Top 10 Best Songwriters of the 21st Century
Marina Lambrini Diamandis, better known by her stage name "Marina and The Diamonds", is a Welsh singer-songwriter. Born in Bryn Mawr and raised in nearby Pandy, she moved to London as a teenager in order to achieve her dream of being a singer. She's known for her unique style of writing, and impersonating... read more
Amy Lynn Hartzler, known professionally as Amy Lee, is an American singer-songwriter, classically trained pianist and composer. She is also the lead singer to the Arkansas band Evanescence.
Yasmine Hamdan is a Lebanese singer, songwriter and actress, now based in Paris. She became known with Soapkills, the duo she founded with Zeid Hamdan while she was still living in Beirut.
Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (born December 18, 1975), referred to mononymously as Sia, is an Australian singer and songwriter. She released her debut album in 1997 but mainly gained mainstream attention in the 2010s... read more I think Sia is the best singer because her songs really have so much emotion connected to them. Her songs also helped me to push through depression, and my life really is so much brighter. Her voice may not be the smoothest, but there is nothing more beautiful than her occasional voice cracks in Elastic Heart and Bird Set Free. She is my role model for life.
Lana Del Rey is a California based singer, songwriter, and model who currently resides in Malibu, California. She was born under the name Elizabeth Woolridge Grant to entrepreneur Robert England Jr. and Patricia Ann Hill in rural Lake Placid, New York on June 21, 1985. She has two siblings, Chuck and... read more Her dark themes, beautiful imagery, and endless references to music culture make her one of the best.
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.On the start of her career, she performed at an event called the Lollapalooza Festival during 2007 whereby a record label company Interscope found her due to her performance... read more
Alexander David "Alex" Turner is an English musician. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter of the English rock band Arctic Monkeys. His lyrics are powerful and inventive in ways you wouldn't even think of. However, I was surprised to see him on this list, since he's not as well-known as the other artists, but it made me so happy. I'm not the only one who appreciates his insane talent! Half the artists on here only write parts of their songs, but Alex writes so much, with such quality... how is he not number one?
"Just 'cause we're having a say-so, not lining up to be playdough, in five years' time, will it be, 'Who the f***'s Arctic Monkeys?' " One of the best lyrics ever, so reflective and honest. PLEASE VOTE!
Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, known by her stage name Halsey, is an American singer and songwriter. She was born on September 29, 1994 in New Jersey. She started her career by releasing songs on SoundCloud, and now she is a well-known pop singer with hits like Bad at Love, and Now or Never. She had originated... read more
Jessica Ellen Cornish, better known by her stage name Jessie J, is an English singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, she began her career on stage, aged 11, with a role in the West End musical Whistle Down the Wind. She has that 'wild' look and sound to her. Best singles: Domino, Party in the U.S.A. (which she sold to Miley), and Price Tag. She has others that I love and like.
Tyler Robert Joseph is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and rapper. He is best known as the lead vocalist and keyboardist for American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. Tyler has crafted a whole web of symbolism and metaphors in his music that he refers back to consistently. He's personified his internal struggles into an entity of its own.
He's by far the best lyricist I've come across to date. I cannot begin to describe the originality and cohesiveness of his art. His poetic lyrics are deeply profound and resonate significantly with fans, touching on mental health, faith, and more.
It's so nice to see truly beautiful and unique art that you can only pause to admire. A once-in-a-generation talent.
The Newcomers
Julian Fernando Casablancas is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the lead singer of the American rock bands The Strokes founded in 1998 and The Voidz, which was founded in 2013. Hard to Explain (Is This It album, 2001):
I missed the last bus, I'll take the next train.
I'll try, but you see, it's hard to explain.
I say the right thing, but act the wrong way.
I like it right here, but I cannot stay.
I watch the TV, forget what I'm told.
Well, I am too young, and they are too old.
The joke is on you, this place is a zoo.
You're right, it's true.
Machu Picchu (from Angles album, 2011):
Blondes turn to grey.
Life in the shade.
A violent crime, and that's the USA.
Porn's on the rise.
Psychos in disguise.
I'm just trying to find a mountain I can climb.
Harry Styles said: "I heard some stuff recently from Julian Casablancas, and his solo stuff is amazing. If I could write with anyone, it would be him."
Hannah Diamond, also known as Hannah Amond, was born on June 20, 1991. She is a British singer, songwriter, photographer, and visual artist. She is known for her work with PC Music and A.G. Cook. She is best known for her songs Fade Away, Poster Girl, and Every Night. She is an underrated songwriter.
Affirmations gives you hope. I love the bridge in that song.
Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. She was born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania. Swift is best known for writing personal songs and has won 13 Grammy Awards... read more I love Taylor Swift. I can't believe that she is eleventh. She deserves 1st.
