own arse that he can tickle his own nose. but at the same tame so cool that he would make me swoon;

his best lyric. hang the dj, hang the dj...
cause the music that they constantly play
sings nothing to me about my life

one name, Ronnie Van Zant, Of Lynyrd Skynyrd, greatest band, singer and songwriter of all time


also john melloncamp, queen, hank williams jr, johnny cash,

Frank Sinatra was not a singer/songwriter. He was certainly a great jazz vocalist, but if he ever wrote a song of his own then it never made it to record.

That said, I have to throw in a LOUD vote for Nick Drake. It took rather a long time (over two years) for me to realize that he wasn't contemporary; I think that speaks pretty favorably for the timelessness of his music.

Also, he has influenced scores of great musicians, including Jeff Buckley, Richard Thompson, Damien Jurado, Elliott Smith...the list goes on. A huge number of greats have either been influenced by Drake or by others who bore his mark strongly.

Paul Simon also deserves a spot on the list.

I want everyone after this to follow this example:
1.) Denounce a choice on the list, EXPLAIN WHY.
2.) Say your fav. gay, EXPLAIN WHY
3.) tell us a little about your favorite.

I have three. Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, and David Gilmour, all of Pink Floyd. Barrett wrote and sang amazingly psychotic and psychodelic lyrics, much to his character. Waters kept the mental theme, and he has amazingly ifferent voices. Gilmour, though a better guitar player, was still amazing, and his voice is distinctive and great, especially in Comfortably Numb. It's a shame that these guys don't get the respect they deserve.

I want everyone after this to follow this example:
1.) Denounce a choice on the list, EXPLAIN WHY.
2.) Say your fav. gay, EXPLAIN WHY
3.) tell us a little about your favorite.

okay ill give it a go;

1) Denounce ; Other, never heard anything good from this singer songwriter. And who in their right mind would call their child other, or who would change their name to other?

2.) Joy Division (Ian Curtis) lyrics alone can cut your heart in two and reduce you a heaping mess of lonelyness. the music on the other hand fills me with transendent joy emploring me to hear more more more. more over joy division later in new order ushered in the new post punk era etc. Ian Curtis artistic suicide influenced many artists of which Kurt Cobain is a follower.
to learn more kids rush out and buy all joy division cds, and buy the film 24 hour party people.

sorry for the flippant answer to numer 1. from the list though 50 cent (not tupac though)

the best thing about morrissey is that i think he is both a twat and a genius. ever seen him in an interview; so stuck up his own arse that he can tickle his own nose. but at the same tame so cool that he would make me swoon;

his best lyric. hang the dj, hang the dj...
cause the music that they constantly play
sings nothing to me about my life

Well, he certainly knows he's a genius. But I'm a soprano, so I admire unrelenting arrogance.

I have three. Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, and David Gilmour, all of Pink Floyd. Barrett wrote and sang amazingly psychotic and psychodelic lyrics, much to his character. Waters kept the mental theme, and he has amazingly ifferent voices. Gilmour, though a better guitar player, was still amazing, and his voice is distinctive and great, especially in Comfortably Numb. It's a shame that these guys don't get the respect they deserve.
I think they did.

Electric Light Orchestra.

Thanks for filling that quota for me!

David Bowie's only good songs are Changes, Rebel, Rebel, and Space Oddity.

Can you name any others, or is that just what you glean from the radio?

1. Peter, Paul, and Mary
2. Ian Mackaye
3. Bob Dylan
4. Whoever writes for Stratovarius
5. Johann Sebastian Brahms

Hmm. I knew I was missing many people from the start, good people yet small-time. :headbang: :headbang: Kurt Cobain is not really solo, The OP doesn't say solo artist.

and David Bowie's only good songs are Changes, Rebel, Rebel, and Space Oddity.What about "Ziggy Stardust" and "The Man Who Sold the World"?

The OP doesn't say solo artist.

What about "Ziggy Stardust" and "The Man Who Sold the World"?
those songs SUCK ASS. And it does say solo.

I'm surprised that I'm the only one who's said Bob Mould.

I'm surprised that I'm the only one who's said Bob Mould.
Your not, some one mentioned him before. . . .

Your not, some one mentioned him before. . . .

That would be me on Post #29.

That would be me on Post #29.
oops.

Well, my favorite singer is Amy Lee, of Evanescence. Her voice is BEAUTIFUL! And she is very inspiring, I can really relate to Evanescence's songs and such!! :D Lol.

<3's Nikki

who chose david bowie? that gay ziggy has 3 good songs. It ends there.

you are an idiot. David Bowie is responsible for the advent of punk rock, post-punk, new wave, new romantic, synth pop, electronica, and general experimentalism in pop music. he's probably the most versatile artist in the history of rock and roll and a cultural icon.