Elvis Costello - Great songwriter or greatest songwriter?

[mizzou]

your FACE sucks.






so does your mom.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Agreed. Dylan towers over everyone else.

Songwriters, hell musicians, cite Dylan as a formative influence over any one other person by a ratio of at least 20 to 1.

Costello ain't bad at all, but you really set yourself up for some push back with the structure of your poll, Bobber.

Finally, lolololololololol @ anyone trying to insert that intensely mediocre hack Neil Diamond into this convo. He epitomizes candy ass schlock. I am, I said. Yeah, you am alright, Big Neil.

While I agree that Dylan is #1, to claim he "towers" over Van Morrison and Chuck Berry is... hasty at best, or ill-informed at worst.

 

[mizzou]

*does bob dylan voice*

"
Hey everyone, I'm bob Dylan!
Heyyyy..

Heyyy is that a pencil?

Pencil is the rain...

Rain that doesn't drop that is

But if it isn't the rain it's probably the silverware...On the table man

Window glasses on the frost man, it's just a silver dome of light

"


lyrical genious

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

no, the point about SONGWRITING.

that is what is going on here.

Oh, that.

His songwriting is great, his voice I can take only in small doses.

However, the day he sat on the couch next to my g/f and her dad and sang "Happy Birthday" to her, softly strumming his guitar, was pure magic.

 

[CallMeJoe]

More great songs? From who's perspective, yours? In addition to the songs he's made famous, I believe Neil Diamond has written more famous songs for other's than Elvis Costello has in his entirety.
Elvis Costello couldn't carry Neil Diamond's Sequin Shirt.

From whose perspective am I expected to opine?

Which of Mr. Diamond's songs do you find so particularly compelling?

I am, I said
To no one there
An no one heard at all
Not even the chair

Cracklin' Rosie you're a store-bought woman
You make me sing like a guitar hummin'
So hang on to me, girl
Our song keeps runnin' on

Perhaps you mean his pedo ode to young Caroline Kennedy?

Finally, why should anyone do anything with a Neil Diamond Sequined Shirt that does not involve a potent accelerant and an ignition source?

 

[Iron Woode]

*does bob dylan voice*

"
Hey everyone, I'm bob Dylan!
Heyyyy..

Heyyy is that a pencil?

Pencil is the rain...

Rain that doesn't drop that is

But if it isn't the rain it's probably the silverware...On the table man

Window glasses on the frost man, it's just a silver dome of light

"


lyrical genious

Johnny's in the basement, mixing up the medicine
I'm on the pavement, thinking about the government
The man in the trench coat, badge out, laid off
Says "He's got a bad cough, wants to get it paid off"

Look out kid, it's somethin' you did
God knows when but you're doin' it again
You better duck down the alley way, lookin' for a new friend
The man in the my excellent compatriot-skin cap, in the big pen
Wants eleven dollar bills, you only got ten

Maggie comes fleet foot face full of black soot
Talkin' that the heat put, plants in the bed but
The phone's tapped anyway, Maggie says that many say
"They must bust in early May, orders from the D.A"

Look out kid, don't matter what you did
But walk on your tip toes don't tie no bows
Better stay away from those that carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose, watch the plain clothes
You don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows

Oh get sick, get well, hang around a ink well
Ring bell, hard to tell, if anything is goin' to sell
Try hard, get barred, get back, write Braille
Get jailed, jump bail, join the army if you fail

Look out kid, you're gonna get hit
But losers, cheaters, six-time users
Hangin' around the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool, lookin' for a new fool
Don't follow leaders, watch your parkin' meters

Oh get born, keep warm, short pants, romance
Learn to dance, get dressed, get blessed, try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy gifts, don't steal, don't lift
Twenty years of schoolin' and they put you on the day shift

Look out kid, they keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole, light yourself a candle
Don't wear sandals, try to avoid the scandals
Don't wanna be a bum you better chew gum
The pump don't work, 'cause the vandals took the handles

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

<snip>

Sings itself, nearly. :thumbsup:

 

[Perknose]

While I agree that Dylan is #1, to claim he "towers" over Van Morrison and Chuck Berry is... hasty at best, or ill-informed at worst.

I LOVE both Van and Chuck, but your statement doesn't even begin to hold water.

 

[fustercluck]

He's an awful singer, not sure about songwriter as I never want to listen to him - Reminds me of Ringo Starr

 

[BoomerD]

Elvis was ok...back in the day.

Not many songs better than his rendition of "Jailhouse Rock," or "Blue Suede Shoes."

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

I LOVE both Van and Chuck, but your statement doesn't even begin to hold water.

Holds plenty of water; you should take a sip. :awe:

 

[Perknose]

Holds plenty of water; you should take a sip. :awe:

I'm calling you on your glib bullcrap.

List every great song ever written by Van and Chuck, two great writers, btw. Man up and do it, Leroy.

I will then match your entire list just from Dylan's songbook.

Man up or upshutta yer face.

 

[Perknose]

Sings itself, nearly. :thumbsup:

Point is, it didn't write itself. Mr. Zimmerman did.

 

[MikeMike]

I was lucky enough to see him live, pretty damn good artist...

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

I'm calling you on your glib bullcrap.

List every great song ever written by Van and Chuck, two great writers, btw. Man up and do it, Leroy.

I will then match your entire list just from Dylan's songbook.

Man up or upshutta yer face.

No need for me to expend the effort. I am satisfied with my opinion, and am not much concerned about yours; other than your use of the word, "towering," I'm not in disagreement with you.

 

[BrokenVisage]

My favorite Elvis Costello song