from the page to performance welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be
watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten classic songwriters for this list we’re
classic songwriters for this list we’re
classic songwriters for this list we’re focusing on singer songwriters that have
focusing on singer songwriters that have
focusing on singer songwriters that have seen critical and commercial success
seen critical and commercial success
seen critical and commercial success over the years and are known primarily
over the years and are known primarily
over the years and are known primarily for writing their own music as much as
for writing their own music as much as
for writing their own music as much as we love Elton John’s powerful piano
we love Elton John’s powerful piano
we love Elton John’s powerful piano ballads he will not be making the list
ballads he will not be making the list
ballads he will not be making the list as most of his songs are written with
as most of his songs are written with
as most of his songs are written with the help of Bernie Taupin number 10
the help of Bernie Taupin number 10
the help of Bernie Taupin number 10 Freddie Mercury
originally born as Ferrell Kabul saara
originally born as Ferrell Kabul saara this singer-songwriter spent the first
this singer-songwriter spent the first
this singer-songwriter spent the first 17 years of his life in Zanzibar and
17 years of his life in Zanzibar and
17 years of his life in Zanzibar and India before moving to England for
India before moving to England for
India before moving to England for safety reasons by 1970 however the Shai
safety reasons by 1970 however the Shai
safety reasons by 1970 however the Shai graphic artist transformed into the
graphic artist transformed into the
graphic artist transformed into the frontman of Queen and went on by the
frontman of Queen and went on by the
frontman of Queen and went on by the name of Freddie Mercury with already a
name of Freddie Mercury with already a
name of Freddie Mercury with already a lifetime of material to write about
lifetime of material to write about
lifetime of material to write about along with new personal inspirations
along with new personal inspirations
along with new personal inspirations mercury composed perhaps one of the most
mercury composed perhaps one of the most
mercury composed perhaps one of the most popular rock songs of all time Bohemian
popular rock songs of all time Bohemian
popular rock songs of all time Bohemian Rhapsody utilising his impressive vocals
Rhapsody utilising his impressive vocals
Rhapsody utilising his impressive vocals to his advantage mercury has crafted
to his advantage mercury has crafted
to his advantage mercury has crafted some of the biggest stadium pleasing
some of the biggest stadium pleasing
some of the biggest stadium pleasing hits of all time
while the doors were tearing up the
while the doors were tearing up the psychedelic scene in the late 1960s this
psychedelic scene in the late 1960s this
psychedelic scene in the late 1960s this Northern Irish musician was releasing
Northern Irish musician was releasing
Northern Irish musician was releasing some of the most acclaimed albums of all
some of the most acclaimed albums of all
some of the most acclaimed albums of all time and unless you’re a die-hard fan
time and unless you’re a die-hard fan
time and unless you’re a die-hard fan you probably don’t know that Van
you probably don’t know that Van
you probably don’t know that Van Morrison was responsible for writing the
Morrison was responsible for writing the
Morrison was responsible for writing the 1964 British Invasion classic Gloria as
1964 British Invasion classic Gloria as
1964 British Invasion classic Gloria as a member of the band to them
George Ivan Morrison more commonly known
George Ivan Morrison more commonly known as Van Morrison left the group them and
as Van Morrison left the group them and
as Van Morrison left the group them and went on to become one of the most
went on to become one of the most
went on to become one of the most prolific singer songwriters the world
prolific singer songwriters the world
prolific singer songwriters the world has ever seen and he’s showing no sign
has ever seen and he’s showing no sign
has ever seen and he’s showing no sign of slowing down
number eight David Bowie pushing through
number eight David Bowie pushing through the market square so many mothers cry
the market square so many mothers cry
the market square so many mothers cry like any injuring rock star this poetic
like any injuring rock star this poetic
like any injuring rock star this poetic performer has continuously reinvented
performer has continuously reinvented
performer has continuously reinvented himself over the decades and his musical
himself over the decades and his musical
himself over the decades and his musical emergence can be directly connected to a
emergence can be directly connected to a
emergence can be directly connected to a true space oddity in the summer of 1969
true space oddity in the summer of 1969
true space oddity in the summer of 1969 the first humans reached the moon and
