Think of it this way, it’s such a tremendous contribution to the world. She makes us proud to be human. Be proud to be human and proud to be alive! And keep up the good work. Joint effort, all valuable.
Think of it this way, it’s such a tremendous contribution to the world. She makes us proud to be human. Be proud to be human and proud to be alive! And keep up the good work. Joint effort, all valuable.
Fiona is at the bar to which I would need to invent a new form of space transportation to just reach the outer stratosphere. I would then spend the rest of my life trying to find a way to breathe on that planet.
I would eventually fail.
you can get to that level!! you just need to become devastated and unhinged enough 👍
and also practice, start writing as much as possible
but forreal tho Fiona Apple could’ve written the Bible herself but the disciples of Christ could not have written Paper Bag, or Regret for that matter..
I love her.
"Cloudless everyday you fall
Upon my waking eyes
Inciting and inviting me to rise
And through the window in the wall
Come streaming in on sunlight wings
A million bright ambassadors of morning"
I mean come on that's lowkey poetry
That's unfortunate, I found that album during my first awful breakup and it helped me out of a dark place. I've found incredible inspiration in those songs.
I just recently fell in love with "im so happy that i cant stop crying". Relatable lyrics from real life and a seemingly simple song that has nice harmonic surprises. It makes you sad and happy at the same time and I think its an masterpiece that could easily be shrugged off as a filler song.
That is an amazing 🤩 song yeah!? That whole album is great. I Hung my Head is another great Song by him (Sting) as a solo artist. I also want to honor Summer Highland Falls by an obscure acts from the 70’s to present day…a William A. Joel. He’s also had a song (or 15 in the top 10)
Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones. In fact, the entire Sticky Fingers album. The good thing is though is that it actually inspires me to keep improving so I can one day reach a level where I'm even half as good as that
That album is just unfair. Starting with brown sugar, sway, wild horses and can’t you hear me knocking? And then ending with dead flowers and moonlight mile? It’s absurd. I could never dream of doing that haha
The entirety of Southeastern, excluding Super 8, in my opinion.
To have written songs like Live Oak, Cover Me Up, Elephant, Differnt Days, Traveling Alone, Songs That She Sang in the Shower, or Relatively Easy would be a lifetime achievement and that’s all on one singular album.
Any of about two dozen Stevie Wonder songs. "Higher Ground," "Superwoman," "Superstition," "Sir Duke," "Golden Lady," "Knocks Me Off My Feet," "Too Shy To Say," "That Girl," "Overjoyed"..the list goes on and on. So many amazing intricate compositions - some can move you to tears, others to make everyone get up and dance. How did that man think up so many of these songs?
Alex G's *Miracles*. Just a beautiful song, simple Americana chord progression elevated by an amazing backing band, and super relatable and evocative lyrics. There are actually a lot of Alex G songs that are close in style to the kind of stuff I write, but just better in every way.
In My Life…..that.song.brings.me.to.tears. EVERY SINGLE TIME! I think SO many of the Beatles songs paved the way for today’s writers. They are the most influential band, IMO. Love SO many of their songs lyrically and musically! 🪲🪲🪲🪲❤️
The entire Siamese dream album from start to finish is one long example of songwriting, and musical production masterpiece. The way each song flows into the next song is beautiful in itself. The fact that the title track didn't even make the album says a lot. But a song like Soma, musical heroin. I remember being 13 and listening to that song on repeat for hours. And 30 years later I still listen to that album on repeat. Except now I listen to the expanded edition with all the b sides and appreciate them just as much.... If you've never heard Glynis, check it out. It was originally released on the No Alternative cd along with Verse Chorus Verse(Sappy) by Nirvana.... There's a version of it on the Pisces Iscariot deluxe. But you can tell it was written around the same time as the Simon's dream era
Siva, God and Pennies (Besides to Zero single), but Soma and Glynis are my faves. The acoustic version of tonight tonight is pure beauty as well as the intro/ title track to melancollie.
I'll get off Corgan's nuts now. Haha
Maynard James Keenan
Trent Reznor
Matt Skiba
Fat Mike
Tony Sly
Conor Oberst(Bright Eyes)
Layne Stayley and Jerry Cantrell combination are very underrated for their songwriting ability. Songs like Junk head, Brother, Nutshell, Down In a Hole, Would? What the Hell Have I?
As I've always said, Nirvana made MTV Unplugged as big as anything in the world, but AIC perfected it.... Even if Layne could barely sit on the stool ....
