HOF discussion - Writers

[The Flying Mouse]

:twisted: Here's your chance to have your say on why you think your favourites should be enducted to our hall of fame, or even why you think other nominees don't make the grade.

As always, please respect the opinions of others, even if you don't agree with them.

Your nominated song writters are................


Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus
Rick Brantley (2)
Harry Chapin
Desmond Child
Neil Diamond (2)
Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Billy Joel
Elton John (3)
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jeff Lynne
James Michael
Roy Orbison (2)
Tom Petty
Sam Roberts
Nikki Sixx
Bruce Springsteen (3)
Diane Warren



Numbers in brackets indicate how many members (if more than one) have nominated this song writter.

[The Flying Mouse]

:twisted: Because that's (http://www.mlukfc.com/forums/showpost.php?p=584799&postcount=2) why!

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Here's my three nominees:

Bruce Springsteen: Bruce is a prolific songwriter; for every album he's released, there are at least several albums' worth of songs that didn't make the cut, not because they were not great songs, but because they didn't fit with the overall theme of what he was trying to say with the albums themselves. Within his catalog, I think there's something for everybody, from hard rock songs, to fluffy pop songs (which he has a tendency to give/ throw away), to quiet acoustic numbers, to folk, country, and gospel-tinged songs. I'd recommend to anyone who's only familiar with his "hits" to did a little deeper into the catalog, because IMO, that's where the best stuff is. He is also a master at re-arranging his songs, so much that they almost become a different song altogether.

I'd be hard-pressed to come up with one song as his best, but I consider "The Ghost of Tom Joad" to be one of them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF9jQHwRbDk (Original acoustic version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NA1Rvcwc1g&feature=endscreen&NR=1 (Full band rock version)

A more dramatic example is "Blinded By the Light", which itself is pretty different from the more well-known cover by Manfred Mann:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWe-e92o28M (Original acoustic)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjCcPlAql6g (Sessions Band version)

Bruce continues to write and release new music, with his most recent release being 2012's "Wrecking Ball".


Elton John: Elton didn't set out to be singer- he and Bernie Taupin aspired to be songwriters, but it became apparent to them that the only way to get their songs heard was for Elton to perform them. Also very prolific, Elton's written for the movies and Broadway, as well as his rock albums. Many of his songs are beloved the world over. Elton is still writing and recording new music today. One of my favorite songs of his is "Funeral For a Friend/ Love Lies Bleeding" from the album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z314pQhLb2Q


Harry Chapin: Harry was sadly gone too soon. His songs featured some great storytelling, and often were very poignant as well. "Tangled Up Puppet" never fails to bring me to tears, as does "Mail Order Annie" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYtoOoAnFUA

and "Mr Tanner": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDkmqmHFJtM

His breed of singer/songwriter almost doesn't exist any more.

[AndyK]

Bruce - I defy anyone to listen to his catalogue and not find one single song that they don't like. A singer/songwriter careerspanning some 40+ years with classic tracks produced regularly over that time. Songs that cover serious social topics, have multiple hidden meanings and damn good tunes.

Point Blank, Born To Run, No Surrender, Jungleland, The Rising, Backstreets, Johnny 99, Dancing In The Dark, Candys Room, Roulette, Leap Of Faith, Human Touch, Rosalita, For You, Radio Nowhere, the list is seemingly endless.

Jagger/Richards - The songwriting talent behind The Stones. 50 yrs old last year and still going strong (despite Keith's best efforts at self destruction).

It's a tie between these two deserving nominees in my opinon.

[RSG]

Sam Roberts - Although been in the public's eye for a decade now.. his contributions thus far have been great! He's a Canadian artist with band. Their sound is often familiar with 70's rock and roll flair intertwined with the spirit and mind provocation of this age. And I would dispute his rock and roll is real fun and at times nurturing. Nothing real lengthy or intriciate but just old fashioned rock and roll with love, wit and spirit.

Rick Brantley - Also a young artist. His rock and roll is in his lyric and delivery. His lyrics real live up to their song titles. He paints a real good picture of what he is saying and can deliver it with big sound, or simply acoustic guitar. I really haven't heard a lot from Brantley's catalogue. But his "I Don't Believe In Love" and his work with Meat Loaf I believe is reason enough to be a nominated. No filler lyrics, just wise & youthful rock and roll.

I could really write an essay on each of these two fellas, but I'll be brief :)

[The Flying Mouse]

:twisted: OK, a few more words on why Roy should be inducted to the song writers section of our HOF.

There are many many (http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/songs/detailed/C173) good reasons, but i'll try and keep it to 5.

1. Crying.
There are, in the deepest darkest corners of the world, tribes not yet discovered by our civilization.
However, if you were ever to run into one and sing "I was alright, for a while" you would undoubtedly get the reply "I could smile for a while".
This song is EPIC!
It's been covered by many different artist, it's been used in movie and TV.
Only Fools & Horses made a generation of people cry "cwying" every time they hear the song, and Terry Fator took the gold in America's Got Talent by singing this song vent with a small turtle figure.
Not for nothing is this song so well used, so well known, and so well loved.

2. Blue Bayou.
Again, is there anyone on the planet who doesn't know the words to this song?
If there are, they need to be educated.

3. Blue Angel.
Meat once said that the ultimate Rock N Roll performance was Elvis singing Are You Lonesome Tonight.
I respectfully disagree.
The ultimate Rock N Roll performance was this stunning song.
It's a beautiful declaration of undying love, something that is very much at the heart of great Rock N Roll. No doubt because of the angsty nature of teenage love.
And not only did Roy lend his voice to this masterpiece, he also co-wrote it.
If I ever get it into my head to walk into a Rock N Roll themed American Diner, and this song isn't playing on the jukebox, i'm turning right around and walking back out because nothing could be more authentic than this song.


4. Walk On.
Roy had a gift for the dramatic, and this song with it's slow burn with it's incredible built up to the end is nothing if not dramatic.

5. You Got It.
Written with fellow Wilburys Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty.
This is a good example of the quality of work Roy was putting out towards the end of his life.
Not only one of my favourite songs from his later days, one of my favourite songs PERIOD!

6. Up Town.
Yes I know this is 6, no I don't give a crap :mrgreen:
Roy could be angsty, Roy could be dramatic, but Roy could also lay down some pretty great feel good Rock N Roll 8)
He had a gift for being able to be the ordinary guy in his music.
In this song he's a bellhop who sees the same rich girl every day and wants to tell her that one day he's going to be a big success and will be able to be worthy of her.
It's a great daydream song. Something that takes the bellhop away from his crappy life and gives his hope. And it gives the listener hope too.

As a writer and a performer Roy (like Meat) was able to create characters and situations to suit the nature of the song he wanted to put across.
He is legend.