the first humans reached the moon and
the first humans reached the moon and just a few days before the career of
just a few days before the career of
just a few days before the career of David Bowie was launched with his
David Bowie was launched with his
David Bowie was launched with his composition entitled that Space Oddity
with the dawn of a new decade Ziggy
with the dawn of a new decade Ziggy Stardust was introduced to the world and
Stardust was introduced to the world and
Stardust was introduced to the world and the singer wrote a collection of songs
the singer wrote a collection of songs
the singer wrote a collection of songs that would not only inspire future
that would not only inspire future
that would not only inspire future musicians but also offer a new approach
musicians but also offer a new approach
musicians but also offer a new approach to the arts of songwriting
number seven Elvis Costello after taking
number seven Elvis Costello after taking on a moniker in honor of Elvis Presley
on a moniker in honor of Elvis Presley
on a moniker in honor of Elvis Presley and his own father
and his own father
and his own father Declan Patrick McNamara came a leading
Declan Patrick McNamara came a leading
Declan Patrick McNamara came a leading figure of the 70s British New Wave
figure of the 70s British New Wave
figure of the 70s British New Wave through an eclectic sound and
through an eclectic sound and
through an eclectic sound and intellectual wordplay his first few
intellectual wordplay his first few
intellectual wordplay his first few albums are filled with pub rock classics
albums are filled with pub rock classics
albums are filled with pub rock classics and highly regarded for their lyrical
and highly regarded for their lyrical
and highly regarded for their lyrical death as Casella took a layered approach
death as Casella took a layered approach
death as Casella took a layered approach to an evolving genre known for
to an evolving genre known for
to an evolving genre known for repetitive phrases
the average music fan may not be able to
the average music fan may not be able to name five Elvis Costello songs off the
name five Elvis Costello songs off the
name five Elvis Costello songs off the top of their head but it’s the vast
top of their head but it’s the vast
top of their head but it’s the vast discography that makes them so important
discography that makes them so important
discography that makes them so important within the spectrum of rock music
number six Joni Mitchell paradise you
number six Joni Mitchell paradise you put up a parking lot
put up a parking lot
put up a parking lot she’ll stimulate your brain with lyrics
she’ll stimulate your brain with lyrics
she’ll stimulate your brain with lyrics about social change and pierce your
about social change and pierce your
about social change and pierce your hearts with poetic musings on love this
hearts with poetic musings on love this
hearts with poetic musings on love this Canadian arrived on the scene at a
Canadian arrived on the scene at a
Canadian arrived on the scene at a crucial moment in music history when
crucial moment in music history when
crucial moment in music history when young people were coming to grips with
young people were coming to grips with
young people were coming to grips with the realities of war while reflecting on
the realities of war while reflecting on
the realities of war while reflecting on the natural beauty of life God he was
the natural beauty of life God he was
the natural beauty of life God he was walking on as a result Joni Mitchell
walking on as a result Joni Mitchell
walking on as a result Joni Mitchell served as the soundtrack for millions
served as the soundtrack for millions
served as the soundtrack for millions with her poignant lyrics and equally
with her poignant lyrics and equally
with her poignant lyrics and equally remarkable voice songs like big yellow
remarkable voice songs like big yellow
remarkable voice songs like big yellow taxi and Woodstock spoke to a generation
taxi and Woodstock spoke to a generation
taxi and Woodstock spoke to a generation along with her acclaimed a 1971 album
along with her acclaimed a 1971 album
along with her acclaimed a 1971 album blue everybody saying hell the hippest
blue everybody saying hell the hippest
blue everybody saying hell the hippest way to go well I don’t think Joni gives
way to go well I don’t think Joni gives
way to go well I don’t think Joni gives us everything we want out of folk music
us everything we want out of folk music
us everything we want out of folk music and your vocal tone is a fascinating
and your vocal tone is a fascinating
and your vocal tone is a fascinating instrument in itself don’t always seem
instrument in itself don’t always seem
instrument in itself don’t always seem to go you don’t know what you got till
to go you don’t know what you got till
to go you don’t know what you got till it’s gone the pain that I parking lot
number five Bruce Springsteen he goin
number five Bruce Springsteen he goin you
you
you he’s the blue-collar boss of rich
he’s the blue-collar boss of rich
he’s the blue-collar boss of rich American music with numerous album
