Thursday February 16, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Who gets your vote for the greatest songwriter of the last 100 years?

Have Your Say May. 03, 2008 - 09:28AM JST ( 23 )

Order by Time Order by Popularity

23 Comments

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BrainiacMay. 03, 2008 - 09:30AM JST

Hard to name just one. But I'd go for John Lennon, followed by Paul McCartney, then probably Cole Porter and Irving Berlin. What about the Gershwins? I wonder if anyone will name any artist born after 1950.
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FreedomFightingMay. 03, 2008 - 09:48AM JST

Bob Dylan, hands down.
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RomeoRamenIIMay. 03, 2008 - 11:55AM JST

Morning Musume.

RR
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smartacusMay. 03, 2008 - 01:19PM JST

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice and Alan Menken. I think their musicals stand the test of time.
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RazorMay. 03, 2008 - 02:36PM JST

Rogers and Hammerstein
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waggaMay. 03, 2008 - 04:06PM JST

Leonard Cohen
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rjdsrMay. 03, 2008 - 05:49PM JST

As usual, the talents of the Japanese are being ignored. Puffy, Sakamoto, Maki Goto, Kumi Koda. They are all very cute and talented.
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blue_mondayMay. 03, 2008 - 06:28PM JST

Bonnie Prince Billy
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caponeMay. 03, 2008 - 06:31PM JST

jimmy page/robert plant
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nightfleshMay. 03, 2008 - 06:33PM JST

You have to look at it more broadly. Songwriting is more than just writing and releasing yourself. There are many people who have written songs for other people to sing. John Fogerty is one example. He has written more music for other artists than for himself. Others like Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Mick Jagger, The Bee Gees, Roger Waters, Freddie Mercury, Willy Nelson, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Gerry House, and so many more have all written music for other artists that have become #1 hits worldwide.

It would be a tie with John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
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PuffinMuffinMay. 03, 2008 - 07:32PM JST

I agree with some of the choices here, but I'm thinking Ennio Morricone for now.
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gamecatMay. 04, 2008 - 02:58AM JST

It is too long a period of time to name one. Last 50 years would be easier.

How are we supposed to comment on the song writing ability of people who lived in entirely different times to us and wrote for different reasons...

I am liking the suggestions so far though, and would add...

Liam Howlett, Noel Gallagher, Richard D. James, Seasick Steve, Nick Cave, Joy Division, Inspiral Carpets, Happy Mondays, etc etc.
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caponeMay. 04, 2008 - 09:06AM JST

nightflesh is right, along with this: most songs are co-written, with one guy writing lyrics and the other music, so this is not a great question, the way it's worded...elton john/bernie taupin being a prime example...less so for lennon/mccartney because they shared both lyric and music
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presidentbakaMay. 04, 2008 - 02:03PM JST

Well, let's just say, it certainly ain't any Japanese song writer, that's for damn sure!
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anderstungtwistMay. 04, 2008 - 07:16PM JST

The original rapper, Robert Zimmerman.
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lipscombeMay. 05, 2008 - 02:12PM JST

Albert Ayler
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user1684May. 05, 2008 - 10:33PM JST

Tom Waits
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AltriaMay. 07, 2008 - 10:12AM JST

Rolf Harris
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frontandcentreMay. 07, 2008 - 03:16PM JST

Morrisey & Marr
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papasmurfinjapanMay. 08, 2008 - 11:44AM JST

Lennon/McCartney, Jagger/Richards, Page/Plant, John/Taupin, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson are all on my list as the greatest, but if I had to choose only one (pair) it would have to go to Lennon/McCartney.
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papasmurfinjapanMay. 08, 2008 - 11:45AM JST

Oh, and Neil Young!!!
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NessieMay. 08, 2008 - 03:06PM JST

Lennon/Ono. Just kidding. Dylan -- vastly overrated. A hack of a musician. Neil Young -- good musician and music writer, crap singer and lyricist; overrated

Morrissey/Marr is an intriguing suggestion. Marr is more of a guitarist than a songwriter. Cole Porter, Gershwin, Lennon/McCartney are all good ideas.
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NessieMay. 09, 2008 - 10:38AM JST

And an almost-ran for Ray Davies.