100 Greatest Lyricists Of Rock 'n' Roll

Classic Rock Junkie · **Joined:** Wed Oct 13, 2010 3:05 am **Posts:** 1925

Wait, I just found out that NME voted The Smiths the most influential band ever, ahead of the Beatles and Elvis Presley. Wut?

pauldrach · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:24 am

See? I was right.

Nah, just kiddin', leave Keenan where he is. I guess I was rather wrong. Thoughts on replacing Mellencamp with Leiber?

I'll also throw to other names that weren't on the old list back in again, just so they aren't forgotten in the further making of the new list. Gil Scott-Heron and Joe Jackson that is.

Deany · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:25 am

I'm going to replace Mellencamp with Leiber. Mainly influence, really.

pauldrach · **Posted:** Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:27 am

Deany wrote:

I'm going to replace Mellencamp with Leiber. Mainly influence, really.

True, though some of his lyrics are surprisingly good for '50s/early '60s rock.

Deany · **Posted:** Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:06 am

Any suggestions for 51-60?

pauldrach · **Posted:** Fri Sep 16, 2011 12:17 pm

Michael Stipe
Mick Jagger
2Pac and/or Nas and/or Big Daddy Kane
Scott-Heron
Patti Smith perhaps (she definitely needs a boost in comparison to the old list)
Beck
Don Henley

others that were not on the old list but should be on the new one:
Laurie Anderson
Richard Thompson

Chaplin · **Joined:** Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:38 pm **Posts:** 196

Ian Anderson
Mark Knopfler
Frank Zappa
Mick Jagger
Jerry Cantrell

Hendrix · **Joined:** Sat Oct 16, 2010 8:55 am **Posts:** 401

Chris Cornell..

Wanted Dead Or Alive · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:30 pm **Posts:** 3188

Chaplin wrote:

Ian Anderson
Mark Knopfler
Frank Zappa
Mick Jagger
Jerry Cantrell

Deany · **Posted:** Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:27 am

51. Michael Stipe
52. Frank Zappa
53. 2Pac
54. Patti Smith
55. Don Henley
56. Mick Jagger
57. Gil Scott-Heron
58. Beck
59. Jimi Hendrix
60. Chris Cornell

???

pauldrach · **Posted:** Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:15 am

I like. I'd replace Cantrell with Cornell, and then have Cantrell in the next 10 but all in all I'm fine with it.

pauldrach · **Posted:** Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:16 am

Wanted Dead Or Alive wrote:

Chaplin wrote:

Ian Anderson
Mark Knopfler
Frank Zappa
Mick Jagger
Jerry Cantrell

Knopfler is good but not spectacular. Top 100 lock but not necessarily Top 60 I'd say.

Hendrix · **Joined:** Sat Oct 16, 2010 8:55 am **Posts:** 401

pauldrach wrote:

I like. I'd replace Cantrell with Cornell, and then have Cantrell in the next 10 but all in all I'm fine with it.

Agreed..

Deany · **Posted:** Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:27 am

So Cantrell, Thompson, and Nas are probably going to be in the next ten. Any more suggestions? I personally think Brian May could get a spot: some of his lyrics ("Save Me", "'39", "The Prophet's Song") are quite good.

pauldrach · **Posted:** Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:37 am

Nas and Big Daddy Kane could both sneak in. They should be Top 75 at least. Robbie Robertson could be Top 70 I guess. Sting perhaps. What were the thoughts on Curtis and Drake? Brian didn't want them in the Top 100 because of there limited output, right? They're still highly acclaimed lyricists, so I guess Top 100 should be OK for either. How does limited output affect their greatness by the criteria anyway?

100 Greatest Lyricists Of Rock 'n' Roll

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