American music with numerous album
American music with numerous album titles referencing geographical
titles referencing geographical
titles referencing geographical locations and evocative imagery Bruce
locations and evocative imagery Bruce
locations and evocative imagery Bruce Springsteen penned most of his classics
Springsteen penned most of his classics
Springsteen penned most of his classics based on his experiences of hustling for
based on his experiences of hustling for
based on his experiences of hustling for the American dream
his 1975 album Born to Run included the
his 1975 album Born to Run included the self written smash Thunder Road and his
self written smash Thunder Road and his
self written smash Thunder Road and his 1984 album born in the USA is
1984 album born in the USA is
1984 album born in the USA is undoubtedly essential to any rock fad
more importantly however is that
more importantly however is that Springsteen’s lyrics convey a grittiness
Springsteen’s lyrics convey a grittiness
Springsteen’s lyrics convey a grittiness that can only be felt by anyone working
that can only be felt by anyone working
that can only be felt by anyone working hard for their money damn here it’s just
hard for their money damn here it’s just
hard for their money damn here it’s just winners and losers and don’t get caught
winners and losers and don’t get caught
winners and losers and don’t get caught on the wrong side of that line won’t get
on the wrong side of that line won’t get
on the wrong side of that line won’t get tired of coming out
number four John Lennon imagine there’s
number four John Lennon imagine there’s no heaven speaking of working class
no heaven speaking of working class
no heaven speaking of working class heroes this rock legend played thousands
heroes this rock legend played thousands
heroes this rock legend played thousands of shows with his Liverpool bandmates
of shows with his Liverpool bandmates
of shows with his Liverpool bandmates before they invaded America and his
before they invaded America and his
before they invaded America and his first solo album touched on the artists
first solo album touched on the artists
first solo album touched on the artists personal state of mind at that point in
personal state of mind at that point in
personal state of mind at that point in his career a working class hero is
his career a working class hero is
his career a working class hero is something to be John Lennon co-wrote the
something to be John Lennon co-wrote the
something to be John Lennon co-wrote the majority of Beatles classics with Paul
majority of Beatles classics with Paul
majority of Beatles classics with Paul McCartney however had a number of solo
McCartney however had a number of solo
McCartney however had a number of solo writing credits including across the
writing credits including across the
writing credits including across the universe and dear Prudence and had a
universe and dear Prudence and had a
universe and dear Prudence and had a successful solo career until his
successful solo career until his
successful solo career until his unfortunate death in 1980
although Lennon wouldn’t live beyond the
although Lennon wouldn’t live beyond the age of 40 his short career cemented his
age of 40 his short career cemented his
age of 40 his short career cemented his place in history as both a pop culture
place in history as both a pop culture
place in history as both a pop culture icon and one of rock’s most influential
icon and one of rock’s most influential
icon and one of rock’s most influential voices
this New Jersey native was once honored
this New Jersey native was once honored by Time magazine as one of the 100
by Time magazine as one of the 100
by Time magazine as one of the 100 people who shaped the world and it
people who shaped the world and it
people who shaped the world and it wasn’t because of his unbelievable style
wasn’t because of his unbelievable style
wasn’t because of his unbelievable style and touched the sound of silence
and touched the sound of silence
and touched the sound of silence with a knack for the folk and world beat
with a knack for the folk and world beat
with a knack for the folk and world beat music Paul Simon first conquered the
music Paul Simon first conquered the
music Paul Simon first conquered the charts with bandmates Art Garfunkel and
charts with bandmates Art Garfunkel and
charts with bandmates Art Garfunkel and produced classics like the sound of
produced classics like the sound of
produced classics like the sound of silence and mrs. Robinson although Simon
silence and mrs. Robinson although Simon
silence and mrs. Robinson although Simon and Garfunkel would split by 1970 the
and Garfunkel would split by 1970 the
and Garfunkel would split by 1970 the former embarked on a solo career that
former embarked on a solo career that
former embarked on a solo career that would rattle listeners to the core with
would rattle listeners to the core with
would rattle listeners to the core with his soul piercing lyrics decades later
his soul piercing lyrics decades later
his soul piercing lyrics decades later were still crazy about mr. Simon
