Posted February 3, 200916 yr Gary Barlow has been named Britain's greatest songwriter. The Take That star beat competition from John Lennon and Paul McCartney to top the survey carried out by OnePoll. "Gary Barlow has been responsible for some of the biggest hits of the past decade, and now this poll proves that," said a OnePoll spokesperson. "A lot of people aren’t aware that he has also written songs that have done well in the charts for other artists." The 38-year-old has penned some of Take That's most memorable songs, including 'Babe', 'Back For Good' and 'Never Forget', as well as writing hits for artists such as Blue, Charlotte Church and Delta Goodrem. Barlow has also picked up five prestigious Ivor Novello awards for songwriting and composing. Former Beatles Lennon and McCartney were ranked second and third respectively in the poll of 3,000 music fans. The top ten greatest British songwriters are: 1. Gary Barlow 2. John Lennon 3. Paul McCartney 4. Chris Martin 5. George Michael 6. Bee Gees 7. Noel Gallagher 8. Robbie Williams 9. Sting 10. Kate Bush scource ....digital spy. ok guys, wadda you make of THIS? :lol:
February 3, 200916 yr Author dunno who actually voted, but there are some HUGE glareing omissions, let alone the order...:lol:
February 3, 200916 yr A poll with 3,000 votes? Tripe! Hardly representative. Some $h!te poll by some no-mark organisation. Who cares.
February 3, 200916 yr Author A poll with 3,000 votes? Tripe! Hardly representative. Some $h!te poll by some no-mark organisation. Who cares. I do actually... because its completely inaccurate. where tf is jagger/richard? ray davies? morrisey/marr? even paul plagiarist weller? and just look what arsehole theyve put in at #4 !!!! FFS! :angry:
February 3, 200916 yr dunno who actually voted, but there are some HUGE glareing omissions, let alone the order...:lol: Actually Mush :lol: the same as you! I think Barlow himself would be highly amused by it! I've said so in the Take That forum and also on other Take That fan-sites! There are certainly a couple of artists in that top 10 that he's better than ... but NO WAY should Lennon & McCartney NOT be number 1. And I'm bloody peed off that Jeff Lynne of ELO isn't in there at number 2 or 3! Glad that Gary's ahead of Rob though! Norma
February 3, 200916 yr dunno who actually voted, but there are some HUGE glareing omissions, let alone the order...:lol: I quite agree - What about Jagger & Richard, they penned most of the Stones hits and also for other acts including the 1966 #1 hit Out Of Time by Chris Farlowe.
February 3, 200916 yr At least this was only a poll though ... what gets me is when so-called 'experts' compile their lists ... and make glaring omissions. I give you Exhibit A http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3...ongwriters.html Just look at the comments and see how many people are shocked at the omission of Jeff Lynne! Not only did he write wonderful stuff with The Move and ELO but through his heavy involvement in the Travelling Wilbury's brought the fantastic voice of Roy Orbison to the attention of a whole new generation ... and reviving George Harrison's career at the same time! Norma
February 3, 200916 yr This is bollocks, at best he writes cliched, souless pop standards. I'm sick to bloody death of the unprecented amount of praise Barlow and Co receive. A lot of it is undeserved if you ask me. People who voted for this are the same people who buy one CD per year and listen to local radio, surely. Even people like Cathy Dennis deserve a place on this list, if we are talking about great pop songs. Edited February 3, 200916 yr by ScottyEm
February 3, 200916 yr I'm sick to bloody death of the unprecented amount of praise Barlow and Co receive. A lot of it is undeserved if you ask me. People who voted for this are the same people who buy one CD per year and listen to local radio, surely. Even people like Cathy Dennis deserve a place on this list, if we are talking about great pop songs. You're absolutely correct, this poll is total bollocks! But with regard to all the praise ... I see right through the game the 'popular' media is playing ... building an act up hoping for a really big fall! It'll make good copy. I'm sure after the first time round ... Gary Barlow is just laughing his head off at this - and the media attention ... he knows from experience how easily it can all change! For the record ... I didn't vote in this poll (not that you were accusing me of doing so) if I had - Chris Martin, Robbie Williams, Sting, Noel Gallager, George Michael ... and (as much as I like Take That) Gary Barlow certainly WOULD NOT be in my top ten. The only deserving ones in there are Lennon & McCartney and the Bee Gees and maybe Kate Bush. And I'll say it once more .... Jeff Lynne should not only be in that list ... but he should be at position number 2 immediately behind Lennon & McCartney. Elvis Costello, Ray Davies and Roy Wood would be in that ten too! I don't agree with all those moaning that the Pink Floyd writers should be there though - it has taken me about 30 years to listen to DSOTM with fresh ears and say that it really wasn't that great (IMO). Of those in that 10 - I'd put Sting somewhere between 10 - 20 and Martin, Gallagher, Barlow and Michael somewhere between 20 - 40. Norma Edited February 3, 200916 yr by Norma_Snockers
February 4, 200916 yr The Telegraph top 3 is spot-on! This list? A poll that's sadly been hijacked by fervent Take That fans.... to be ignored, of course. No Morrissey and Marr or Kate Bush in the top 5? Nonsense.
