Billie Joe's lyrical ability

[vegetarianxorgasm]

Some of his lyrics are ambiguous. Kind of like Yes's lyrics.

But they bring very strong meaning.

I like his use of motif's in his albums as well.

Like rage and love in American Idiot.

And Light and Fire in 21CB.

I'm sure the other albums have them, but I'm just wondering aloud.

Insomniac was self-mutilation.

Dookie had a shit thing going on, I think.

Anyways, Billie's motif lyrics mostly showed up after American Idiot.

[Peel Slowly And See]

I am notttttttttttttttt a fan of Yes, so I disagree heavily with that comparison. I still say that if you're going to compare him to any great, it better be Westerberg. Maybe Chilton or Reed. Strummer's a possibility he's more of a Mick Jones than a Joe Strummer.

[...staples?]

I know, I know, I said I'm terrible. I really am. I swear I haven't heard any of it. And would you kill me now if I told you I only know a grand total of about one Beatles song and I hate it? I have a problem....you could call it a shitty taste in music.

Sounds like you haven't heard the right songs. Don't look at their earlier stuff. Wayy too poppy. But still good but the White album and Abbey Road are amazing! Just keep listening and you'll find it.

And you don't have shitty taste in music, you just don't know any better As you get older you'll get more into it. Or I think so because I've loved the Beatles since childhood so I can't really empathize with you.

[Peel Slowly And See]

Sounds like you haven't heard the right songs. Don't look at their earlier stuff. Wayy too poppy. But still good but the White album and Abbey Road are amazing! Just keep listening and you'll find it.

And you don't have shitty taste in music, you just don't know any better As you get older you'll get more into it. Or I think so because I've loved the Beatles since childhood so I can't really empathize with you.

Forget this person. The early stuff is undoubtedly where you need to start. Sit down and listen to all twelve or whatever UK studio albums in a row.

If you're not up to that, Rubber Soul is the best album. I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

[vegetarianxorgasm]

Forget this person. The early stuff is undoubtedly where you need to start. Sit down and listen to all twelve or whatever UK studio albums in a row.

If you're not up to that, Rubber Soul is the best album. I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

What are some singles from that album?

[green all the way]

it's really hard to compare songwriters. esp. they have very different styles.

between Paul and Lennon he's somewhere in between. maybe closer to Pual.

I'll agree he's closer to Mick than Joe. lol yeah, I'm on first name bases with these guys.

[Peel Slowly And See]

Nothing was released as a single, as it was customary back then to release singles and albums separately. The singles that correspond to the album, however, are Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out.

The best songs on Rubber Soul, if that's what you're after, are Drive My Car, Girl, I'm Looking Through You, and In My Life.

Technically Nowhere Man was a single that was on the album, but the idiot who picked that one should be shot. Nowhere Man is a formidably good song, but every other song on the album outshines it.

[vegetarianxorgasm]

Nothing was released as a single, as it was customary back then to release singles and albums separately. The singles that correspond to the album, however, are Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out.

The best songs on Rubber Soul, if that's what you're after, are Drive My Car, Girl, I'm Looking Through You, and In My Life.

Technically Nowhere Man was a single that was on the album, but the idiot who picked that one should be shot. Nowhere Man is a formidably good song, but every other song on the album outshines it.

Aaaaah. Merci.

Good stuff, the lot of it.

[Towers]

I think it's hard to compare lyricists. I would say Billie Joe's lyrics can be similar to some Lennon and Townshend lyrics. But he can also write songs that could come from Joey Ramone or Strummer. I'd never say he writeslike Beck, Beck's lyrics are too different. He can write like Roger Waters sometimes too. I admit he is a good lyricist, but he can improve *cough*Know Your Enemy*cough*. I find most punk lyrics repetitive.

EDIT: IMO NO ONE WILL EVER BE AS GREAT A LYRICIST AS BOB DYLAN

Nothing was released as a single, as it was customary back then to release singles and albums separately. The singles that correspond to the album, however, are Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out.

The best songs on Rubber Soul, if that's what you're after, are Drive My Car, Girl, I'm Looking Through You, and In My Life.

Technically Nowhere Man was a single that was on the album, but the idiot who picked that one should be shot. Nowhere Man is a formidably good song, but every other song on the album outshines it.

Great album.

[katie]

I remember when I first joined here a few years ago people were talking about how amazing his lyrics are and I never really got it.

I have always loved Green Day and I always will, but in all honestly, I would say he's an alright lyricist at best. Obviously, it's very subjective and there's no actual way to measure it.

I think he does a pretty good job, but where the lyrics may lack Green Day definitely make up for in passion, and that has always been the appeal for me.

For me, Justin Pierre from Motion City Soundtrack is one of the greatest lyricists.

I think it's hard to compare lyricists. I would say Billie Joe's lyrics can be similar to some Lennon and Townshend lyrics.

Oh hell no.

[Peel Slowly And See]

EDIT: IMO NO ONE WILL EVER BE AS GREAT A LYRICIST AS BOB DYLAN

I disagree. It could happen eventually but it sure as hell hasn't happened yet.

Billie Joe can be compared to Paul Westerberg, Mick Jones, Pete Townshend, Alex Chilton, and Lou Reed.

For me, Justin Pierre from Motion City Soundtrack is one of the greatest lyricists.

I can understand calling Billie an "alright" lyricist, but following that up with this? No. Sorry, man. Just no.

[katie]

I disagree. It could happen eventually but it sure as hell hasn't happened yet.