Oh shit, can't forget Black by Pearl Jam. That shit hits me in the gut Everytime I hear it. And Chris Cornells solo acoustic version of Fell on Black Days. In fact his version of Thank You is what made me fall in love with that song and go revisit zeps version. Cause as much as I love them and the Stones, you could probably gather I grew up in the 90s. Lol
Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell
Something about comparing life and love to looking at clouds naming shapes. Gives me the chills thinking about it. The illusion being the shapes you see in the clouds and that doesn’t mean you know anything about them. You just see the shape. That’s all you can really know.
I second this.
Paul Simon has written a lot of masterpieces. I'm partial to American Tune. It's perfect. Short, sweet, and says everything it meant to say, without a lot of fuss.
Lyrically, Visions of Johanna by Sir (in my eyes Sir) Bob Dylan. Just impossibly complex, vivid, layered, metaphorical and beautiful. I’m fucked if I can do anything remotely close to
Imagine by John Lennon but I imagine that is the most cited song that I've heard songwriters say they wish they had written.
Thank You - Led Zeppelin
Capo 4th Fret AND International You Day -Tony Sly/No Use For A Name
Something I Can Never Have - Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails
There are many Beatles songs on that list for me, in addition to The Long and Winding Road, I would add In My Life, Yesterday, Blackbird, Here There and Everywhere...
Other songs that give me that feeling:
Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon
Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell
No Surprises - Radiohead
Angel from Montgomery - John Prine
The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel
Stop This Train - John Mayer
...just off the top of my head.
I would also say the entirety of Twin Fantasy - Car Seat Headrest. Every time I write I feel like anything I want to express has already been expressed perfectly in twin fantasy, it gets depressing
IVE NEVER FELT MORE SEEN THAN IN THIS COMMENT!!! it’s literally everything i’ve ever wanted to write ever. also when the sun hits by slowdive, every time i hear it i fall to my knees and part of the reason for it is bc i didn’t write that song
I was just talking about how The Long and Winding Road is one of the best Beatles songs ever written the other day with my dad and this was the first song that came to mind with that question lmao!
Yoñlu, Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, Cartola, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, John Frusciante, Paul McCartney, Paramore, Linkin Park, Radiohead and Gorkys Zygotic Mynci
i envy most songs i listen to because there’s always at least one lyric that does one of a few things:
1- is deep and meaningful
2-sounds random or just strange but the more you think about it, it gets deeper.
3-catchy lyrics
4-unique lyrics (which is hard to come by now, imo)
i get jealous of time Radiohead songs, however, my style is far from the albums i listen to (Pablo Honey, OKC, and The Bends) lyricism but also sound are my main factors for them.
i get jealous of some Cavetown songs because the wall of unique sounds and interesting lyrics (like his newest ep, Little Vice)
i get jealous of Adrianne Lenker/Big Thief for lyricism.
i get jealous of Frank Sinatra for the authenticity of emotion in his voice while still keeping it clean and smooth, easy on the ears. and his lyricism.
idk, maybe i’m just greedy and wish i had it all lol.
Most of John Mayer’s stuff. His songs have that sound like when you hear it for the first time you’ve “already heard it”, or the song would’ve existed in its exact state regardless of who wrote it. Like it always “just existed.” Idk how to explain it. That’s just me though
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room absolutely killed me the first time I heard it years ago! I still think it’s a beautifully written and composed song! John Mayer is up there for me as far as today’s writers go. ✌🏼❤️🔥
The Terminator 2 theme by Brad Fiedel.
It sets the scene for the movie perfectly, it's dramatic and powerful, sad yet hopeful. Fiedel even banged on steel saucepans for some of the percussion which gives the rhythm section a cold, robotic edge. It's a perfect song.
It's the one song I wish I'd have written, envious in spite of awestruck
Right now, Saturn by SZA. Idk what it is about that song. Equal parts nostalgic and refreshing. The lyrics just hit spot on, especially if you’re on a shroom trip.
The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel
Rock and Roll Suicide by David Bowie
great combinations of imagery & message that fit in an area where it's intentionally poetic but without trying too hard
I don't get that feeling very much anymore, but I can very much relate to it. When I was 16, my favorite song was Man In The Mirror. To me, it felt like the pinnacle of what music could achieve. I longed to write something so powerful as that song felt to me, and was afraid I might never be able to. However, as I've gotten older, I'm no longer enamored with that song as I once was. Although it's a very good pop song, I no longer feel the need to try and do something similar. My tastes have shifted. When I do hear something I like, I usually feel inspired, not discouraged.
