The New York Times ' The 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters list

[TaylorSwift 162,471]

The New York Times Magazine polled more than 250 music insiders and gathered six Times critics to choose the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters.
NYT sent out ballots to hundreds of experts, asking which songwriters they considered America’s greatest. They asked musicians — from pop stars to underground favorites — but also critics, historians, industry executives, D.J.s, music supervisors, choreographers. They offered up over 700 nominees, covering a wild range: household names and deep-cut experimentalists, behind-the-scenes industry stalwarts and people making tapes in basements.

 

Young Thug
Willie Nelson
Valerie Simpson
The-Dream
Taylor Swift
Stevie Wonder
Stephin Merritt
Smokey Robinson
Romeo Santos
Paul Simon
Outkast
Nile Rodgers
Missy Elliott
Mariah Carey
Lucinda Williams
Lionel Richie
Lana Del Rey
Kendrick Lamar
Josh Osborne, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Jay-Z
Fiona Apple
Dolly Parton
Diane Warren
Carole King
Bruce Springster
Brian& Eddie Holland
Bob Dylan
Bad Bunny
Babyface

 

 

[Ladle Ghoulash 53,116]

Some very talented people on this list, but some light head scratchers as well

[nATAH 57,034]

we just choosing anybody these days

[Bronco 25,129]

Damn

Smokey Robinson is still alive

[Xardas 1,948]

It's ridiculous that there's Taylor and Lana and Jay-Z but not Gaga with her incredible ear for a melody... Like wtf. 

Yet, I chose not to care about these things anymore since these lists and awards are a biased bs

[GAGA IS GROOVY 812]

I couldn't tell you who half, if not two thirds, of those people on that list are.... Babyface? And no, I refuse to google them in protest that Gaga isn't on the list! 

[Lucas 31,129]

6 minutes ago, GAGA IS GROOVY said:

I couldn't tell you who half, if not two thirds, of those people on that list are.... Babyface? And no, I refuse to google them in protest that Gaga isn't on the list! 

He produced/wrote a crazy amount of hits. 125 Top 10 Hits, 45 number 1 R&B hits, and 16 number 1 pop hits according to his website. I'd say his spot is quite deserved there  he worked on Madonna's "Take A Bow" 

[Kayioshka 3,335]

17 minutes ago, Xardas said:

It's ridiculous that there's Taylor and Lana and Jay-Z but not Gaga with her incredible ear for a melody... Like wtf. 

Yet, I chose not to care about these things anymore since these lists and awards are a biased bs

Lana is great. But I agree Jay-Z and Taylor are not my cup of tea.

Gaga is incredibly underrated as a songwriter because she is very talented to sing theatrically, soulfully her lyrics. And her lyrics are very refereced, far from being just good in surface. Mayhem’s songwriting is so good. And yeah she create lyrics with great melodies.

[GAGA IS GROOVY 812]

8 minutes ago, Lucas said:

He produced/wrote a crazy amount of hits. 125 Top 10 Hits, 45 number 1 R&B hits, and 16 number 1 pop hits according to his website. I'd say his spot is quite deserved there  he worked on Madonna's "Take A Bow" 

Mr. Babyface, the legend that you evidently are! Take A Bow is an absolute smash, he belongs on the list just for that song alone!

[Xardas 1,948]

3 minutes ago, Kayi said:

Lana is great. But I agree Jay-Z and Taylor are not my cup of tea.

I didn't say she's a bad songwriter, but I don't see her as superior to Gaga. I do enjoy much of Lana's work, but Gaga has proven herself a fruitful songwriter in terms of melodies and a versatile one when it comes to genres. She was able to make me enjoy some sounds and styles I normally wouldn't have. And she has quite a range. She's tried almost everything and even the opera song that was played during Mayhem Ball proves that. Most songs in her discography sounds distinct to me, which is hard to say about many other artists.

[Sunny 12,753]

[Ziggy 14,050]

The Dream is VERY accurate and I'm glad they didn't say Beyoncé whose skill is less in songwriting imo and more in song construction or composition given how she works? But then to have Taylor Swift share list space with Stevie Wonder and Fiona Apple is INSANE...I'm glad they're giving ample credit to Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, as well. They're sensational

[Ziggy 14,050]

28 minutes ago, GAGA IS GROOVY said:

I couldn't tell you who half, if not two thirds, of those people on that list are.... Babyface? And no, I refuse to google them in protest that Gaga isn't on the list! 

Some homework for you, then  most of them are amazing. 

[PartySick 172,545]

Look, I'm not saying Gaga deserves to be in the top 30 list but if the criteria includes Taylor then you're obligated to put Gaga on there as she's objectively superior in every way.

[PartySick 172,545]

2 minutes ago, Ziggy said:

I'm glad they didn't say Beyoncé whose skill is less in songwriting imo and more in song construction or composition given how she works?

In my mind, Beyoncé's always been in a similar league as MJ when it comes to actually creating songs. A lot of his biggest hits, and some of my favorite songs, were written by other people but the writers' demos are just ok while his final tracks are incredible.

There's a lot more that goes into making a song than putting pen to paper and jotting down some lyrics, it's nice to see someone else recognize that