Billie Joe can be compared to Paul Westerberg, Mick Jones, Pete Townshend, Alex Chilton, and Lou Reed.

I can understand calling Billie an "alright" lyricist, but following that up with this? No. Sorry, man. Just no.

How dare you, you are from Minnesota.. you traitor.

And as I said, it's all subjective.

Also, I am quite clearly female.. not 'man'

[Towers]

I remember when I first joined here a few years ago people were talking about how amazing his lyrics are and I never really got it.

I have always loved Green Day and I always will, but in all honestly, I would say he's an alright lyricist at best. Obviously, it's very subjective and there's no actual way to measure it.

I think he does a pretty good job, but where the lyrics may lack Green Day definitely make up for in passion, and that has always been the appeal for me.

For me, Justin Pierre from Motion City Soundtrack is one of the greatest lyricists.

Oh hell no.

1. I like some Motion City Soundtrack lyrics

2. Another great lyricist is Ben Gibbard form Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service

3. I am a Hardocre Beatles Fan but I must say Lennon's solo career can be very disappointing, I've always been a very McCartney person. Although John's lyrics can be genius (see most of the White Album, especially Happiness is a Warm Gun)

[Peel Slowly And See]

1. I like some Motion City Soundtrack lyrics

2. Another great lyricist is Ben Gibbard form Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service

3. I am a Hardocre Beatles Fan but I must say Lennon's solo career can be very disappointing, I've always been a very McCartney person. Although John's lyrics can be genius (see most of the White Album, especially Happiness is a Warm Gun)

Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, and Double Fantasy beat absolutely everything in the McCartney catalog.

Also, as a Minnesotan, I'll support Prince, Bob Mould, Paul Westerberg, and Bob Dylan, but I won't skewer my tastes just so I can appreciate a sort of successful band that happens to be from my state.

[green all the way]

I liked Lennon better than McCartney by a mile. that's just me

this is why it's hard to say how good a writer is when everyone has a different idea of what is good.

[Peel Slowly And See]

I gave you Ram over Milk And Honey, but even Ram I find to be pretty shoddy.

[katie]

1. I like some Motion City Soundtrack lyrics

2. Another great lyricist is Ben Gibbard form Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service

3. I am a Hardocre Beatles Fan but I must say Lennon's solo career can be very disappointing, I've always been a very McCartney person. Although John's lyrics can be genius (see most of the White Album, especially Happiness is a Warm Gun)

Yes, I agree 100000% with Ben Gibbard

And I understand with Lennon, only because a lot of his things are obviously very heavily drug induced and it's sort of hit and miss with that stuff; either it's complete genius or completely over everyone's heads.

Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, and Double Fantasy beat absolutely everything in the McCartney catalog.

Also, as a Minnesotan, I'll support Prince, Bob Mould, Paul Westerberg, and Bob Dylan, but I won't skewer my tastes just so I can appreciate a sort of successful band that happens to be from my state.

They are more than sort of successful

[Rezurgam]

I shied away from rap, a genre that I have been avidly listening to for a while now, because it's far more difficult to compare. I could throw in M.I.A., Eminem, Chuck D, Kanye West, Andre 3000, Ghostface Killah, Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, and quite a few others, but it would just fuck everything up. For the sake of simplicity, I limited it to rockers.

There's a lot of rappers that would blow half these people out of the water. But yeah...I think songwriters should be compared based on subject matter.

[Towers]

Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, and Double Fantasy beat absolutely everything in the McCartney catalog.

I never said Lennon's career was bad, I said it could be disappointing, i think Imagine and Plastic Ono Band have great songs, the rest of his solo career is not that good to me. And NONE of his solo career is compared to his Beatles work, except, perhaps, for Imagine (album) which ties in there. As for Paul, I think this is a battle that thousands of Beatle fans have tried to win. The truth is I like Paul better, some like John better.

[katie]

I am just going to throw this out there; Pete Doherty is probably the best lyricist walking the planet at this moment.

[Peel Slowly And See]

There's a lot of rappers that would blow half these people out of the water. But yeah...I think songwriters should be compared based on subject matter.

By all means name 'em. I expect Erykah Badu, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Run-D.M.C., The Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, and De La Soul.

I am just going to throw this out there; Pete Doherty is probably the best lyricist walking the planet at this moment.

Bob Dylan must be standing in place. And many others must be doing the same or sitting down.

[She-Loves-Him]

Billie Joe's lyrical ability was criticised in a 21CB review in the paper today. Nothing good was said

[Towers]

I am just going to throw this out there; Pete Doherty is probably the best lyricist walking the planet at this moment.

Another battle that can be compared to the Jahn vs. Paul... Doherty vs. Barat!

I'm going for Doherty in Down in Albion vs. Waterloo to Anywhere, but with Barat in Shotter's Nation vs. Romance at Short Notice. OVERALL winner: Doherty for Music When the Lights Go Out. EPIC song

Bob Dylan must be standing in place.

Agreed

[Rezurgam]

By all means name 'em. I expect Erykah Badu, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Run-D.M.C., The Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, and De La Soul.

Nas

Lupe Fiasco

Jay-Z

Immortal Technique

Canbibus

Raz Kass

Low Key

Tech N9ne

Beastie Boys

Eminem

I would go as far as Shing02 but I've only heard 3 tracks.

[Peel Slowly And See]

No hate to The Libertines, they're very good, but throwing 'em all the way up at the top? Don't.

Also, regarding the rappers, I thought I already said Eminem.

Also, many on your list don't even touch, say, M.I.A., Eminem, or Ghostface Killah. Not even close.