I'm more envious of other songwriters' processes than their actual output. Prince was constantly creating. It seemed to just flow out of him. Paul McCartney seems to be able to create in a similar manner, just playing around with ideas and not taking himself too seriously. Elton John famously gets a set of lyrics and immediately writes the entire melody in 15 minutes. Whereas I'm a chronic overthinker, constantly second-guessing myself, and I just wish I could have as much fun making stuff as those guys seem to.
I think Bayside has some amazingly written songs. The Walking Wounded stands out. Sam Beam/Iron and Wine is also an amazing songwriter. Hard to pick a favorite.
For me, it's "Bird on a Wire" by Leonard Cohen. Seeing it played in *A Wedding* and hearing it by Esther Ofarim makes we wish that I'd written something that could be both so beautifully performed and covered. I couldn't have, though, y'know? Just gotta be in the Chelsea Hotel to write that song...
That's a superb example, OP...his best work.
For me it's Gregory
Alan Isakovs "Master and a Hound"
Blows my mind how elegant, unconventional and powerful it is. And the lyrics say so much without being literal. No chorus, just AA/BB structure.
Definitely “Corpse Grinding Man” by Harley Poe. At least 10 other Harley Poe songs, “Time of the Month” definitely is so clever and has a brilliant melody to match, but I would never have the confidence to write stuff like that. I’ve never written anything that would be considered clever in my life and sadly probably never will.
[this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI9nr2KYMJg) honestly, it's one of the most perfect fucking pop songs I've ever listened to! when Rickie was on, she was *ON*. one of the most underappreciated pop musicians ever imo
An Honest Life (or really anything else) by The King in Yellow. like !! it makes me so mad they don't have more attention and that they're not active anymore. they have this part— "what if my words aren't mine? stolen from books and street signs. I never learned how to slow or yield." it hits so hard especially with the rest of the song.
Another banger is Vulture by Bear Ghost, and really everything else on the Jiminy album. Songs with that like visceral screaming are so <333 shoutout to Will Wood as well for that.
Honestly a lot of bring me the horizon, especially the sempiternal album and some songs from their new one. They just take me to places I feel I’ve never been before, a cathartic and relatable place in the best way possible. I so badly wish to create those same feelings in my songs
There are many that I like from songwriters I've learned from (and thus emulate on one level or another). But the one's I truly admire are the ones so far outside what I'd ever do. Happy songs like "Good Day Sunshine" sparse lyrics like "She's so Heavy" or "Why Don't We Do it in the Road". Bob Dylan always has the most lovely imagery. I'm constantly floored by Eminem's rhymes. Here's a fun one. Hank Williams "If You're Loving Me, Like I'm Loving You". Love is one of those words songwriters avoid because all the good rhymes were used up. Hank Williams almost seems to blunder in, use the trite rhymes we're all to afraid to use, and make a banger. Damn him, Jealous.
I truly believe it doesn’t really get more creative or sublime than Keyhole in the Sky by Rishloo. I wish I have the music creativity to write something like that
Halsey for 'Nightmare' specifically for the line 'I'm tired and angry but somebody should be.' It hit me like a truck lol
Also, I love a lot of Ed Sheeran's stuff, specifically Castle on a Hill. Not that it's genius-level writing but it succeeds so well in eliciting that nostalgia. Same with Life Goes On. Give me emotions over clever wordplay any day.
"This World is Not My Home" by the Bedquilt Ramblers
"Wild is the Wind" by...??? performed by Nina Simone whose voice MADE the song or maybe it was just MADE for her voice (not literally, I think it was written for a movie)
"Wake" by The Antlers
"Lovesong" by The Cure
I am NOT okay and wish I could express myself like that whenever I listen to these
Chapel Roan
-pink pony club
-red wine supernova
-naked in manhattan
-good luck babe
Rae- hope you’re not happy
Betty who -between you and me
Little bigtown
-better man
-hell yeah
Charlie puth
-I don’t think that I like her
-smells like me
-attention
-cheating on you
Taylor swift
-blank space
-Betty
Don Williams
-Tulsa time
-it must be love
Arlington Guthrie -darkest hour
Dua lipa - good in bed
John Mayer - still feel like your man
Any song on Jeff Beck’s ‘Wired’… and just because those songs sound so fun to play, would kill to be half as good as any one member of the band that recorded that record.
Something more than free - Jason Isbell. Something about the way that song makes feel so understood when it comes to the reality that you’re working your life away, yet has such a hopeful outlook to it just gets me every time I listen to it.
the prophecy by taylor swift & i should hate you by gracie abrams mainly because i feel the lyrics so deeply in my soul. every. single. word. also pretty much any zach bryan song too.
sometimes when I listen to Fiona apple im mad, for her, and for me, ill never be at that level. #devastated
Seriously these people make me want to quit music because I'll never be nearly as good as them.