number two paul mccartney blackbird
number two paul mccartney blackbird singing in the dead of night take these
singing in the dead of night take these
singing in the dead of night take these broken wings burn blood some artists
broken wings burn blood some artists
broken wings burn blood some artists fade into obscurity when their Rockstar
fade into obscurity when their Rockstar
fade into obscurity when their Rockstar days are over and some continue to
days are over and some continue to
days are over and some continue to create day after day year after year and
create day after day year after year and
create day after day year after year and decade after decade Paul McCartney
decade after decade Paul McCartney
decade after decade Paul McCartney forever changed music through his
forever changed music through his
forever changed music through his collaborations with bandmate John Lennon
collaborations with bandmate John Lennon
collaborations with bandmate John Lennon however his insatiable love for music
however his insatiable love for music
however his insatiable love for music resulted in eight albums with wings and
resulted in eight albums with wings and
resulted in eight albums with wings and a long career as a solo artist
he wrote the masterpiece that is Hey
he wrote the masterpiece that is Hey Jude for the Beatles in the late 60s and
Jude for the Beatles in the late 60s and
Jude for the Beatles in the late 60s and composed freedom over 30 years later in
composed freedom over 30 years later in
composed freedom over 30 years later in response to the September 11th attacks
in one way or another the words of Paul
in one way or another the words of Paul McCartney have touched all of our lives
McCartney have touched all of our lives
McCartney have touched all of our lives and there’s not another
and there’s not another
and there’s not another singer-songwriter that has reached all
singer-songwriter that has reached all
singer-songwriter that has reached all corners of the earth like Sir Paul
before we unveil our top pick here are a
before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions realize
few honorable mentions realize
few honorable mentions realize you know it’s
I just to say I love you we know that
I just to say I love you we know that she will find you for she’s touched your
she will find you for she’s touched your
she will find you for she’s touched your perfect body
perfect body
perfect body with your number one Bob Dylan what
with your number one Bob Dylan what
with your number one Bob Dylan what sparked I’m mystified
born and raised in Minnesota Robert
born and raised in Minnesota Robert Zimmerman aka Bob Dylan walked to the
Zimmerman aka Bob Dylan walked to the
Zimmerman aka Bob Dylan walked to the beat of his own drum in the early 60s
beat of his own drum in the early 60s
beat of his own drum in the early 60s even if his vocal style or deeply
even if his vocal style or deeply
even if his vocal style or deeply insightful lyrics weren’t necessarily
insightful lyrics weren’t necessarily
insightful lyrics weren’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea
it’s okay
it’s okay but much to his surprise Dillon became
but much to his surprise Dillon became
but much to his surprise Dillon became the unwilling spokesperson for a
the unwilling spokesperson for a
the unwilling spokesperson for a generation upon his arrival in New York
generation upon his arrival in New York
generation upon his arrival in New York City and proceeded to abandon his
City and proceeded to abandon his
City and proceeded to abandon his acoustic sound for electric riffs while
acoustic sound for electric riffs while
acoustic sound for electric riffs while continuously reworking his sound from
continuously reworking his sound from
continuously reworking his sound from album to album all the faces we used to
album to album all the faces we used to
album to album all the faces we used to know they’re an illusion coming down
know they’re an illusion coming down
know they’re an illusion coming down some mathematicians somewhat took jabs
some mathematicians somewhat took jabs
some mathematicians somewhat took jabs revs always the innovator filling
revs always the innovator filling
revs always the innovator filling remains one of the most prolific
remains one of the most prolific
remains one of the most prolific performers of modern times and certainly
performers of modern times and certainly
performers of modern times and certainly the most culturally significant
the most culturally significant
the most culturally significant songwriter of American history how many
songwriter of American history how many
songwriter of American history how many times must me
times must me
times must me before he can really see the sky so do
before he can really see the sky so do
before he can really see the sky so do you agree with our selections who is
you agree with our selections who is
you agree with our selections who is your favorite classic singer-songwriter
your favorite classic singer-songwriter
your favorite classic singer-songwriter yeah
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