Best Lyricists Ever

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RScottSeattle

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I like listening to songs when the lyrics are vibrant and picturesque. I love a lot of the lyrics in Sting's songs, although I'm not sure if he's the writer or not.

Who are some amazing lyricists I can look up?
 
You could look up Bob Dylan or some of Roger Waters' work in the Floyd ... dunno about whether they vibrate or not, but they're highly regarded.
 
I believe Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel is a very original lyricist
 
So..

I recently came across a band that I think has some really great songs. Never heard of them before, but then again, it's not a genre I pay much attention to in general.. Not "the best lyricist ever", just mentioning them because they're interesting lyrically, and I think they should be heard.

Uncle Lucius is the name of the band.
And a few of the songs I would recommend are:



 
That drummer looks like the dude who taught painting on TV. Straight out of the 70's... :D
 
I couldn't say ever as I don't have that depth of experience or prescience, however in my time I've enjoyed reading:
Elvis Costello, John Lydon/Johnny Rotten, Dylan, Neil Young, Nick Cave, Geezer Butler, Bourke Shelley, Joe Strummer, Shane McGowan, Leonard Cohen, Poly Styrene, Paul Westerberg, david Byrne, Matthew Sweet, Difford & Tilbrook, Ian Hunter, whoever does words for the Residents, Dave Thomas of Pere Ubu, Kirsty MacColl, the blokes from Madness, Ian Curtis, P J Harvey, both blokes from the Go Betweens (Forster & McLennan), Hal David, Billy Bragg, Bowie, Alex from the Arctic Monkeys and Brian Eno. But I like reading!
 
Classic Soul and R&B... That 50s Rock and Roll... The transition period between the 50s and the 60s was interesting too. The Late 60s was interesting too.

For me musically simple songs which age well tend to have interesting lyrics and melodies to go over the simple chord progressions.
 
RScottSeattle said:
I like listening to songs when the lyrics are vibrant and picturesque. I love a lot of the lyrics in Sting's songs, although I'm not sure if he's the writer or not.

Who are some amazing lyricists I can look up?
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I'm only replying because Sting is a favorite of mine. Yes he writes his own lyrics.
 
Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson have a nice one out now called Adam and Eve.
 
this covers some ground, this question does.

examples? welll. When i first READ the lyrics to Laura Branigans version of "the power of love" (oversung simple love ballad, she had 'the voice') I thought, "Eh, how weak is THAT?" Then, when i HEARD it? wow.

Elton John? Kind of in reverse... I had always listened to tiny dancer on the radio and sang along (badly, lol). Original candle in the wind, same thing... but it worked in reverse. One day, I wrote the lyrics out listening to them both... it kind of floored me, i had for the most part only a couple lines of text. Mostly RE-sung with slight changes. I hadnt noticed before...

some of the BEST sounding songs have what, lyrics only on paper, really dont look like much...

===========================================================================

someone already took sting.
Jeff Lynne? (he was "mister ELO")
Bernie Taupin was a lot of hit lyrics for Elton John, probably elton john himself on a few (dont know)
(trying not to repeat others i saw up there, like beatles and such obvious picks)

I always liked concept albums... so whoever, singly or collectively did:

Styx? Lot of good lyrics over a couple albums
The first ASIA album?
Alan Parsons Project
Kansas

==========================================================================

I am going to have to point out Jeff Lynne from ELO. he typically might write nearly all the lyrics and music for entire ELO albums. The TIME album was the first *CASSETTE* I ever bought.

the POIGNANT imagery in so many songs on TIME album was incredible.

21st century man... ticket to the moon... here is the news.... (others too, and other albums)

Laura Branigan was known for the B-I-G voice put to songs, but, while she had many lyricists, a lot of them were really good.

PS - did someone mention the moody blues? lol... ELO, Laura Branigan, and the moody blues were the "holy trinity" that got me into listening to music in 7th grade. before THAT, i wasnt even interested in music much.

Queensryche? while you may not like the music, the powerful IMAGERY in some of their older stuff was great.

Iron maiden? might hate heavy metal, but... the imagery and lyrics were great in a lot of the hits...
 
Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, David Bowie...Just a few of my favourites.

If you want something unknown, the chap in my sig is quite the wordsmith.
 
Milk said:
I believe Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel is a very original lyricist
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^^^^^ Him
Some of my favourites

Jim Bob - Carter USM
Conor Oberst - Bright Eyes
James Mercer - The Shins
Tim Kasher - The Good Life
Matt Pryor - The New Amsterdams/Get Up Kids
Colin Meloy - The Decemberists
John Bramwell - I Am Kloot
Blake Schwarzenbach - Jets To Brazil

Damn there is thousands to choose from......
 
RE: Thread title, I have no idea who would win the crown of Best Lyricist Ever. Probably Dylan. A phenomenal body of work.
 
Or Sir-Mix-Alot *I Like Big Butts* paints a nice picture. ;)
 
The most frequently posted sentence in the history of HR..........

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to moresound again."
 
Yeah!!!!
Yeah
Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"wearing a face that she keeps in a jar by the door!!!!
Why didnt he just say makeup???
moresound said:
Hands down ..... Lennon and McCartney.

Yeah!!!!
Yeah
Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"wearing a face that she keeps in a jar by the door!!!!
Why didnt he just say makeup???







:thumbs up:
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