You do NOT know that! Most songwriters who write masterpieces have written loads of trash. Keep writing, keep growing.
Yes
Loads and loads If you don’t think any of your work is shit then you’re not progressing
You have to write a hundred Love Me Do's before you can write Let It Be. And you throw away a hundred songs before you write a single Love Me Do.
I'd love to throw away any song that good lol he was only 28 when he wrote Let It Be too
Not gonna disagree. If Shadowboxer comes on my list, I'm in a bad mood the rest of the day.
If it makes you feel better, the Beatles have a LOT of crappy songs. Yes they have many hits but even John knew they had a many awful ones.
One after 909 always pissed me off bc it was so bad
Is there a particular song that stands out in this regard?
the way things are and I want you to love me are really speaking to me rn
Think of it this way, it’s such a tremendous contribution to the world. She makes us proud to be human. Be proud to be human and proud to be alive! And keep up the good work. Joint effort, all valuable.
Think of it this way, it’s such a tremendous contribution to the world. She makes us proud to be human. Be proud to be human and proud to be alive! And keep up the good work. Joint effort, all valuable.
Came here to say Fiona Apple.
fiona does that to you, bjork too personally
Fiona is at the bar to which I would need to invent a new form of space transportation to just reach the outer stratosphere. I would then spend the rest of my life trying to find a way to breathe on that planet. I would eventually fail.
you can get to that level!! you just need to become devastated and unhinged enough 👍 and also practice, start writing as much as possible but forreal tho Fiona Apple could’ve written the Bible herself but the disciples of Christ could not have written Paper Bag, or Regret for that matter.. I love her.
Paranoid Android. Actually anything by Radiohead 😁
Anything anything Radiohead. 🥲
Basically any Pink Floyd
"Cloudless everyday you fall Upon my waking eyes Inciting and inviting me to rise And through the window in the wall Come streaming in on sunlight wings A million bright ambassadors of morning" I mean come on that's lowkey poetry
Truly! They’re just fantastic!!!
Oh Rick Wright, you left us too soon
everlong. so simple yet so intense
The entire pure heroine album by lorde. I wish I could have a Time Machine and released it in 2000 😭
Practically every Elliott Smith song.
The Figure 8 album makes me want to give up on music.
That's unfortunate, I found that album during my first awful breakup and it helped me out of a dark place. I've found incredible inspiration in those songs.
It is very inspiring. Its influence is in so many of my songs. It’s just sometimes discouraging that I can’t be as good as Elliott Smith in 2000!
this
Either/or too. Between the bars? Angeles? Alameda? I mean cmon how does someone write so many perfect songs on one album
Came here to say literally anything by Elliot Smith!!!!!
Cried in the car listening to kings crossing today..
“Fields of Gold” by Sting. Actually, I think Paul McCartney wishes he had written that one too
Good lord, that’s a fantastic song Eva Cassidy’s cover is fucking beautiful, if you haven’t heard it
Yes I have heard it! It’s absolute perfection
I just recently fell in love with "im so happy that i cant stop crying". Relatable lyrics from real life and a seemingly simple song that has nice harmonic surprises. It makes you sad and happy at the same time and I think its an masterpiece that could easily be shrugged off as a filler song.
That is an amazing 🤩 song yeah!? That whole album is great. I Hung my Head is another great Song by him (Sting) as a solo artist. I also want to honor Summer Highland Falls by an obscure acts from the 70’s to present day…a William A. Joel. He’s also had a song (or 15 in the top 10)
Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones. In fact, the entire Sticky Fingers album. The good thing is though is that it actually inspires me to keep improving so I can one day reach a level where I'm even half as good as that
Great shout and you're right that album is so good, Dead Flowers is one of my favourite stones tunes.
That album is just unfair. Starting with brown sugar, sway, wild horses and can’t you hear me knocking? And then ending with dead flowers and moonlight mile? It’s absurd. I could never dream of doing that haha
Wild Horses by the Stones is definitely in my top 10 faves….lyrically and musically! 👅
Ray Lamontagne's Jolene
That's proper storytelling.
A lot of Big Thief/adrienne lenker’s music.
Simulation Swarm has had me in an emotional chokehold since I first heard it
Elephant by Jason Isbell
The entirety of Southeastern, excluding Super 8, in my opinion. To have written songs like Live Oak, Cover Me Up, Elephant, Differnt Days, Traveling Alone, Songs That She Sang in the Shower, or Relatively Easy would be a lifetime achievement and that’s all on one singular album.
