Lyricist

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April 29, 2022 by Simon Sweetman

Poem: Sting Is A Terrible Lyricist

Sting is a terrible lyricist. Which is a strange complaint – since he’s an excellent musician and a terrific singer. One of the best live vocalists I’ve ever seen. But he cannot write. He will not learn. And the worst of his work is embarrassing on a level that should seem almost profound. He rips […]

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September 24, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

R.I.P. Robert Hunter

Robert Hunter has died – sad news. He was 78. He occupied an interesting space. He was the primary lyricist for the Grateful Dead and was a silent member but also the heart and soul of the band. Hunter met Jerry Garcia, pre-Dead, when the two were in a bluegrass group. Hunter would go on […]

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January 11, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 451

Bernie Taupin, He Who Rides The Tiger (1980) I’ve always been kinda fascinated by Bernie Taupin – he writes the lyrics for all of the good Elton John songs. We all know this I’m sure. They broke off their songwriting arrangement in the late 1970s and so Taupin released this. His lyrics, his vocals. He’d previously released […]

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June 20, 2014 by Simon Sweetman

R.I.P. Gerry Goffin

Sad to hear, just now, of the passing of Gerry Goffin. One of the greatest – most important – lyricists in rock’n’roll. History has him as the abusive, womanizing ex-husband of Carole King – and I don’t intend to judge him for that, nor excuse any of the behavior or speculate on it. King’s story […]