41 Best Songwriters

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson was pivotal in linking Nashville with rock music. While the country music capital is mainly known for that, rock artists and even artists of other genres have played and called Nashville home, thanks to Willie.

His songwriting comes easy to him and has helped strip down the Outlaw Country movement. When you listen to his music, it combines country, blues, and even mariachi. That Tex-Mex style is what makes his songwriting different from other artists.

Smokey Robinson

When you think of songwriters like John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it’s hard to imagine such inspirational people needing inspiration from somewhere, but everyone does. Smokey Robinson was that songwriter for them. McCartney has even been quoted saying, “Smokey Robinson was like God in our eyes.”

Smokey Robinson is a lyrical genius and has written some of Motown’s biggest hit songs. He was a delicate singer with an elegant voice that wrote songs that had nuances that others of the time didn’t.

Madonna

Before Madonna blew up in the music industry as the pop star that she was, she was a songwriter known for her sharp hooks and lyrical catchphrases. She still writes songs for herself and others, but most people don’t realize that due to her stardom as a performer.

As an influential songwriter, Madonna has collaborated with other brilliant musical minds to create some of the songs you know and love. Patrick Leonard is her longtime writing partner, but she’s written across genres, making her one of the best.

Billy Joel

Billy Joel is known as the real-life piano man, but before he saw success in this area, he tried to make it as a rock and roll star. While his talent is obvious, rock and roll wasn’t for him. He returned to playing the piano, and that’s where his career really took off.

He has some of the best songs like “Piano Man,” “Vienna,” and “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.” He can attribute the success of his career to returning to writing songs at the piano and performing them like no other.

Elton John

Elton John is one of the industry’s most influential and best songwriters. This British singer and songwriter is famous worldwide for his beautiful compositions and lyrics. While he’s still widely famous today, his success peaked in the 1970s.

His lyrics vary from fun and lighthearted to meaningful pieces that will tug at your heartstrings. He’s one of those artists and songwriters that has stood the test of time and has stayed relevant and an essential part of the music industry.

Halsey

Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, better known as Halsey, is one of the newest songwriters on our list. She quickly rose to fame in 2014 by posting her songs on social media and eventually releasing her first studio album in 2015.

While she collaborates on many of her songs, for the most part, all of Halsey’s songs are entirely her own. Her beautiful voice mimics her lyrics, no matter what they’re about. Even her more intense lyrics sound elegant with her voice. Some of her best songs are “Without Me” and “Colors.”

Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello is another great songwriter that shot to fame in the 1970s. If you listen to any of his songs, you can tell he has a knack for writing lyrics. Many of Elvis’ songs spew fast lyrics, and he knows it. He loves writing for himself but continues to write for other artists.

Besides his beautiful lyrics, one thing that makes Elvis Costello one of the best songwriters is that he experiments with various genres of music. His songs and lyrics cross genres, and you’ll hear songs that feel more rock while others are more pop, and he even has some times that sound more jazz and even hip hop.

James Taylor

It’s no secret that the singer/songwriter scene in the 1970s brought us some of the best artists, and James Taylor was one of those.

He was known for documenting every aspect of his life, from his struggle with drug addiction to romantic experiences and situations with his family. By tapping into these emotional times, he was able to write some of the best songs like “Copperline” and “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight.”

Kurt Cobain

If you love rock and roll, then you probably know the band Nirvana. The skull-crushing sounds were fun to bang your head to, but the band would’ve been nothing without the lyrics written by their lead singer, Kurt Cobain.

Kurt Cobain drew much of his songwriting inspiration from the Beatles since that’s what he grew up on. He’s written pop-punk and rock music and very impactful songs like “God is Gay” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” While he was taken from the world too soon, his lyrics have continued to leave an impression on everyone.

Lady Gaga

Many people assume pop singers don’t write all their own songs, and while that is true sometimes, it’s not true for everyone. Lady Gaga is an influential artist in the industry, and while she’s an iconic performer and powerful singer, she’s also a great songwriter.

Lady Gaga attended the Collaborative Arts Project 21 to hone her songwriting and musical abilities when she was younger. She’s written many of her hit songs, but she loves songwriting so much that she’s even written songs for artists like Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.

David Bowie

David Bowie quickly rose to fame for his funky yet catchy hits. Even before his music hit mainstream radio, Bowie was known in the industry for being a creative force on the silver screen.

He became known as one of the most unpredictable songwriters, and many people loved not knowing what he would do next. His writing process is just as unpredictable as the final product. He’s said that he writes lines, cuts, pastes them into various areas, and rearranges them until they just click.

Paul Simon

Paul Simon is considered one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century. His career has spanned over six decades, allowing him to accumulate a lot of songs along the way. He has always been interested in rock music, which shows through his songs.

He’s known for his solo work and his longtime work with Garfunkel. Paul Simon has won over 16 Grammy’s and earned a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his songwriting and performing abilities.

John Mayer

John Mayer is another artist that takes pride in writing their own songs. He briefly attended Berklee College of Music before venturing to Atlanta to pursue his music career. And what a career he’s had so far.

His beautiful lyrics and guitar playing have made him one of the best songwriters of current times. His voice mesmerizes you with his voice, and his lyrics have found their way into people’s hearts worldwide.

Justin Bieber

Everyone knows Justin Bieber at this point, but did you know he writes and co-writes almost all his songs? While he sings songs that are written for him, the ones that he has a hand in the songwriting process are some of his best ones.

When you hear his more intense songs, like “Ghost,” which comes from Bieber’s heart and personal experience with heartbreak, as he’s continued to succeed in the music industry, he’s honed his songwriting skills and has started writing more and more.