Bob Dylan,
Jim Morrison, John Lennon. As a
songwriter these are three names that tend to pop into my brain when thinking
about legendary lyricists. Many of us
could (and do) argue for days about who the best is, but this is completely
subjective and we all know it. Different
lyrics and words affect us as individuals for different reasons. Whether its Fleetwood Mac’s “Never Going Back
Again” or Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box,” these words will take us to a familiar
place that only these songs can describe.
I believe
that a true understanding of good song lyrics comes with age, experience and
wisdom. When we are younger we tend to
be influenced by what is popular instead of what we really appreciate, as was
the case with Vanilla Ice or Gerardo. Being
the lyricist and lead singer for my first High School rock band (Crabapple
Sedan), Bob Dylan would constantly blast into my radar as the all time
great. When hearing songs like
“Hurricane” or “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” I would always appreciate them
because I was supposed to but never really understood what all the fuss was
about. Sure the songs sound great, but
how could someone with such a terrible voice be looked at in this way? It wasn’t until a few years ago when I
actually “listened” to “The Times They Are A-Changin” and could finally understand
what people meant. Words eloquently
pieced together evoking a timeless message that pierces directly to the core of
you. His words force you to have
understanding when your ears are open.
Regardless of what he was thinking when he wrote his songs, his lyrics
have the ability to create something personal for you. To me, that is the tell tale sign of an
accomplished lyricist.
When
writing songs it always helps to have a little bit of inspiration. There is of course always the greats from
days gone by, but who is out there now?
I tried to think of people that are currently putting out new songs,
from well recognized to almost unknown, and came up with seven artists (in no
particular order) that stood out in my mind.
1.
Ben Gibbard:
The Death Cab for Cutie front man is an obvious pick for me. This indie band has hit it pretty big in the
last few years, but it was their first commercial success with the album
“Plans” that got me listening. My wife
and I danced to the song, “I Will Follow You Into The Dark,” at our wedding to
confused eyes. To some this is a dark,
somber song about death, incredibly inappropriate for a wedding dance. But if you truly listen to his wonderfully
descriptive words there can be no other song that expresses the endless love
that you have for another being. “If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are
satisfied, illuminate the no’s on their vacancy signs. If there’s no one beside you when your soul
embarks, then I’ll follow you into the dark.”
Listen to:
Brothers on a Hotel Bed, You are a Tourist or
Summer Skin
 |
| Ben Gibbard |
2.
Jeff Klein: The band, My Jerusalem, is the
greatest band that you don’t know about right now. Jeff Klein, the mastermind behind them, is
talented beyond all imagination. His sense
of humor blends beautifully with an ability to understand the world around
us. Sometimes he makes us laugh and
sometimes he makes us feel as though we’ve been hit in the chest and had our
heart ripped out. “There’s a taste I
can’t spit out, his cigarettes on your mouth.
The love you couldn’t live without, it will finally destroy you.”
Listen to:
Hit the Lights, Sleepwalking or Shatter Together
 |
| Jeff Klein |
3.
Chino Moreno: Here’s a guy that has been around
for quite some time now. I first heard
The Deftones front man screaming in 1995 with the song “7 Words.” This band quickly became one of my all time
favorites and continue to evolve with each passing year. Chino’s lyrics have also come a long way,
from 95’s Adrenaline to this years’ Koi No Yokan. He is a poet at heart, angry and complicated. Telling us his view of the world and
expressing it in a way that you can get several different meanings past his
initial intention. “Our minds bend and
our fingers fold. Entwined, we dream I
know.”
Listen to:
Rosemary, Change (In the House of Flies) or Lhabia
 |
| Chino Moreno |
4.
Karen O: Once you get past Karen O from the Yeah
Yeah Yeahs’ fashion sense you will find her to be one of the greats. Her ethereal vocals compliment her subject
matter harmoniously. She will take you
on a journey that at times feels much like a fantasy film, which is probably
why her then boyfriend, Spike Jonze, chose her to do the soundtrack for “Where
the Wild Things Are.” “I got a date with
the night, putting out my finger. Gonna
catch the kids dry, gonna walk on water.
Buying out the fight, we’re sweating in the winter. Both thighs squeeze tight.”
Listen to:
Date With The Night, Gold Lion, Zero
 |
| Karen O |
5.
Marcus Mumford: Grammy winning band, Mumford
& Sons, is probably the most popular example on this list right now. Front man Marcus helps bring us back to the
days of sitting in a barn for a hoedown while adding a new age spin. The most popular example would be adding an
expletive into an introspective folk song, jarring listeners into realizing
it’s 2010 and not 1810. He offers us a
glimpse at a simpler life and reminds us what truly living is all about. “We’ll be washed and buried one day my girl,
and the time we were given will be left for the world. The flesh that lived and loved will be eaten
by plague, so let the memories be good for those who stay.”
Listen to:
Winter Winds, Ghosts That We Knew, Little Lion Man
 |
| Marcus Mumford |
6.
Dana Falconberry: This indie singer/songwriter
from Austin, TX uses her sweet voice to deliver a powerful message of how to
find and know ones self. Her words will linger in your mind for several days
with a haunting excellence. “And the
children came and laid me on my bed and the paper said the people cried and the
pastor read words that Jesus said but nobody knows that I was singing when I
died and I was peaceful, yeah, I said all my goodbyes.”
Listen to:
Singing Lullabies, Crooked River, Love Will Never Leave You Alone
 |
| Dana Falconberry |
7.
Trent Reznor: Definitely the biggest name on
this list, but for good reason. At least
for me anyway. There is no one out there
that thinks the way that Trent Reznor does, which leads to some exceptional
music and twisted lyrics. Often tackling
subjects of suicide, drug addiction and depression, he forces you to experience
it all with him. All of his pain and
torture is poured into his work, which doesn’t exactly leave us with a sunny
feeling inside. Instead we feel it like
a powerhouse drop kick to the chin.
Lyrics don’t always have to inspire us to feel better or happy,
sometimes they just show us that we are not alone. “The me that you know used to have feelings,
but the blood has stopped pumping and he's left to decay. The me that you know is now made up of wires,
and even when I’m right with you I’m so far away.”
Listen to:
The Becoming, The Warning, Somewhat Damaged
 |
| Trent Reznor |
Written By Kevin O
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