If you've been keeping up with my articles, or if you haven't, I'm basically a songwriting nerd. I've been writing song lyrics since I was eleven, and I started composing music around age fourteen. I'm twenty-three now, so I've had my hand in music for quite a bit. With that being said, there are some songs that I am just in complete awe of. Whether it is how they are mixed, composed, performed, or lyrically written, some songs just stick with you because of the amount of pure talent it took to create them. As an aspiring singer/songwriter, I've come to realize that if I get jealous over how amazing a song turned out, it's a pretty damn good song, and it's usually one that I wish I could have written. Here is my playlist of songs that are so excellently written, I got super jealous that I didn't write/sing them.
1. "Back to Black" by Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse is my favorite singer of all time. The entire 'Back to Black' album is my absolute favorite of hers, and there have been several days when I've listened to the album on repeat. Everything about this song and the way that she delivers it is absolutely amazing.
2. "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver
This is actually my absolute favorite song of all time. From the catchy guitar intro, to his vocal deliverance, this song will always be my favorite, and I'm so jealous that I did not write this one.
3. "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac
Amy Winehouse might be my favorite singer of all time, but Fleetwood Mac is definitely my favorite band of all time. The fact that Lindsey Buckingham wrote this song as a direct breakup message to Stevie Nicks, and that she wrote "Dreams" back to him/about that situation is absolutely astounding and amazing to me. (I believe that's how both songs got written, but I could be wrong.) Either way, this song is brilliantly written and even more brilliantly mixed.
4. "So Yesterday" Performed by Hilary Duff, Produced by The Matrix
Okay, my inner songwriting nerd is totally geeking out over this one. The Matrix is a group of songwriters/musicians who have written not only this hit song but Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" as well. If I ever got the chance to work with, or even be in the same room as this talented group of music industry professionals, I would most likely figuratively die and go to music heaven. Such an amazingly talented group of music professionals and this song is a shining example of this. Duff's deliverance of carefully crafted lyrics and a soaring melody help to make this song the absolute masterpiece that it is.
5. "Complicated" Performed by Avril Lavigne, Produced by The Matrix
Again, I'm mentioning these musical masters because this is another beautifully crafted song. The way that it's mixed is phenomenal and Lavigne's vocal deliverance is excellent, as well.
6. "Slow Dancing In A Burning Room" by John Mayer
This song is absolutely one of the most beautiful, yet kind of melancholy, songs I've ever heard. It wouldn't be a list full of songs that I was jealous that I hadn't written without at least one of John Mayer's songs. That man is incredibly talented, and this song is my absolute favorite of his.
7. "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys is one of the most talented artists that I have ever listened to, and this song shows listeners why. The opening arpeggios of this song and the soaring, goosebump-inducing vocal performance make this song a staple to any playlist of mine.
8. "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" Performed by Whitney Houston
This song is one of the most technically near-perfect songs I've heard. From the way it's written, mixed, and Houston's astounding performance, it's damn near perfect. She is truly missed, and her musical talent is the kind that comes around very rarely. This song is a classic, plain and simple.
9. "Next To Me" by Emeli Sande
10. "Whole Lotta Woman" by Kelly Clarkson
This is just a fun, women's empowerment, kickass, kind of song. I love the way that it was written and I love the way that Clarkson performs this one even more.
That's my playlist of songs that I wish I had written/sung. Hope you all enjoyed reading this, and I hope you all take the time to listen to at least one of these songs, they're definitely worth a listen (or several).
