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Robert Plant named 23rd worst lyricist of All Time by Blender

thecrackedjackthecrackedjack Posts: 148
edited October 2007 in Other Music
...in their 40 worst lyricists of all time. Another terrible list.

http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=2882

1) Sting (solo, The Police)
2) Neil Peart (Rush)
3) Scott Stapp (Creed)
4) Noel Gallagher (Oasis)
5) Dan Fogelberg
6) Tom Marshall (Phish friend [ not member ])
7) Paul Stanley (KISS)
8) Diane Warren ("I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", "How Can We Be Lovers?", "Have You Ever?")
9) Donovan
10) Jim Morrison (The Doors)

11) Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar ("Wind Beneath My Wings")
12) David Crosby (sometimes of Crosby, Stills & Nash [ & Young ])
13) Pete Gabriel, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett and Phil Collins (aka Genesis, but also including their respective solo projects)
14) will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas)
15) Bernie Taupin (lyricist for Elton John and... "We Built This City")
16) Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie)
17) Jon Anderson (Yes)
18) Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
19) Queensrÿche
20) Ryan Ross (Panic! At the Disco)

21) Alanis Morissette
22) Jon Bon Jovi
23) Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
24) Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit)
25) KRS-One
26) Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
27) Will Jennings (lyricist, "My Heart Will Go On", "Up Where We Belong", "Tears in Heaven", etc.)
28) Greg Graffin (Bad Religion)
29) Timbaland
30) Kevin Federline (aka K-Fed)

31) Carly Simon
32) Matisyahu
33) Diddy (aka P. Diddy aka Puffy aka Puff Daddy)
34) Henry Rollins (Black Flag, Rollins Band)
35) Dashboard Confessional
36) Common
37) Bryan Adams
38) Paul McCartney (The Beatles, solo)
39) Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins, Zwan, solo)
40) Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    That's daft. He's no Dylan or Kevin Coyne, but he's better than most of the people on that "list".

    Why wasn't Pete Doherty listed?
  • Them-BonesThem-Bones Posts: 518
    Yea these were the same people who said Blind Melon and The Doors were two of the worst bands of all time, the homeless guy who lives by my house has more crediblity.

    and I guess according to Blender, K-Fed writes better lyrics than Jim Morrison
    yea thats smart.
    "If my thoughts, dreams, could be seen, they'd probably put my head, in a guillotine, but it's alright ma, it's life and life only."
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    robert plant worse than fred durst? i don't think so.


    though i have to admit to thinking stairway to heaven is a big pile of... :D

    oh oh henry rollins at #34. what the...? that's just wrong. :(
    hear my name
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  • DOSWDOSW Posts: 2,014
    Robert Plant is a terrible lyricist guys. Great frontman, awful lyricist.
    It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win
  • throwingcopperthrowingcopper Posts: 96
    greg graffin of bad religion? haha. have they even heard any of their lyrics. that really is the dumbest and least thought out list i've ever read. the only one i agree with is anthony keidis... a lot of his lyrics don't make too much sense and are just words jumbled up to fit the music... but, at least if you're not basing a song on lyrics and saying "what the hell is that?"... the songs are alright.
    music. love. life.

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  • Metal BryanMetal Bryan Posts: 12
    NEIL PEART AT #2?!!!!!!!!!!

    RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGHHHHHTTTT.

    ^sarcasm
  • jammerfalljammerfall Posts: 908
    Consider the source; Blender is a crap publication.
    "Hello Oregonians. Hello Washingtonians. Hello Portland..where the fuck are we? We're in Ridgefield!"
  • Oh, JimmyOh, Jimmy Posts: 957
    Blender is a pretty entertaining mag, prolly the best US has to offer.

    Some of their lists have been pretty shitty. Prince beat out Led Zeppelin in their rock star wars. There are a few bands that have enough clout to be put above the Zep, and I think we can all agree that Prince aint one of em.

    They have also had some really cool lists.
  • Oh, JimmyOh, Jimmy Posts: 957
    DOSW wrote:
    Robert Plant is a terrible lyricist guys. Great frontman, awful lyricist.

    Lyrics may be Zeppelin's weakness, but I wouldn't say he's awful. He wrote in a different time. Writin about folklore and the like can sound dated, but you cant deny Plant has some killer lyrics.

    Kashmir
    Ten Years Gone
    Ramble On
    Over the Hills............
    The Song Remains the Same
    Rain Song
    Going to California
    Thank You
    Fool In The Rain
    Achilles Last Stand
  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,209
    Neil Peart #2, R Plant wasn't the greatest lyricist but LZ's and J Page's riff's saved them I think. Who the hell is Blender?

