Although she may be cute She's just a substitute Because you're the permanent one I always loved that lyric.
I don't know who my absolute fav/best is. But I do know that Elvis Costello certainly deserves mention in this thread.
Paul Simon was brilliant, and is on a level with Lennon, Dylan, etc. The lyricists for the Housemartins/Beautiful South should also be rated on that level, but aren't because they never got that big. Absolutely hillarious/profound words. Leonard Cohen, Carole King, and others. As far as R&B songwriters, sorry to RR, but it begins and ends with Otis.
Just a few personal favorites after the big three... Bob Dylan Lennon/McCartney Bruce Springsteen Dave Matthews
You did say favorite songwriter right? Steve Harris Oh hell....there went any musical cred I may have had..
I feel that Rob Thomas is one of the better songwriters in pop music today. I know a lot of people dont like matchbox twenty, which is cool, but I don't think it would be fair to equate all of his songwriting with what he does for MB20. Overall, Rob Thomas has shown a lot of range writing songs for Willie Nelson, Mick Jagger, Phil Vassar, Santana, and even Pink over the past few years.
Lennon/McCartney Smokey was awesome but the Holland/Dozer/Holland combo was, IMO, the Motown sound. Bruce Springsteen Billy Joel Elton John Sting Joni Mitchell Bob Dylan I always thought Stevie Wonder was underrated as a songwriter. Lately... Duncan Sheik Ben Folds
Not one of you put, without a doubt the best songwriter since '77 Elvis Costello. Heads and shoulders above the rest. Honorable mentions: Paul Westerberg Stevie Wonder Rod Temperton
The ever shuffling and always necessary guest list of favorites. 1 Ray Davies/Dave Davies 2 Phil May/Wally Waller 3 John Lennon/Paul McCartney 4 Arthur Lee/Bryan Maclean 5 Steve Marriott/Ronnie Lane 6 Nick Drake 7 Jane Wiedlin 8 Pete Shelley/Steve Diggle 9 Jeff Lynne 10 Lou Reed/Sterling Morrison/John Cale
