What Makes A Great American Songwriter?

Key Points:

• The New York Times recently released a list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters, sparking debate about who was included and excluded, with notable omissions like Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Jeff Tweedy, Frank Ocean, Raphael Saadiq, and Lauryn Hill.
• The list and accompanying insiders' ballots reveal diverse opinions on what constitutes great songwriting, highlighting a range of artists from singer-songwriters to producers like Pharrell Williams and performers who shape their music personas such as Beyoncé and Courtney Love.
• Rap's complex relationship with songwriting recognition is discussed, emphasizing the absence of key figures like Nas and the influence of artists like Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and Future on the evolution of rap lyricism and style.
• The article explores the idea of songwriting that reflects a distinctly American perspective, citing artists like John Darnielle, Stephen Malkmus, Ghostface Killah, T.I., Young Jeezy, and Outkast, who write about their personal experiences of America.
• Emerging artists such as Tyler, The Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, MJ Lenderman, and Leon Thomas are noted as potential future contenders for songwriting acclaim, with the author stressing the importance of questioning the criteria behind canonical recognition in music.