    Peace
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    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • pjtaperpjtaper Posts: 3,020
    this list is SHITE!
    It makes me sick to see Paul McCartney's name on there... It was nice to see Phil Collins get some recognition for how HORRIBLE he is!
    Please Phil, rip out your vocal chord!
  • allforcarrieallforcarrie Posts: 60
    38) Paul McCartney (The Beatles, solo)

    WTF
    model, role model, roll some models in blood
  • Prioronfire22Prioronfire22 Posts: 393
    I know that is such a shit list. McCartney/Lennon are two of the greatest lyricists ever imo. Nowhere near the worst.
  • pjoasisrulepjoasisrule Posts: 3,412
    thecrackedjack wrote:
    ...in their 40 worst lyricists of all time. Another terrible list.

    http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=2882

    1) Sting (solo, The Police)
    2) Neil Peart (Rush)
    3) Scott Stapp (Creed)
    4) Noel Gallagher (Oasis)
    5) Dan Fogelberg
    6) Tom Marshall (Phish friend [ not member ])
    7) Paul Stanley (KISS)
    8) Diane Warren ("I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", "How Can We Be Lovers?", "Have You Ever?")
    9) Donovan
    10) Jim Morrison (The Doors)

    11) Larry Henley and Jeff Silbar ("Wind Beneath My Wings")
    12) David Crosby (sometimes of Crosby, Stills & Nash [ & Young ])
    13) Pete Gabriel, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett and Phil Collins (aka Genesis, but also including their respective solo projects)
    14) will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas)
    15) Bernie Taupin (lyricist for Elton John and... "We Built This City")
    16) Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie)
    17) Jon Anderson (Yes)
    18) Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
    19) Queensrÿche
    20) Ryan Ross (Panic! At the Disco)

    21) Alanis Morissette
    22) Jon Bon Jovi
    23) Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
    24) Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit)
    25) KRS-One
    26) Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
    27) Will Jennings (lyricist, "My Heart Will Go On", "Up Where We Belong", "Tears in Heaven", etc.)
    28) Greg Graffin (Bad Religion)
    29) Timbaland
    30) Kevin Federline (aka K-Fed)

    31) Carly Simon
    32) Matisyahu
    33) Diddy (aka P. Diddy aka Puffy aka Puff Daddy)
    34) Henry Rollins (Black Flag, Rollins Band)
    35) Dashboard Confessional
    36) Common
    37) Bryan Adams
    38) Paul McCartney (The Beatles, solo)
    39) Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins, Zwan, solo)
    40) Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

    Jim Morrison, Noel Gallagher, Billy Corgan, Paul McCartney, David Crosby..........seriously this list is complete bullshit and they have absolutely no credibility whatsoever.
    Alpine Valley 2000
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  • stateoflove79stateoflove79 Posts: 2,845
    The fact that Billy Corgan is on that list makes it a pile of shit to me.

    Billy is better than most, case closed.
    Is it so wrong to think that love can keep us safe?
  • SomethingCreativeSomethingCreative Kazoo, MI Posts: 3,396
    oh my god you've got to be shitting me that list is rediculous
    "Well, I think this band is incapable of sucking."
    -my dad after hearing Not for You for the first time on SNL .
  • stickfig13stickfig13 Posts: 1,532
    Greg Graffin?? Not a great lyricist?


    Have they ever listened to Bad Religion?
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  • lucylespianlucylespian Posts: 2,403
    I think having Bernie Taupin on the list says it all about cred. K-Fed fails by not having a career to assess, so has no place there. You might as well put my name there.

    This list is just to create controversy.

    Most pop lyrics look weak when taken out of the context of the song.
    Simple Minds belonged there though. Most of their songs were just one phrase repeated endlessly.
    Music is not a competetion.
  • SoonForgotten2SoonForgotten2 Posts: 2,245
    I don't know... I think the worst thing about the list is the order and not as much as who is on it. Anthony Kiedis should be top 10, no doubt. Billy Corgan should be higher as he has written some godawful lyrics. Pete Doherty doesn't make the list because no one outside the UK gives a fuck about him.

    Morrison is a tough one. I can see how someone who doesn't get JM could cringe at a LOT of his lyrics. That being said, anyone in music journalism should know enough about Jim Morrison to realise that his lyrics were nothing if not deliberate, which is brilliance in and of itself.

    ANd with all due respect to The Beatles, Paul McCartney deserves to make the list. He has contributed some proper lyrical clangers, no matter how catchy they may have been. He can't touch Lennon.
    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmgphotos/sets/72157600802942672/">My Pearl Jam Photos</a>

    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmgphotos/4731512142/&quot; title="PJ Banner2 by Mister J Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1135/4731512142_258f2d6ab4_b.jpg&quot; width="630" height="112" alt="PJ Banner2" /></a>
  • PHATJPHATJ Posts: 348
    Gaiye
    "I'll Ride the wave where it takes me. I'll Hold the pain. RELEASE ME!"

  • Brisk.Brisk. Posts: 11,567
    Metal Bryan wrote:
    NEIL PEART AT #2?!!!!!!!!!!

    RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGHHHHHTTTT.

    ^sarcasm


    thats exactly what i thought

    what the fuuuuck
  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    Oh, Jimmy wrote:
    Blender is a pretty entertaining mag, prolly the best US has to offer.

