And the Nobel Prize of Literature goes to... Best lyricist in music C/D S/D etc

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Every year there's this talk about Bob Dylan or Bono "deserving" the Nobel Prize for Literature. Both are extreme challop choices imho tbh iirc. Shambles and shameful. I think it is silly to nominate a songwriter for a literature prize anyway.
But if that prize could, or would, be really given to a music person, a song/lyrics writer, who would deserve it most? Who, for you, is the best lyricist around in music land?

My three contestants: J0hn D4rnielle, Nas, David Tibet.

a pleasant little psychedelic detour in the elevator (Amory Blaine), Wednesday, 19 November 2014 23:27 (nine years ago) link

Lifetime Achievement: Dylan (most of Tempest was pretty good too).

dow, Wednesday, 19 November 2014 23:33 (nine years ago) link

But was he nominated just for the lyrics? He can only have it from me for whole songs (it's been awarded to at least one playwright, that Italian guy several years back, so why not a songwriter)

dow, Wednesday, 19 November 2014 23:36 (nine years ago) link

I'm surprised you didn't include Morrissey as a challop choice

, Thursday, 20 November 2014 00:09 (nine years ago) link

Idk I suppose I don't move in circles that would consider Morrissey up for this stuff?

a pleasant little psychedelic detour in the elevator (Amory Blaine), Thursday, 20 November 2014 00:18 (nine years ago) link

I always think of Karl Hyde as a great lyricist (more for Underworld than his solo lyrics).

djh, Thursday, 20 November 2014 00:27 (nine years ago) link

one year passes...

The more I hear George Brassens the more I feel he's the only lyricist whose writings really do work on the page as pure poetry... Dylan, Joni, Cohen always read stilted to me. J0hn & hip-hop require the spoken word. Maybe I just share his fascination with finding the comic in the tragic and vice versa. First three tracks from Pierre De Gaillande's translation album provide a clear overview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeulvmmE9fI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTntoFE2BsE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4DzGXr4x4

Adam J Duncan, Wednesday, 11 May 2016 03:12 (seven years ago) link

Georges :(

Adam J Duncan, Wednesday, 11 May 2016 03:14 (seven years ago) link

(How many artists can be so directly translated and presented without flourishes, yet remain so poignant? Notwithstanding the mixing issue on track 3, the producers seem to have made a conscious choice to be as dull as possible, and let the songs speak for themselves.)

Adam J Duncan, Wednesday, 11 May 2016 03:34 (seven years ago) link

Graham Fucking Smith

Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 11 May 2016 03:53 (seven years ago) link

I'll see your Brassens and raise you Brel.

moans and feedback (Dinsdale), Wednesday, 11 May 2016 07:46 (seven years ago) link

Mark E Smith,
Mark Eitzel,
Nick Cave when he's not self consciously trying to be funny.
Guy Kyser though I think you need to see them written possibly undecipherable otherwise.

Stevolende, Wednesday, 11 May 2016 07:59 (seven years ago) link


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