Pribek

Here is this year’s list of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame inductees. From Rolling Stone…

Jon Bon Jovi
Richie Sambora
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Jason Mraz
Tom Jones
Andy Williams
the Young Rascals’ Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati
Holland-Dozier-Holland
Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway (”You’ve Got Your Troubles,” Coca-Cola theme “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony”)
“Hair” lyricists James Rado and Gerome Ragni and composer Galt MacDermot
Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pochahontas, Prince of Egypt)
music publisher Maxyne Lange

Apart from that list being heavy on performers who have written some songs, there are some very worthy cats.

This however, is what sort of chapped my ass…

Past honoree Rob Thomas presented Jason Mraz with the Hal David Starlight Award.

Rob Thomas! Rob Freakin’ Thomas!!!

Yeah, I know these kinds of organizations try to front load with people that the simple folk will recognize but, this is supposed to be about Songwriters!

My friend, Bill Dees co-wrote one of the top 10 airplay songs of all-time (“Oh, Pretty Woman”). Co-wrote one of the best slices of popular music in the history of the universe (“It’s Over”). Had songs he wrote cut by monsters like Roy Orbison, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and even the Germs for Christ’s Sake. He’s not in the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame but Rob Thomas is!

This hall of fame may be even more bogus than the one Jann Wenner stuffs with names from his Blackberry.

“It Don’t Make Sense If You Can’t Make Peace” by Willie Dixon.

As always, make some coffee, make some sense then, click pause on the music player in the side bar located to your left before playing the YouTube.

When people ask me, “Who is a good songwriter?”, I always bring Willie Dixon in to the discussion.

“Whats So Funny About Peace Love & Understanding” by Nick Lowe.

I liked the way Elvis Costello did the song. It’s interesting when a very good songwriter covers another very good songwriter. Because, sometimes another a songwriter can recognize the heart of the matter. See, it really is a case of “the musical question”. It’s all in how you ask the question.

Elvis is more confrontational. It’s a, “you think that’s funny man?”, loud argument sort of way. Nick Lowe is asking you like he really wants the answer.

The clip is from the Jimmy Kimmel Show, 2007.

As always, first, sow then, reap then, click pause on the music player located in the side bar before playing the YouTube.