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In reply to the discussion: Who do you consider to be the best songwriter of the 20th century? [View all]Niagara
(10,509 posts)19. James Douglas Morrison and Brian Hugh Warner
Technically Jim Morrison was a poet. However, he fronted a rock band that broke barriers using his poems as lyrics.
Stoned Immaculate
Now listen to this...
I'll tell you about Texas radio and the big beat
Soft driven, slow and mad
Like some new language
Reaching your head with the cold, sudden fury of a divine messenger
Let me tell you about heartache and the loss of god
Moonlight Drive
Let's swim to the moon, uh huh
Let's climb through the tide
Penetrate the evening that the
City sleeps to hide
Let's swim out tonight, love
It's our turn to try
Parked beside the ocean
On our moonlight drive
Let's climb through the tide
Penetrate the evening that the
City sleeps to hide
Let's swim out tonight, love
It's our turn to try
Parked beside the ocean
On our moonlight drive
Brian Warner AKA Marilyn Manson. Another artist that broke barriers and (barely) survived false abuse accusations. By the way, Manson has been known to lean left politically.

Great Big White World
'Cause it's a great big white world
And we are drained of our colors
We used to love ourselves
We used to love one another
All my stitches itch, my prescription's low
I wish you were queen, just for today
All my stitches itch, my prescription's low
I wish you were queen, just for today
In a world so white
And we are drained of our colors
We used to love ourselves
We used to love one another
All my stitches itch, my prescription's low
I wish you were queen, just for today
All my stitches itch, my prescription's low
I wish you were queen, just for today
In a world so white
Cruci-Fiction In Space
We are dead, and tomorrow's canceled
Because of things we did yesterday
We are dead, and tomorrow's canceled
They crucify us in our space
In our space, in our space
In our space, in our space
In our space, in our space
In our space, in our space
Because of things we did yesterday
We are dead, and tomorrow's canceled
They crucify us in our space
In our space, in our space
In our space, in our space
In our space, in our space
In our space, in our space
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I wouldn't say "best". All of these artists have reached a level we could call "best". I'd go with "favorite".
Midnight Writer
Mar 21
#10
I voted for Bob Dylan, basically because he wrote for a generation I admired, from anti-Vietnam War to civil rights.
CTyankee
Mar 21
#12
Hank Williams SENIOR, who among other things, inspired Bob Dylan and many others.
Dorothy V
Mar 21
#18
Many great composers for plays throughout the century. Some spaghetti westerns have songs played by symphonies.
Norrrm
Mar 22
#38
Because of their collaboration, I think Lennon/McCartney should have been an option.
surfered
Mar 22
#53
I need to listen to that one more, I'm certain I would fall in love with it.
Clouds Passing
Mar 22
#70