Critiquing the New York Times' List of Greatest Living American Songwriters
By
Israel Daramola
Slow-proofed and worth the wait. Worth its weight in flour.
Summary
A music columnist critiques the New York Times' list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters, arguing that such lists are designed for engagement rather than meaningful criticism. The piece explores what truly makes a great songwriter, examining elements like lyrical craft, melodic invention, emotional resonance, and cultural impact, while questioning the very premise of ranking artistic greatness.
Key quotes
· 3 pulleda hyper-specific conceit that reeks of music writers trying to make their job as easy as possible
That is what lists are for ultimately: red meat for the engagement maw, a thing to react to and argue about which will hopefully dri
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