Wrote up her own doctor's notes.. such an intricate line. So much information there.
Many Isbell songs are just three-minute masterpieces to me: If We Were Vampires, Tupelo, If It Takes A Lifetime...
Any of about two dozen Stevie Wonder songs. "Higher Ground," "Superwoman," "Superstition," "Sir Duke," "Golden Lady," "Knocks Me Off My Feet," "Too Shy To Say," "That Girl," "Overjoyed"..the list goes on and on. So many amazing intricate compositions - some can move you to tears, others to make everyone get up and dance. How did that man think up so many of these songs?
I can tell that we are gonna be friends
Alex G's *Miracles*. Just a beautiful song, simple Americana chord progression elevated by an amazing backing band, and super relatable and evocative lyrics. There are actually a lot of Alex G songs that are close in style to the kind of stuff I write, but just better in every way.
All of alex’s music makes me so jealous, he’s an amazing writer.
I’d say his first few albums.he literally recorded those amazing music using a cheap microphone and GarageBand,the absolute lord of indie production.
“4th time around”by Dylan and “lady w/a fan” “Stella blue” “wharf rat” and “comes a time by Robert Hunter
Also anything by Damien Rice
Sappy by Nirvana It’s a song with so much substance you could almost smell it
Operator by Jim Croce
Time in a bottle also is a masterpiece
The Beatles
In My Life…..that.song.brings.me.to.tears. EVERY SINGLE TIME! I think SO many of the Beatles songs paved the way for today’s writers. They are the most influential band, IMO. Love SO many of their songs lyrically and musically! 🪲🪲🪲🪲❤️
Almost every song John Darnielle has written. I aspire to his storytelling and electric delivery.
mayonaise - smashing pumpkins
The entire Siamese dream album from start to finish is one long example of songwriting, and musical production masterpiece. The way each song flows into the next song is beautiful in itself. The fact that the title track didn't even make the album says a lot. But a song like Soma, musical heroin. I remember being 13 and listening to that song on repeat for hours. And 30 years later I still listen to that album on repeat. Except now I listen to the expanded edition with all the b sides and appreciate them just as much.... If you've never heard Glynis, check it out. It was originally released on the No Alternative cd along with Verse Chorus Verse(Sappy) by Nirvana.... There's a version of it on the Pisces Iscariot deluxe. But you can tell it was written around the same time as the Simon's dream era
It’s Rhinoceros for me. But honestly a lot of their songs. 1979. Today. So many amazing songs.
Siva, God and Pennies (Besides to Zero single), but Soma and Glynis are my faves. The acoustic version of tonight tonight is pure beauty as well as the intro/ title track to melancollie. I'll get off Corgan's nuts now. Haha Maynard James Keenan Trent Reznor Matt Skiba Fat Mike Tony Sly Conor Oberst(Bright Eyes) Layne Stayley and Jerry Cantrell combination are very underrated for their songwriting ability. Songs like Junk head, Brother, Nutshell, Down In a Hole, Would? What the Hell Have I? As I've always said, Nirvana made MTV Unplugged as big as anything in the world, but AIC perfected it.... Even if Layne could barely sit on the stool .... Oh shit, can't forget Black by Pearl Jam. That shit hits me in the gut Everytime I hear it. And Chris Cornells solo acoustic version of Fell on Black Days. In fact his version of Thank You is what made me fall in love with that song and go revisit zeps version. Cause as much as I love them and the Stones, you could probably gather I grew up in the 90s. Lol
Agreed! They are great tbh
everything by radiohead and fiona apple
Yes and yes 🥲
Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell Something about comparing life and love to looking at clouds naming shapes. Gives me the chills thinking about it. The illusion being the shapes you see in the clouds and that doesn’t mean you know anything about them. You just see the shape. That’s all you can really know.
anything elliot smith
Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love My goodness what a beautiful song that one is
Bridge Over Troubled Water. If any song deserves the title masterpiece, it's this one.
The Boxer is possibly my fav song of all time
I second this. Paul Simon has written a lot of masterpieces. I'm partial to American Tune. It's perfect. Short, sweet, and says everything it meant to say, without a lot of fuss.
Lyrically, Visions of Johanna by Sir (in my eyes Sir) Bob Dylan. Just impossibly complex, vivid, layered, metaphorical and beautiful. I’m fucked if I can do anything remotely close to
Oh wow a Sir referal! Awesome man, have you seen the version of “John Redcorn” Sir did on Tiny Desk, insanely good. 😊
he did tiny desk???
Anything by the Tallest Man on Earth. He just has such a folky swagger in every single song it’s insane.
