Favourite Songs/Lyricist

Irish Dom · Forum Guru

Favourite Songs/Lyricist

monkey · Forum Guru

I also am a big cheese fan! As far as stuff with lyrics that make sense goes though I do love Dirty Vegas, Kosheen, India Arie, B.B. King, haha and this makes me laugh that I'm saying it, but the Piano Man himself- Billy Joel!

JohnK · Pieces of me you've never seen

Fiona Apple (The Way Things Are/Get Gone/Slow Like Honey), Tori Amos (Hey Jupiter/Pretty Good Year/China/Toast), PJ Harvey (Dress, Dry, This Mess We're In), Ryan Adams (Please Do Not Let Me Go, Mockingbird), Martha Wainwright (Far Away, BMFA, I Will Internalize), Antony and the Jonsons (Frankenstein, Fistful of Love).

But I think at the top is Joni Mitchell. Her album Blue is a masterpiece and the lyrics to songs such as 'Little Green', 'All I Want', 'Case of You', 'River' are amazing. You can find some of her Lyrics in the sketchbook sections, as I have put them in there. :)

I could go on for ever..... :)

Rt hon NickyDyke85 · Lord of the Rings

Mate, cheese all the way... i own all the steps albums n have seen them in concert 5 times (misguided kid) more embarrasingly i've seen scooch live n hasve their first single on cd :o) Oh & its no secret that i own bananaramas greatest hits or whatever its called.

Now to redeem myself "*(cough cough* I'm also a gatecrasher kid, old skool dance, texas fan, usually clubbing stuff , like m-people, pink, kosheen, speedway, ermmm could remember more but am battered so i'll leave it at that.

Got alot of fave songs that remind me of good times n everythin. 2 many 2 list or spell

PatrickT · Forum Guru

To add to John's great thoughts of Antony and the Johnsons and Joni Mitchell, I'd say Leonard Cohen (for the song Hallelujah really) and (perhaps unexpectedly) Bernie Taupin (of Elton John fame!). Alanis Morisette's pretty amazing, as is Kanye West. Personally I think Nelly Furtado would be my favoured artist of all. Her song 'Picture Perfect' from the album 'Folklore' cuts through me: it's got to be one of my favorite all considered...

I think a lot of singer/songwriters are kind of unappreciated because you think of them more from their marketing and performances, but their songs, if you don't know much about their image, can still sing for themselves.

Irish Dom · Forum Guru

Completely agree with Folklore, and Picture Perfect. Great Song. But the one the gets right inside me (tears everytime ol) is Kim Richey - A Place Called Home. Very Touching and Soul awakening.

Again on Nelly F - new song 'Maneater' - lyrics not great - but overall song fab! Can't wait for her new album. A welcome return to a very unique artist - yeah!!

Jeni Jeni Jen Jen

Oh my God. I have played 'Maneater' so many times recently!!

Okay, good songwriters...

I'll echo the Tori Amos and Fiona Apple nominations, and add a mention of the lovely Regina Spektor. Seriously, some of the best lyrics I've heard for yonks. ("He steps right into somebody's fat loogy and everyone who see him says 'ew'")

Oh yes.

xx

AlbyFC · You best sima!

The songs in the Great American Songbook are full of very good lyrics.... it's kind of sad that all these songs are generally remembered by the composers of their music rather than by their lyricists.

But some of my favourite lyricists, at any rate, are E. 'Yip' Harburg, Johnny Mercer, Alan Jay Lerner, Lorenz Hart, Dorothy Fields... they've written the lyrics to songs such as Over the Rainbow, Last Night When We Were Young, Moon River, On the Street Where You Live, Blue Moon, My Funny Valentine, The Way You Look Tonight, and a long etcetera....

JohnK · Pieces of me you've never seen

Wendy wrote:

Oh my God. I have played 'Maneater' so many times recently!!

Okay, good songwriters...

I'll echo the Tori Amos and Fiona Apple nominations, and add a mention of the lovely Regina Spektor. Seriously, some of the best lyrics I've heard for yonks. ("He steps right into somebody's fat loogy and everyone who see him says 'ew'")

Oh yes.

xx

I always think of Vagina Inspectors when I hear Reginas name......

AliceH · Butter Me Up!

I will never think of Regina Spektor in the same way again, John!

I second Patrick and John's suggestions, but one of my favourite (and underrated, probably unheard of) lyricists is Stephin Merrit, of Magnetic Fields fame. One of my favourite lyrics of his is "love is like a bottle of gin, it makes you blind, it does you in". I'm a big fan of clever lyrics, and they can make trite topics seem interesting as hell.

Still, one of my favourite lyrics of all time is by Help! She Can't Swim: 'you dance like a Dad as a disco, what would Morrissey say?'. Class.

I could go on all day on this topic.

Jeni Jeni Jen Jen

AliceH wrote:

Still, one of my favourite lyrics of all time is by Help! She Can't Swim: 'you dance like a Dad as a disco, what would Morrissey say?'. Class.

Yey! I was singing that today.

Breconboy · Big Gay Al

I reckon gay people are as eclectic as any other orientation. We just feel able to enjoy takky pop without embarrasment as society has already othered us as lame. (We should correct this with an all-powerful gay mafia.)

Personally, I love cheese but only as a dance/exercise aid. It's all very much about the Jazz (esp. Nina Simone) and the Chilis. And any sort of soprano. Emma Kirkby = favourite.

V. xxx

Irish Dom · Forum Guru

Nina Simone ROCKS!!! Recently bought her 'Very Best Of' - a really good collection.

Another Lyricist fav is Jewel Kilcher. Earlier albums definately the best.

chemicalfears · Queen of Quips

Breconboy wrote:

I reckon gay people are as eclectic as any other orientation. We just feel able to enjoy takky pop without embarrasment as society has already othered us as lame. (We should correct this with an all-powerful gay mafia.)

Personally, I love cheese but only as a dance/exercise aid. It's all very much about the Jazz (esp. Nina Simone) and the Chilis. And any sort of soprano. Emma Kirkby = favourite.

V. xxx

All I have to say is, look to the Kray Brothers...

...I now leave the development of the Kray story to Nic the Muff-eating Monster of Frottage Cottage...

sash
xxx

Irish Dom · Forum Guru

Oh Sasha - don't even go there about our frottage cottage. I have a whoel other story about it, and lets say it invovle sitting in a lecture full of people. i was so embarassed................ i have no right to call myself a gay. After that experience. Not tell on here (and Nic! Alice and Joey - neither of you either - pleeeease) but Sasha - will tell ya when ya next phone or come to stay a while. You will double over with laughter. **hangs head in shame**

How's Germany? Hope all is well.

Hani · Big Gay Al

hmmm, whilst i do worship the cheese, like leonard cohen's songs a lot (shame he cant rly sing tho). Love alanis morisette and the cardigans, michelle branch (****ing incredible albums), nickelback, evanescence, rob zombie (i'm a bit of a rock and indie kid) republica and pretty much anything from the 50's (chuck berry!!) Sandi thom's album, of what i've heard from it, is very good too