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True Dough

(22,448 posts) Fri Mar 21, 2025, 08:20 AM Mar 21

Who do you consider to be the best songwriter of the 20th century? [View all]

A whole lot to choose from. I expect a lot of "other" votes on this one.

123 votes, 3 passes \| Time left: Unlimited
	Bob Dylan
	26 (21%)
	Paul McCartney
	9 (7%)
	Paul Simon
	13 (11%)
	Joni Mitchell
	8 (7%)
	Freddie Mercury
	0 (0%)
	Bruce Springsteen
	5 (4%)
	John Lennon
	8 (7%)
	Bob Marley
	2 (2%)
	Carole King
	8 (7%)
	Other
	44 (36%)
	3 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

90 replies

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Highlight:

Who do you consider to be the best songwriter of the 20th century? [View all] True Dough Mar 21 OP

If you don't like Springsteen's music Jrsygrl96 Mar 21 #1

Prince LoisB Mar 21 #2

Most or all of the above. quaint Mar 21 #3

I should think Neil Young would be a legit contender WheelWalker Mar 21 #4

Jackson Browne Earl_from_PA Mar 21 #5

My heart ❤️ TexasBushwhacker Friday #83

Paul Westerberg displacedvermoter Mar 21 #6

20th Century is a long time. Please change the post to second half of 20th C mucifer Mar 21 #7

Woodie Guthrie is far and away the best and most prolific. GreenWave Friday #76

I can't say, too many things to consider BUT MuseRider Mar 21 #8

Robert Hunter and Bob Dylan. LuckyCharms Mar 21 #9

Both extraordinary wordsmiths. quaint Mar 21 #20

Posted my response before reading yours. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 21 #33

I wouldn't say "best". All of these artists have reached a level we could call "best". I'd go with "favorite". Midnight Writer Mar 21 #10

Prine and his buddy, Steve Goodman. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 21 #34

Toss-up between Cole Porter and Neil Young. (nt) Paladin Mar 21 #11

I voted for Bob Dylan, basically because he wrote for a generation I admired, from anti-Vietnam War to civil rights. CTyankee Mar 21 #12

Leonard Cohen. OilemFirchen Mar 21 #13

Tip of the cap for Zevon. MontanaFarmer Mar 22 #56

Leiber and Stoller. n/t malthaussen Mar 21 #14

Lennon-McCartney bif Mar 21 #15

Cole Porter nuxvomica Mar 21 #16

Probably, George Gershwin...or Richard Rodgers LudwigPastorius Mar 21 #17

Agreed dedl67 Mar 22 #52

Hank Williams SENIOR, who among other things, inspired Bob Dylan and many others. Dorothy V Mar 21 #18

James Douglas Morrison and Brian Hugh Warner Niagara Mar 21 #19

Fuck Brian Warner. LudwigPastorius Mar 21 #36

burt bacharach/hal david for witty romance, holland-dozier-holland for soul pop msongs Mar 21 #21

Can't Pick One ProfessorGAC Mar 21 #22

yes indeed DBoon Mar 21 #29

John Denver Grim Chieftain Mar 21 #23

There is a young Australian songwriter whose lyrics seem Tikki Mar 21 #24

Harry Chapin Archae Mar 21 #25

Cole Porter. Hands down. Chipper Chat Mar 21 #26

He certainly had a very clever way with words Zorro Friday #84

Joan Armitrading gets a shout, the Roches always slayed me too Easterncedar Mar 21 #27

Laura Nyro enid602 Mar 21 #28

Bob Dylan admired Gordon Lightfoot. yardwork Mar 21 #30

Robert Hunter OAITW r.2.0 Mar 21 #31

Phil Collins in addition to many of the above. I can't pick spooky3 Mar 21 #32

I have 4 GoodRaisin Mar 21 #35

Don Henley and Glen Frye Bayard Mar 21 #37

Many great composers for plays throughout the century. Some spaghetti westerns have songs played by symphonies. Norrrm Mar 22 #38

George Gershwin. hedda_foil Mar 22 #39

Added below because I did not see your post. efhmc Mar 22 #68

Gotta add Ira. returnee Friday #81

Where's John Prine? chowmama Mar 22 #40

A few more that I haven't seen mentioned Wiz Imp Mar 22 #41

Carole King is a Poll Choice. milestogo Mar 22 #57

sorry, missed that Wiz Imp Mar 22 #64

Ian Anderson Wolf Frankula Mar 22 #42

Eric Woolfson (The Alan Parsons Project) , Neil Peart (Rush) Intractable Mar 22 #43

Mark Knopfler SamKnause Mar 22 #44

He's still producing some great music True Dough Mar 22 #45

Yes his 2024 One Deep River album is fantastic. SamKnause Mar 22 #50

Sailing to Philadelphia is so great Easterncedar Mar 22 #47

He has so many great songs. SamKnause Mar 22 #51

Kris Kristofferson. Ziggysmom Mar 22 #46

Dylan VGNonly Mar 22 #48

Paul McCartney is the most prolific. milestogo Mar 22 #49

Because of their collaboration, I think Lennon/McCartney should have been an option. surfered Mar 22 #53

Prince leighbythesea2 Mar 22 #54

Such a great list. I think I'll respectfully abstain from voting and just Mike 03 Mar 22 #55

Other Rocknation Mar 22 #58

As a name that has not been mentioned yet. genxlib Mar 22 #59

Elton John/Bernie Taupin MichMan Mar 22 #60

Willie Nelson Emile Mar 22 #61

My favorite songwriter is Naoko Yamano... neeksgeek Mar 22 #62

Gershwin. He barely got started before he died but he was great. efhmc Mar 22 #63

More Wiz Imp Mar 22 #65

Todd Rundgren Clouds Passing Mar 22 #66

A worthy choice that most would not even understand. OldBaldy1701E Mar 22 #69

I need to listen to that one more, I'm certain I would fall in love with it. Clouds Passing Mar 22 #70

Real Man VGNonly Friday #71

A perfect song for today Clouds Passing Friday #72

John Hartford and Jimmy Webb Borogove Mar 22 #67

Barry Manilow Oopsie Daisy Friday #73

Burt Bacharach and Hal David Oopsie Daisy Friday #74

Anyone remember JOAN BAEZ? nt Totally Tunsie Friday #75

Have you heard Neil Finn's discography? 303squadron Friday #77

In the jazz category: Billy Stayhorh -- "Lush Life" and "Take the A Train"... brush Friday #78

As much as I'm a child of the rock'n'roll era... WestMichRad Friday #79

You should clarify. returnee Friday #80

Best 1900-2000? ILikePie92 Friday #82

Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Saturday #85

There are many, but I haven't seen Neil Diamond named here. hamsterjill Saturday #86

Meat Loaf + Jim Steinman n/t Shrek Saturday #87

Too many to choose from. Iggo Saturday #88

When I was a kid playing in clubs, about half of my covers were from Joni Mitchell, a quarter from Dylan and then... NNadir Saturday #89

Gotta say Joni Mitchell - snot Saturday #90