Lyricists

[Superfly]

I wanted to get a general feel of who this forum considers avid lyricists in the music realm. Lately I found that Beck's new CD is loaded with excellent lines as well as anythin Brandon Boyd has ever written. Yet what is it that makes a lyric or its writer stand out as unique?

Superfly

[aiwass]

Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth and Daniel Gildenlöw of Pain of Salvation are two excellent lyricists.

[zepp_rules]

in my opinion, the three best are:

Roger Waters
Hansi Kursch
Jon Scaffer



and a close fourth is Steve Harris

[iamthe_eggman]

I'll second the vote for Roger Waters. Anything by Pink Floyd post-Waters is so cliched and cheesy...

Also:
Bono
Jewel
Neil Young/CSNY

Neil Peart (Rush) is supposed to be good, but it's not my style...

[Gainer]

Eddie Vedder, Scott Stapp, Layne Staley and Robert Plant are all great!

[iiholly]

Tori Amos, Jewel, Ryan Adams (not Bryan)

[Andrew Sa]

Roger Waters...Amen to that.
also: I dunno who writes their lyrics, but Hammerfall have awesome lyrics. Cat Stevens. Bono. Bob Dylan. Mike Patton from Faith NO More. and Raine Maider from Our Lady Peace are aslo excellent.
And Opeth must be one of the best bands ( music+ lyrics ) in the world

[Incidents Happen]

Roger Waters, definitely.

BOB DYLAN!
Robert Hunter
Robert Plant


are my choices.

[Vladimir Hubitcherkokov]

UHm best lyrics ever would have to goto The Lawrence Arms, or Against Me! Just my opinion :)

[sithgt6]

Dave Mustaine, Alice Cooper, Bon Scott(in his day).

D>

[Cody_King]

Depends on what kind of music you like, but read some of marilyn mansons lyrics.

http://www.mansonusa.com/?page=lyrics

If you like the music or not, hes original.

[Azrael]

one of the best lyricists IMO is Martin Walkyer (ex-Skyclad) the stuff he writes is just great!

On the performing side i have to vote for Bruce Dickinson, Eva Cassidy, Eric Clayton (Saviour Machine), Freddy Mercury, Eric Adams, Jorn Lande (Masterplan), Fish, Sharon den Adel, Damian Wilson, Edwin Balogh, Anneke van Giersbergen, Jay van Feggelen, Edward Reekers, etc

[BLitZKRieG6sic6]

good lyricist are like Roger Wtaers, Freddy Mercury, o yea i definitely agree about Beck,ummm...Donovan Leich, Bob Dylan...and i definitely forgot sum others...

[toolfreak001]

okay, HERE"S a combination for ya:

Maynard James Keenan and Frank Zappa.

hahahahahh! I can see the lyrics already!

"Girl, you thought he was a mannnnn, but he was a paranoid, paralyized, vampire act."

"I know the peices fit, cuz my guitar wants to kill your mamma"

hahahahah.

[Pickled]

James Maynard Keenan
Jeff Mangnum
Jeff Tweedy

My thoughts anyways...

[Neil Young]

Neil Young
John Lennon

[Number of the Beast]

Lennon/McCartney the dynamic Duo! Alone not as good, but together...wow. Cat Stevens, and Warren Zevon. (I'd Like to credit Van Halen, because that band is awesome...but I can't it would just be a big lie.)