Who is Australia's best ever singer/songwriter?

[Wormkilla]

Having a chat with my mate about this the other day - Nick Cave is no doubt an outstanding lyricist, but I reckon 95%+ of the public couldn't name a single song of his and his most well known song has 7 million spotify hits. Compared to the likes of Sia who has over a billion hits on spotify for multiple songs riddiled with catchy hooks, and has penned many songs for other artists that people don't even know she wrote.

So in your opinion who is Australia's best ever singer/songwriter? Does it come down to spotify hits, catchy hooks or does it come down to the quality of lyrics and musicianship, or perhaps the musican's scope of work? Cave has produced film scores for example...

 

[CURVE]

Paul Kelly would probably be most people's choice, he has written some of Australia's most enduring songs.

Don Walker wrote most of Cold Chisel's most loved songs, but he wasn't a singer.

The late, great Archie Roach should also be in conversation, he wrote some hard hitting, powerful songs going back as far as his debut in 1990.

My pick would be Suzie Higgie, from 1990's Indie rock band the Falling Joys. It's a shame they aren't so well known, as she wrote some of the most beautiful songs during the 1990's that I still love and listen to today.

 

[the_interloper]

Whoever wrote the songs for Blood Duster, "Drink Fight ****" has the best chorus in the history of music.

 

[catscratchfever]

Having a chat with my mate about this the other day - Nick Cave is no doubt an outstanding lyricist, but I reckon 95%+ of the public couldn't name a single song of his and his most well known song has 7 million spotify hits. Compared to the likes of Sia who has over a billion hits on spotify for multiple songs riddiled with catchy hooks, and has penned many songs for other artists that people don't even know she wrote.

So in your opinion who is Australia's best ever singer/songwriter? Does it come down to spotify hits, catchy hooks or does it come down to the quality of lyrics and musicianship, or perhaps the musican's scope of work? Cave has produced film scores for example...

I loved Nick Cave in The Birthday Party but solo he comes across (to me) as the most pretentious w*nker imaginable. As soon as someone calls themselves an 'artist' is almost always the time to stop listening.

I wish all these 'artists' would define what they mean by 'art'. Most of them wouldn't be able to do so clearly.

 

[catscratchfever]

Mark Seymour is right up there as well as Birthday Party-era Nick Cave (not solo Cave).

If the OP means acoustic-guitar-type-folky-dribble, not my genre - apart from His Bobness (and he's obviously not Aussie).

 

[Wormkilla]

Is Bernard Fanning worth a mention? Both with the Finger and solo?

 

[burge13]

Shannon Noll?

 

[LeakyValve]

Brian Cadd is worthy of a mention here.
Wrote some classic tunes in his pomp and could hold a note in his early years.

 

[Go the Biff]

Paul Kelly would be the popular elect. Mick Thomas not far behind in my view

 

[HalloweenJack]

A fantastic partnership was The Saints, Chris Bailey and Ed Kuepper. After Ed left, Chris wrote most of the "Casablanca" album (except 1 song in which he was a co-writer). This album, along with the early Saints albums, are absolute classics.

 

[cleanhands]

My two
Paul Kelly
Richard Clapton

 

[Schauermann]

Whoever wrote the songs for Blood Duster, "Drink Fight *" has the best chorus in the history of music.

GG did a better song with same name earlier...

 

[the_interloper]

GG did a better song with same name earlier...

No the Blood Duster song is objectively better!

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

I find it hard believe that no one has mentioned Ross Wilson, Eagle Rock, Cool World, Almost the entire "Living in the 70's" album, Daddy Cool, State of the Heart, A Touch of Paradise, Million Dollar Riff, Come Back Again, to name a few. Joe Camalleri would also have to be up there. Hit and Run, Shape I'm In, Hold On To Me, Chained To The Wheel, Never Let Me Go, The Chosen Ones, The Crack Up, So Long and Harley and Rose are all great songs. Great singer, saxophonist, harmonica player and guitarist. Slim Dusty would be another to consider, he's written over 1,000 songs and recorded over 100 albums.

Sorry, but I can't agree with you about Nick Cave, he doesn't have a good singing voice, his lyrics are dark and he never seems to have a happy or optimistic view of the world. Really depressing listening.

Pay no regard to Spotify, it's manipulated. Go to YouTube and have a listen to any of Rick Beato's top 10 Spotify reviews.

 

[VicPark Bitter]

Bon Scott

 

[catscratchfever]

Jo Camilleri for 'So Young' (covered by Elvis Costello).
Anything by TISM, especially '40 Years Then Death', a beautiful, heartbreaker of a song.

 

[two blue tiger]

 

[two blue tiger]

 

[JackOutback]

David Le'aupepe is the modern contender.

Also Alex the Astronaut, described as a female Paul Kelly by some.

 

[Stottzy]

Ian Moss would have to be up there.

 

[Plugger35]

Paul Kelly is the best singer/songwriter, that shouldn't even be up for debate.

I'm surprised no one else has mentioned Josh Pyke though, he is underrated.

 

[Bernie L]

Iva Davies

 

[No Quarter]

It's subjective...

Best for what reasons - influence? Selling albums? Spotify streams? As you say.

The old beauty is in the eye of the beholder type thing.

In my opinion and I might be wrong but Sia doesn't have that obviously Australian that some artists possess, though she has an incredible record in the industry for what she has done.

For me... Farnham would have to be right up there.

 

[Vdubs]

Felix Riebl

 

[MadEyeEmmy]

Bernard Fanning, Nick Cave, Sia, Daniel Johns, Paul Kelly, Gotye