    Some of their lists have been pretty shitty. Prince beat out Led Zeppelin in their rock star wars. There are a few bands that have enough clout to be put above the Zep, and I think we can all agree that Prince aint one of em.

    They have also had some really cool lists.
    Prince > Zeppelin

    no, really.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • Oh, JimmyOh, Jimmy Posts: 957
    Jeremy1012 wrote:
    Prince > Zeppelin

    no, really.

    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HA!!!!!!!!!

    Unless > means, not in the same league, that is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard. If Led Zeppelin would have never sold an album or toured, their influence alone would trump everything Prince has done.
  • Ledbetterman10Ledbetterman10 Posts: 16,938
    so Robert Plant's lyrics are worse than Fred Durst's?

    Paul McCartney is on the list?

    this is the stupidest list I've ever seen
    2000: Camden 1, 2003: Philly, State College, Camden 1, MSG 2, Hershey, 2004: Reading, 2005: Philly, 2006: Camden 1, 2, East Rutherford 1, 2007: Lollapalooza, 2008: Camden 1, Washington D.C., MSG 1, 2, 2009: Philly 1, 2, 3, 4, 2010: Bristol, MSG 2, 2011: PJ20 1, 2, 2012: Made In America, 2013: Brooklyn 2, Philly 2, 2014: Denver, 2015: Global Citizen Festival, 2016: Philly 2, Fenway 1, 2018: Fenway 1, 2, 2021: Sea. Hear. Now. 2022: Camden, 2024: Philly 2

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  • Ledbetterman10Ledbetterman10 Posts: 16,938
    SoonForgotten2 wrote:

    ANd with all due respect to The Beatles, Paul McCartney deserves to make the list. He has contributed some proper lyrical clangers, no matter how catchy they may have been. He can't touch Lennon.


    McCartney totally does not deserve to be on this list.

    Eleanor Rigby
    Penny Lane
    Here There and Everywhere
    For No One
    Blackbird
    Things We Said Today
    Back in the USSR
    any song from Pepper's

    just a few songs of his songs with amazing lyrics.......though I think his strength is more in melody than lyrics
    2000: Camden 1, 2003: Philly, State College, Camden 1, MSG 2, Hershey, 2004: Reading, 2005: Philly, 2006: Camden 1, 2, East Rutherford 1, 2007: Lollapalooza, 2008: Camden 1, Washington D.C., MSG 1, 2, 2009: Philly 1, 2, 3, 4, 2010: Bristol, MSG 2, 2011: PJ20 1, 2, 2012: Made In America, 2013: Brooklyn 2, Philly 2, 2014: Denver, 2015: Global Citizen Festival, 2016: Philly 2, Fenway 1, 2018: Fenway 1, 2, 2021: Sea. Hear. Now. 2022: Camden, 2024: Philly 2

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  • Mike RenzellaMike Renzella Posts: 55
    What utter bullshit.

    McCartney? Please. That's f-in' ridiculous. Calling out any one of the Beatles for a list like this is just bullshit controversy mongering. Even Ringo wrote some nice (if simple) lyrics in his day.

    Fuck Blender. Ragging on the Beatles or any individual member, shows a complete ineptitude and lack of musical taste.
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  • Oh, JimmyOh, Jimmy Posts: 957
    Paul McCartney should be on there, but none of his Beatles work. He could make the list with just "Freedom". Easily the most absurd song by a Beatle
  • Carlos DCarlos D Posts: 638
    Billy Corgan?They can fuck themselves.

    Adore and Siamese Dream have the best lyrics I've ever heard
    It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
    But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

    www.bebo.com/pearljam06
  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    Oh, Jimmy wrote:
    hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HA!!!!!!!!!

    Unless > means, not in the same league, that is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard. If Led Zeppelin would have never sold an album or toured, their influence alone would trump everything Prince has done.
    Prince is one of the most influential musicians on the planet, whether you like it or not, AND he is still around. Zeppelin's reunion is about the money, plain and simple. also, whereas Zeppelin built a career out of lifting other people's songs directly and making them for an arena audience, Prince actually FUSED his influences to make something new. can you imagine, before Purple Rain, a mainstream black funk artist making a rock power ballad?
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • Oh, JimmyOh, Jimmy Posts: 957
    Jeremy1012 wrote:
    Prince is one of the most influential musicians on the planet, whether you like it or not, AND he is still around. Zeppelin's reunion is about the money, plain and simple. also, whereas Zeppelin built a career out of lifting other people's songs directly and making them for an arena audience, Prince actually FUSED his influences to make something new. can you imagine, before Purple Rain, a mainstream black funk artist making a rock power ballad?


    Are you seriously saying Prince's influence is greater than Zeppelin's? Prince was influenced by Zeppelin

    Zeppelin aren't gettin any money for the reunion, itsa tribute show for Ahmet Ertegun. gettin desperate?

    And there was a handfulla songs that Zeppelin got sued for, but it wasnt for the music, it was for the lyrics.

    Just b/c he was a black funk artist, make a power ballad is original?
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