[f10yd]

More and more these days when getting stuck with a song or when I get too bogged down worrying about the 'craft' of song writing, I stop and ask myself.. what would Neil Young do? It always keeps me on the right track because as a song writer he is the person I admire the most. Tom Petty is another

Who do you guys look up to for song writing ability?

[habiTat]

It has to be Lennon and McCartney for me. Maccas melodies are really unusual in some of their songs, very distinctive. I sometimes think, "how would they sing that?"

[Paul]

Loved The Beatles when I was a young boy and their music wil always be great.  Don McLean is fantastic, I love To listen to Roddy Frame, Lloyd Cole and  Neil Finn but Paddy McAloon is for me the greatest of all writers that I listen to!   

[habiTat]

Just to add, and he is possibly overlooked, but John Denver is one of my influences. It's all about the imagery for me. 'Poems and Prayers and Promises' is a beautiful song IMO.

[Paul]

Just to add, and he is possibly overlooked, but John Denver is one of my influences. It's all about the imagery for me. 'Poems and Prayers and Promises' is a beautiful song IMO.

I totally agree.  I was brought up listening to John Denver.  He wrote so many wonderful songs!

[MinuteSekunde]

I'm totally on the other end of the scale it seems, as for me, my writing guru is Taylor Swift.

[tone]

If I had to pick a single songwriter I would find it very hard, but Neil Finn might just tip the balance. But I also can't leave a thread about songwriting gurus without mentioning Paul Simon, Lennon/ McCartney, Joni Mitchell and Rufus Wainwright.

[Boydie]

For me it is Prince

The difference in styles from funk to ballad to dance to all out rock - all with a distinctive writing style - even when he writes for other artists

[tone]

I also rate Prince very highly as a songwriter - but I would say his lyrics are not his strong point. And that's why I don't really think of him as being one of the very best (top ten maybe but not top 5 ) But pretty much everything he did between Purple Rain and Lovesexy was absolute genius.

[James Nighthawk]

Lennon/MCartney
Joni Mitchell
Bob Dylan
Tori Amos
Neil Finn
Laura Marling
Bjork
David Bowie
Amos Lee
Alanis Morissette
Brandi Carlile
Neil Young
Sheryl Crow
Radiohead
Ryan Adams
Neil Tennant


Not in that order, and all for different reasons.

[Paul]

Got to include Justin Currie who wrote so many fantastic songs for Del Amitri.  He's still at the top of his game.  Listen to 'driving with the brakes on' and 'what is love for', songwriting of the highest calibre!

[James Nighthawk]

Got to include Justin Currie who wrote so many fantastic songs for Del Amitri.  He's still at the top of his game.  Listen to 'driving with the brakes on' and 'what is love for', songwriting of the highest calibre!

I f#cking LOVE "Driving with the brakes on"!

[S.T.C]

Morrisey
Leonard Cohen
Roy Harper
Justin Heywood..

and others i can`t recall at the moment.

[HappyBastard]

Might be a common one but Bob Dylan has to be mentioned.  Another one that doesn't seem to be very prominent here is Frank Turner, great songwriter.  Billy Bragg's another one, not my favourite to listen to but I appreciate his songwriting ability.

[stephaniedema]

I guess for me it'll have to be KT Tunstall as a total artist.
And Dylan for his lyrics, I just never dug his tone.

SD