February 4, 200916 yr The Telegraph top 3 is spot-on! This list? A poll that's sadly been hijacked by fervent Take That fans.... to be ignored, of course. No Morrissey and Marr or Kate Bush in the top 5? Nonsense. But you, I (with Jeff Lynne - yes I know its tiring .... but this guy deserves recognition) and others here are just as bad by saying who we believe to be in the top 5 or 10! Morrisey? I'm sorry ... but he (IMO - obviously not yours) is very overrated ... I can't think of three songs he has written .... and as much as I don't really rate Robbie Williams and his songs - at least I can name about a dozen of them that he has reportedly written. No Davies, no Bowie, no Costello ... not poll! Total rubbish. Norma
February 4, 200916 yr Author barlow has written some good songs, true, but his postion here is way too over inflated. i agree that cathy dennis is possibly more deserving, and certainly the forementioned jagger/richards, davis, bowie, morrisey/marr plus chin/chapman who scored hundereds of pop hits throughout the 70's. jeff lynne?... hmm... i wouldnt praise him that high norma, #2?.... NAAAHHHHHH
February 4, 200916 yr Absolutely useless. Public polls really do have no place...look at the f***ing Government.
February 4, 200916 yr Morrisey? I'm sorry ... but he (IMO - obviously not yours) is very overrated ... I can't think of three songs he has written .... and there, I'm afraid, is where our discussion ends.... :rolleyes:
February 4, 200916 yr and there, I'm afraid, is where our discussion ends.... :rolleyes: Well I'm sorry - I don't like Morrisey I think he's a boring, miserable old git! But that is just my opinion! And I said that in my post. If you don't mind ... the rolleyes indicates to me that you are a little bit of a musical snob (no offence) and your response a little condescending. And just as no way should Gary Barlow be number one (or even in that top 10) no way should Morrisey be in there either! And opinions as I've said in a previous post are like arseholes ... everyone has a unique one! Norma And Rob (mush) yes, yes, yes to Jeff Lynne! That stupid Telegraph article didn't even have him in the top 50! Maybe you might argue that I'd have him too high at 2 ... but even you must agree no way should he not be in a top 50 (and in a list compiled by a so-called expert!) Edit ... back to Morrisey ... I think its probably my fault ... I just don't think I'm intelligent enough to 'get him' ... everyone on BJ thinks he's a genius so I suppose he must be ... I'm probably not intellectual enough! After all ... I watch Coronation Street! :lol: Edited February 4, 200916 yr by Norma_Snockers
February 4, 200916 yr I would have in my top 5 Freddie Mercury and Cat Stevens ... The thing with these tops is that everybody tends to remember what is at that moment in, which explains the high position of Barlow and Martin. I bet that five years ago was Dido very high and next year will be Robbie and Amy Winehouse.
February 4, 200916 yr I would have in my top 5 Freddie Mercury and Cat Stevens ... The thing with these tops is that everybody tends to remember what is at that moment in, which explains the high position of Barlow and Martin. I bet that five years ago was Dido very high and next year will be Robbie and Amy Winehouse. Probably right ... the same poll next year will most certainly have Robbie Williams at number 1 (not sure about Amy though - she ain't a cheeky chapette!) :lol: But then again ... that'll make loads of people on BJ happy! So these polls are good for something! :lol: Norma
February 5, 200916 yr everyone on BJ thinks he's a genius so I suppose he must be ... I'm probably not intellectual enough! After all ... I watch Coronation Street! :lol: But Morrissey's main source of inspiration is Coronation St! The early years, though, not the crappy modern-day 'comedy'.... Pat Phoenix even graced a Smiths single cover (Shakepeare's Sister). And he's so, so far from depressing..... but you do need to 'get' his acerbic, dry Manc wit.... Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others, Vicar in a Tutu, You're the One for me Fatty, All The Lazy Dykes, Frankly Mr Shankly..... the list goes on - yes, his humour is deathly black.... but you'd be hard-pushed to find a wittier wordsmith than Morrissey. And yes, I'm a total musical snob.... but saying you could probably name only 3 Morrissey songs is akin to saying you only know a smattering of Beatles songs. Which would bring waves of derision your way. IMO, The Smiths $h!t all over The Beatles anyway, but it's a fair-ish analogy....
February 5, 200916 yr Author But Morrissey's main source of inspiration is Coronation St! The early years, though, not the crappy modern-day 'comedy'.... Pat Phoenix even graced a Smiths single cover (Shakepeare's Sister). And he's so, so far from depressing..... but you do need to 'get' his acerbic, dry Manc wit.... Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others, Vicar in a Tutu, You're the One for me Fatty, All The Lazy Dykes, Frankly Mr Shankly..... the list goes on - yes, his humour is deathly black.... but you'd be hard-pushed to find a wittier wordsmith than Morrissey. And yes, I'm a total musical snob.... but saying you could probably name only 3 Morrissey songs is akin to saying you only know a smattering of Beatles songs. Which would bring waves of derision your way. IMO, The Smiths $h!t all over The Beatles anyway, but it's a fair-ish analogy.... if you WERE a musical snob, you wouldnt like the banana bints! :P but if there was no beatles, thered be no smiths/morrissey.... but tbh theres no comparison... the beatles were at the cutting edge of the birth of pop music, the smiths werent, whos to say how things would have been if the groups eras were reversed? would the smiths have made the same impact as the beatles did? ..... we will never know, the smiths material was far advanced from what could be created in the early 60's. norma.... yes jeff lynne in the top 50, top 30 even, but NOT the top ten! and whether you 'get' the smiths or not (and i wasnt interested in them at the time), they ARE one of the very best, inovative, poignant, intelligent, songwriting acts that we have ever produced.
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