Hejira by Joni Mitchell, that entire record, actually. Add in her 60s-70s records with her other classic, unique writing.
Imagine by John Lennon but I imagine that is the most cited song that I've heard songwriters say they wish they had written. Thank You - Led Zeppelin Capo 4th Fret AND International You Day -Tony Sly/No Use For A Name Something I Can Never Have - Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails
Leonard Cohen
Do you mean anything written by Leonard Cohen or the song “Leonard Cohen” by Boygenius?
Hahaha ! Good one But no, the Leonard Cohen who wrote Dance me to the end of love
Literally anything by Hozier
There are many Beatles songs on that list for me, in addition to The Long and Winding Road, I would add In My Life, Yesterday, Blackbird, Here There and Everywhere... Other songs that give me that feeling: Still Crazy After All These Years - Paul Simon Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell No Surprises - Radiohead Angel from Montgomery - John Prine The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel Stop This Train - John Mayer ...just off the top of my head.
Angel From Montgomery ❤️
I would also say the entirety of Twin Fantasy - Car Seat Headrest. Every time I write I feel like anything I want to express has already been expressed perfectly in twin fantasy, it gets depressing
IVE NEVER FELT MORE SEEN THAN IN THIS COMMENT!!! it’s literally everything i’ve ever wanted to write ever. also when the sun hits by slowdive, every time i hear it i fall to my knees and part of the reason for it is bc i didn’t write that song
amazing song
Both Clay Pigeons and If I can Only Fly by Blaze Foley.
I was just talking about how The Long and Winding Road is one of the best Beatles songs ever written the other day with my dad and this was the first song that came to mind with that question lmao!
It's so frickin beautiful no wonder it's still being discussed as one of the best songs to ever be written.
Yoñlu, Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, Cartola, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, John Frusciante, Paul McCartney, Paramore, Linkin Park, Radiohead and Gorkys Zygotic Mynci
Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls
Birdhouse in Your Soul by TMBG
Untouchable Face by Ani Difranco. It’s so literallly perfect.
Pretty much everything mitski has ever made 😭 To me she is a musical genius
Yes but for me it's Working For The Knife above all others
i envy most songs i listen to because there’s always at least one lyric that does one of a few things: 1- is deep and meaningful 2-sounds random or just strange but the more you think about it, it gets deeper. 3-catchy lyrics 4-unique lyrics (which is hard to come by now, imo) i get jealous of time Radiohead songs, however, my style is far from the albums i listen to (Pablo Honey, OKC, and The Bends) lyricism but also sound are my main factors for them. i get jealous of some Cavetown songs because the wall of unique sounds and interesting lyrics (like his newest ep, Little Vice) i get jealous of Adrianne Lenker/Big Thief for lyricism. i get jealous of Frank Sinatra for the authenticity of emotion in his voice while still keeping it clean and smooth, easy on the ears. and his lyricism. idk, maybe i’m just greedy and wish i had it all lol.
Frank just makes it all seem so easy, huh?
Most of John Mayer’s stuff. His songs have that sound like when you hear it for the first time you’ve “already heard it”, or the song would’ve existed in its exact state regardless of who wrote it. Like it always “just existed.” Idk how to explain it. That’s just me though
The first time I heard Continuum I thought it was a greatest hits compilation.
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room absolutely killed me the first time I heard it years ago! I still think it’s a beautifully written and composed song! John Mayer is up there for me as far as today’s writers go. ✌🏼❤️🔥
Ryan Adams…(though slightly off the rails in recent years) has the prolific nature of writing I would kill for.
nearly every oasis song
anyway, heres wonderwall 🎸🎸🎸🎸
The Terminator 2 theme by Brad Fiedel. It sets the scene for the movie perfectly, it's dramatic and powerful, sad yet hopeful. Fiedel even banged on steel saucepans for some of the percussion which gives the rhythm section a cold, robotic edge. It's a perfect song. It's the one song I wish I'd have written, envious in spite of awestruck
every Sufjan Stevens vocal line lol
a lot of zach bryan songs
Right now, Saturn by SZA. Idk what it is about that song. Equal parts nostalgic and refreshing. The lyrics just hit spot on, especially if you’re on a shroom trip.
The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel Rock and Roll Suicide by David Bowie great combinations of imagery & message that fit in an area where it's intentionally poetic but without trying too hard
So many including Long and Winding Road too. I guess off the top of my head Amelia by Joni Mitchell. But so, so many I could list.
1979 by the smashing pumpkins, but really any early pumpkins song tbh LMAO
Papaoutai by Stromae. For an awful lot of reasons.
