All articles tagged with #songwriting
Bruce Johnston is leaving the Beach Boys after more than six decades, announcing Part Three of his musical career focused on songwriting and speaking engagements, while remaining open to special performances; Chris Cron will take over touring duties, and Mike Love expresses support for the change.
Bruno Mars's The Romantic leans heavily on retro soul and 70s/60s references, with several tracks clearly echoing classic hits (notably the lead single’s resemblance to Leo Sayer), delivering polished but mostly familiar pop rather than a bold comeback. The strongest moments mimic old-school grooves, while other songs sound like homage rather than invention, resulting in pleasant listening but perceived lazy songwriting overall.
Billy Steinberg, the prolific songwriter behind hits for Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, the Bangles and more, died at 74 after a cancer battle; teamed with Tom Kelly to pen chart-toppers like Like a Virgin, True Colors, So Emotional and I’ll Stand By You, later continued writing with Rick Nowels and Josh Alexander, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011.
Billy Steinberg, the prolific songwriter who co-wrote Madonna’s Like a Virgin, Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors and other ’80s anthems, died in California after a long cancer battle, aged 75. A longtime collaborator with Tom Kelly, he penned hits for Whitney Houston, The Bangles, Heart and more, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011, and left a lasting legacy as a lyricist and hitmaker across generations.
John Fogerty says Proud Mary was sparked by his honorable discharge in 1968. He finished the song in under an hour on his guitar, felt he had written a classic, and later experienced the surreal feeling of knowing almost no one else recognized its greatness at that moment.
A songwriter for KPop Demon Hunters discusses the film's musical potential, highlighting how its songs are crafted to serve both storytelling and standalone pop appeal, with possibilities for a stage adaptation and detailed insights into each song's creation.
Miley Cyrus revealed she attended the 2025 Oscars to pitch her original songs to filmmakers, successfully landing her song 'Dream As One' in the credits of Avatar: Fire and Ash, and expressed her interest in collaborating on future film and TV projects by offering her songwriting talents.
Memphis soul singer and songwriter Don Bryant, known for co-writing the Grammy-nominated hit 'I Can’t Stand the Rain,' died at age 83. Bryant had a prolific career as a songwriter and performer, returning to the stage in his later years after a focus on songwriting and supporting his wife Ann Peebles' career. His influence endures through his music, which has been covered and sampled by many artists.
A tribute concert in Los Angeles honoring Warren Zevon features notable artists like Jackson Browne and Shooter Jennings, celebrating Zevon's enduring legacy as a songwriter and performer, and highlighting his influence and the deep connections with his collaborators and fans, even 20 years after his death.
Nelly Furtado announced she is stepping away from live performances for the foreseeable future to focus on other creative and personal pursuits, despite celebrating 25 years of her debut album and enjoying renewed interest from new generations of fans. She expressed gratitude to her supporters and collaborators, emphasizing her love for songwriting and her appreciation for the enduring power of her music.
The 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees include notable artists such as Taylor Swift, LL Cool J, David Byrne, and others from various categories, with voting open until December 4, 2023, to select inductees based on their significant contributions to music.
Gracie Abrams, a young pop star, met her childhood idol Cyndi Lauper in a Brooklyn studio, where they shared stories, musical influences, and insights into their creative processes, highlighting Abrams's admiration for Lauper's work and their mutual respect for overcoming challenges in their careers.
Taylor Swift's latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, marks a shift towards a more performative, showgirl persona, which contrasts with her traditional emphasis on authentic songwriting. Critics have noted a decline in her lyricism, with some lines perceived as cringeworthy or overly literal, especially with modern internet slang. Despite this, the album contains moments of her characteristic lyrical brilliance, though they are less frequent, possibly due to her busy touring schedule and personal life. The tension between her showmanship and songwriting remains a central theme in her current artistic phase.
Taylor Swift's new album 'The Life of a Showgirl' offers a polished collection of pop songs that serve as a form of damage control after her previous divisive album, showcasing her songwriting skills and a more upbeat, less emotionally raw tone, possibly influenced by her relationship with Travis Kelce.
Billy Strings, a Grammy-winning musician blending traditional bluegrass with improvisational jam music, discusses his new live album 'Live at the Legion,' his personal healing through songwriting, performing after his mother's death, and how fatherhood has influenced his music, in an interview with NPR.