Padstar wrote:@zigeunerweisen
I cant speak another language Zig, so how can i tell? suffice to say that im not assuming that non-English speakers cannot write good lyrics but surely being able to understand them is fundamentaly important to having a point of view....
I think you are being a bit harsh on us "us Brits"
Paddy
Yes, Ziggy was definitely to harsh on you guys. If the thread was "who is your favourite Portuguese lyricist" I'd had to agree with Zeca Afonso, for instance, but I know you never heard of him and it's no use translating because you would also have to know a lot about the culture of the country as well.
Glad he mentioned them, though.
And yes, it's very subjective. You favourite lyricist is always someone who says something that means something to you. I wouldn't choose a favourite lyricist outside alternative music, for starters. And I'm inclined to call in the name of Nick Cave.
But of course, this is very personal and subjective. I love the songs in "Murder Ballads" or "The mercy seat" and bow before the man. Like this:
Andrew Eldritch, of course, but liking Eldritch is even more personal.
Choosing the greatest lyricist in the world is always unfair. There are so many, present or past, from Jacques Brel to Kurt Cobain, from folk/traditional music to the most modern pop... It's simply impossible.
As for the worst... Well, Ian Duffy (The Cult) comes to mind:
Come on little devil
be my little angel
And if you think of all the Cult's hits you'll see it's absolutely meaningless but somehow it still rocks! Most amazing!
![Surprised :eek:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)