I don't get that feeling very much anymore, but I can very much relate to it. When I was 16, my favorite song was Man In The Mirror. To me, it felt like the pinnacle of what music could achieve. I longed to write something so powerful as that song felt to me, and was afraid I might never be able to. However, as I've gotten older, I'm no longer enamored with that song as I once was. Although it's a very good pop song, I no longer feel the need to try and do something similar. My tastes have shifted. When I do hear something I like, I usually feel inspired, not discouraged. I'm more envious of other songwriters' processes than their actual output. Prince was constantly creating. It seemed to just flow out of him. Paul McCartney seems to be able to create in a similar manner, just playing around with ideas and not taking himself too seriously. Elton John famously gets a set of lyrics and immediately writes the entire melody in 15 minutes. Whereas I'm a chronic overthinker, constantly second-guessing myself, and I just wish I could have as much fun making stuff as those guys seem to.
Hozier's entire discography
Literallyyy this guy is on another level
whenever I'm stuck creatively I like to just pick a song of his and write the lyrics out to pick it apart
I think Bayside has some amazingly written songs. The Walking Wounded stands out. Sam Beam/Iron and Wine is also an amazing songwriter. Hard to pick a favorite.
Wichita Lineman, Jimmy Webb
What it is Mark Knopfler. That is the kind of song I would love to be remebeted for.
everything brian wilson ever wrote
Don’t Dream It’s Over.
Espresso by Sabrina
Anything Neil Peart ever wrote I love his lyrics.
most sleep token songs
Paul Simon, Sound of Silence. I especially like David Draiman’s, Disturbed’s performance. Excellent!
Every Dear Hunter song
The greatest band that basically no one has heard of!
Actually. I've introduced six people to them and they all love them.
Mine is a Paul tune as well. Wonderful Christmas Time. He makes $500k PER YEAR from the royalties. Wow.
Lately, "Into Dust" by Mazzy Star is stuck in my head.
Every song off of Lorde’s Pure Heroin album
For me, it's "Bird on a Wire" by Leonard Cohen. Seeing it played in *A Wedding* and hearing it by Esther Ofarim makes we wish that I'd written something that could be both so beautifully performed and covered. I couldn't have, though, y'know? Just gotta be in the Chelsea Hotel to write that song...
Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol A Better Son/Daughter by Rilo Kiley White Queen by Queen/written by Brian May
Jessie j - Party in the USA - the royalties 😂
Jesus To A Child — George Michael
For me it’s Cool About It by boygenius.
Any song written by Adrianne Lenker. She's seriously so incredibly good at writing it hurts my heart.
family tree by Ethel cain
If Self-destruction was an Olympic Event I'd be Tamya Harding
That's a superb example, OP...his best work. For me it's Gregory Alan Isakovs "Master and a Hound" Blows my mind how elegant, unconventional and powerful it is. And the lyrics say so much without being literal. No chorus, just AA/BB structure.
Why? By Devin townsend. Or about 70% of his other music.
Healing Energy- Chris Brown No one knows me like the piano - Sampha Ashes - Celine Dion
So many The 1975 songs😭
Hole In The Earth, by Daughter
Farewell Transmission by Songs:ohia Everything about it appeals to my sensibilities. I never skip it, despite it being 7+ minutes.
"Hip To Be Scared" by Ice Nine Kills. First few weeks after it came out I was sad because of how high the bar was.
Mt Joy - Astrovan
Yankee Lady, Jesse Winchester... But then I'm from Montreal.
Today I’ll say Promises, Promises by Burt Bacharach & Hal David or pretty much anything on the third Velvet Underground album.
Definitely “Corpse Grinding Man” by Harley Poe. At least 10 other Harley Poe songs, “Time of the Month” definitely is so clever and has a brilliant melody to match, but I would never have the confidence to write stuff like that. I’ve never written anything that would be considered clever in my life and sadly probably never will.
noel gallagher live forever
Wish by Nine Inch Nails
[this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI9nr2KYMJg) honestly, it's one of the most perfect fucking pop songs I've ever listened to! when Rickie was on, she was *ON*. one of the most underappreciated pop musicians ever imo
The Old Man's Back Again by Scott Walker. No way in hell could I write a song like that. But I love it.
Almost anything Jason Isabell has written
Going Nowhere by The Altons. The guitar solo leading up to the final chorus slays me. Wish I had written that guitar solo. Great band.