She has songs that can make you cry, laugh, and make you feel loved. She is so good at singing too. She has won more than a dozen Grammys and she is also a very good singer.
My favorite songs are Red, Love Story, You Belong With Me, Gorgeous, and Karma. She is so good.
To begin with, she has an entire album written by herself, without even co-writers ("Speak Now," by the way). She rhymed "cardigan" with "car again" and "oohhh aahhh" with "Cruel Summer." If that doesn't show her skills, I don't know what will.
She has written breakup songs, love songs, sad ones, dance songs - she created an entire fictional world with "folklore" and "evermore." And she doesn't write only for herself, but also for Rihanna ("This Is What You Came For") and others! Have you ever written a single, and also a hit under 10 minutes? Well, she did it, more than two times actually! Taylor Swift has won three Album of the Year awards at the Grammys and has a unique award: Artist of the Decade! She is the best songwriter we have nowadays and will be remembered forever!
Edward Christopher "Ed" Sheeran is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He sang songs such as The A team and Shape of You. He was born in Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk. He is (in my personal opinion) the best singer-songwriter of our generation. When he performs live, it's like he's in the studio. There is no magic involved - just Ed, his paw-print guitar, loop pedal, and heavenly voice.
Fame hasn't changed him in the slightest. He still sofa surfs, be that at his family's or friends' houses, or his own. Every lyric has meaning and isn't about sex, drugs, and rock and roll or bigging himself up. Even his album cover for X is simply that - an X. He doesn't need to brag about his fame, fortune, and celebrity status.
He is a role model to every teenager, young adult, and adult out there. I'm sorry if I'm blabbing. He even went to Afghanistan to do a private gig for the lads on tour (my brother was amongst the crowd). He is what we need in a generation of drugs, violence, and hate. Just to prove you can still be mellow and be loved. So much respect for this man.
Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, actor and music producer born on October 17, 1972 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eminem has sold over 300 million records making him the bestselling hip-hop artist of all time. In addition to his solo career, he is a member of D12 and (with Royce... read more What is wrong with everyone for not voting for one of the best, if not the greatest hip-hop artists of all time? His lyrics span from funny, inspirational to depressing.
Louis Tomlinson is an English singer-songwriter, known as a member of the boy band One Direction. He was born on 24 December 1991 in Doncaster.
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (born 5 May 1988) is an English singer and songwriter. Graduating from the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in 2006, Adele was given a recording contract by XL Recordings after a friend posted her demo on Myspace the same year. She is best known with her international... read more Writes from her broken heart, and the genuine raw hurt and anguish in her songwriting is what makes her one of the most successful artists today. Everyone can relate to heartbreak, and Adele does it better than anyone today.
She is truly incomparable. I've seen many try to match her voice, but it is impossible. Best singles: They are all amazing, my personal favorites are Someone Like You and Chasing Pavements.
Without any doubt, she is one of the best singers there is nowadays, and her songwriting skills are marvelous as well. Being able to write Skyfall, winner of an Oscar, isn't an easy thing to do, especially under 30 minutes!
Bleta "Bebe" Rexha (born August 30, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer of Albanian descent. She signed with Warner Records in 2013 and was credited with co-writing releases for other artists, including Eminem's Grammy Award-winning single The Monster, before furthering her... read more
George Ryan Ross III (born August 30, 1986) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for his role as the former lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and primary songwriter of the American rock band Panic! at the Disco... read more
Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (born 7 November 1996), better known by her stage name Lorde, is a singer-songwriter from New Zealand. She released her first EP "The Love Club" in 2012 and gained worldwide popularity with her song "Royals" at the age of 16... read more
Ryan Benjamin Tedder is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is well known for being the lead vocalist of the pop rock band OneRepublic He has written so many songs that have lyrical meaning. Sure, many people can create a catchy tune that rhymes, but not many can create a catchy tune that rhymes and really has meaning. He's written hits for Beyonce, Adele, Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, OneRepublic, and many more. He's a genius.
Multi-dimensional songwriting. Just think about the lyrics and music of "Counting Stars."
Genius behind so many hits we hear today.
Mariah Carey, born March 27, 1970, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is one of the biggest best-selling women in the music industry, with 18 number 1 records to her name. She is regarded as a sex symbol through her songs and music videos, and she is "well known" for her over-the-top... read more
Patrick Martin Stumph, known professionally as Patrick Vaughn Stump, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, actor and music critic, best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, pianist and composer of Fall Out Boy, an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois.
Robert Peter Williams is an English singer, songwriter and actor. He was a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995 and again from 2009 to 2012. He has also had commercial success as a solo artist. His songs are still the best I've ever heard, and he is one amazing guy.