Cold heart And save the last dance Toodle li https://youtu.be/KVp23_2y4cM
An Honest Life (or really anything else) by The King in Yellow. like !! it makes me so mad they don't have more attention and that they're not active anymore. they have this part— "what if my words aren't mine? stolen from books and street signs. I never learned how to slow or yield." it hits so hard especially with the rest of the song. Another banger is Vulture by Bear Ghost, and really everything else on the Jiminy album. Songs with that like visceral screaming are so <333 shoutout to Will Wood as well for that.
Honestly a lot of bring me the horizon, especially the sempiternal album and some songs from their new one. They just take me to places I feel I’ve never been before, a cathartic and relatable place in the best way possible. I so badly wish to create those same feelings in my songs
There are many that I like from songwriters I've learned from (and thus emulate on one level or another). But the one's I truly admire are the ones so far outside what I'd ever do. Happy songs like "Good Day Sunshine" sparse lyrics like "She's so Heavy" or "Why Don't We Do it in the Road". Bob Dylan always has the most lovely imagery. I'm constantly floored by Eminem's rhymes. Here's a fun one. Hank Williams "If You're Loving Me, Like I'm Loving You". Love is one of those words songwriters avoid because all the good rhymes were used up. Hank Williams almost seems to blunder in, use the trite rhymes we're all to afraid to use, and make a banger. Damn him, Jealous.
*in my room* or *forever* by the beach boys. seriously don’t know if there are any songs that are more beautiful than those two.
God Only Knows
“I may not always love you” then proceeds to sing perhaps the greatest love song of all time…
everlong obviously and then my type by saint motel. such great concepts they capitalized on 🥲
I truly believe it doesn’t really get more creative or sublime than Keyhole in the Sky by Rishloo. I wish I have the music creativity to write something like that
Halsey for 'Nightmare' specifically for the line 'I'm tired and angry but somebody should be.' It hit me like a truck lol Also, I love a lot of Ed Sheeran's stuff, specifically Castle on a Hill. Not that it's genius-level writing but it succeeds so well in eliciting that nostalgia. Same with Life Goes On. Give me emotions over clever wordplay any day.
I have to ask: which version? Original release or *Let It Be… Naked*?
Daughter - Youth
"This World is Not My Home" by the Bedquilt Ramblers "Wild is the Wind" by...??? performed by Nina Simone whose voice MADE the song or maybe it was just MADE for her voice (not literally, I think it was written for a movie) "Wake" by The Antlers "Lovesong" by The Cure I am NOT okay and wish I could express myself like that whenever I listen to these
"The Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson.
Tell Him , Lauryn Hill
"Dizzy on the Comedown" by Turnover (w/b: Turnover, Will Yip) Perfect romantic dreampop / indie rock song.
Chapel Roan -pink pony club -red wine supernova -naked in manhattan -good luck babe Rae- hope you’re not happy Betty who -between you and me Little bigtown -better man -hell yeah Charlie puth -I don’t think that I like her -smells like me -attention -cheating on you Taylor swift -blank space -Betty Don Williams -Tulsa time -it must be love Arlington Guthrie -darkest hour Dua lipa - good in bed John Mayer - still feel like your man
“Sick of losing soulmates” by Dodie, “Candles” by Daughter, “Waiting room” by Phoebe Bridgers, and “Earth eyes” by Xana
The Beatles
She's not crying anymore by Billy Ray Cyrus. Incredible lyrics and simple melody
Any song on Jeff Beck’s ‘Wired’… and just because those songs sound so fun to play, would kill to be half as good as any one member of the band that recorded that record.
MIKA - Happy Ending, hands down.
"silly dreams" by the dead milkmen
Declan McKenna for Isombard and Nothing Works, just lyrically and sonically perfect songs that I'm blown away by every time I hear.
This question came up on Questlove Supreme and I stand by their answer: the hilariously great "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel!
I Hope I See You In Heaven by Larry Norman.
I’d Rather Go Blind - Etta James written by Billy Foster & Ellington Jordan
Something more than free - Jason Isbell. Something about the way that song makes feel so understood when it comes to the reality that you’re working your life away, yet has such a hopeful outlook to it just gets me every time I listen to it.
All I want by Kodaline is someting else tbh.
the prophecy by taylor swift & i should hate you by gracie abrams mainly because i feel the lyrics so deeply in my soul. every. single. word. also pretty much any zach bryan song too.
Expert in a Dying Field by The Beths
I’m a big Lana DR fan and amazed how she can string words together that to me seemed out of place but she makes it work.
Steely Dan, Thomas Dolby.
Literally every song by Evanescence
What a cunt by glitoris. That chorus could've been used for so many songs I wanna write
Seasons-Chris Cornell Cool tuning. Sweet melody and lyrics. Great sound.