Soot and Stars
I AM SOOT!
This thread is a spotlight on artist who write exclusively for other artist. These could be former musicians or just career writers but I just want to avoid the mistake of having people jot down every songwriter actually in a band.
We always complain about artist not writing their own material but for me I think songwriting alone is a talent and for someone who may not have the musical talent or unfortunately the marketability I think it's awesome that they can make career behind the scenes. One the other hand there are amazing voices and musical that just don't have the knack for writing. A great songwriter knows how to bring out the best in each artist and essentially make them come out rather than the songwriter themselves. It takes a lot of talent to do this and I have so much respect for these people. To me denying the music because someone else is singing it is disrespectful to the songwriters part in the process.
My first example is:
Linda Perry
You likely know Linda Perry's career as the front woman for this one hit wonder band:
4 Non Blondes-What's Up?
and she attempted a solo career with this highlight:
Linda Perry feat. Grace Slick-Knock Me Out
Linda Perry's music career never took off but she must have had garnered some respect amongst her peers because she was requested by Pink to help write. Pink's first single of the album M!ssundaztood fully written by Perry was very successful and that album in which Perry greatly contributed too jolted Pinks career and IMO they are GREAT pop songs. I think Pink owes her current career to working and learning with this great artist. These are the ones Linda contributed to!
Pink-Get The Party Started (single, full writing credit)
Lonely Girl (full writing credit)
Pinks greatest collaboration would be with Christina Aguilera. Aguilera would be famous for being the "other" pop princess and honestly she was a far more talented vocalist. Still, she had a bunch of cornball pop hits but was never taken seriously. Her second c.d. had to be great in order to prove that Christina was a legit artist and not just another teen flash in the pan. Linda worked a pop miracle with Christina and truly helped deliver what I think is a pop classic with Stripped! Granted the skanky turnaround that Christina did with her image was excessive and exploitative but the album itself was soulful, diverse and just solid track for track. This was a defining moment in bringing out the potential in an artist. These are the tracks that Linda contributed to:
The most obvious pick is
Beautiful (single, full writing credit)
This song was actually written by Perry and she had such a deep connection to it that she wanted to use it in herself musically. She even withheld it from Pink but Christina won her over when she sang it in front of Linda. I think it was a great result and maybe Linda didn't get to be the face behind she at least got to create something that resonated with the world.
Others:
Cruz (co-wrote)
(Really like this one)
Make Over (co-wrote)
I'm O.K. (co-wrote)
(really brought some depth)
Linda Perry would write on every song on the second disc to the follow up Back To Basics which garnered Christina even more respect with it's retro flavored pop!
Save Me From Myself (co-wrote)
The full list of artist on Linda's eclectic list of writing collaborations are:
Pink
Christina Aguilera
Jewel
Courtney Love
Blaque
Gwen Stefani
Vanessa Carlton
Juliette and the Licks
Sugababes
Lilix
Robbie Williams
Melissa Etheridge
Sierra Swan
Fischerspooner
Solange Knowles
Cheap Trick
Gavin Rossdale
Lisa Marie Presley
Unwritten Law
Britney Spears
LP
Kelley Osbourne
James Blunt
Ben Jelen
Enrique Inglesias
Giusy Ferrari
We always complain about artist not writing their own material but for me I think songwriting alone is a talent and for someone who may not have the musical talent or unfortunately the marketability I think it's awesome that they can make career behind the scenes. One the other hand there are amazing voices and musical that just don't have the knack for writing. A great songwriter knows how to bring out the best in each artist and essentially make them come out rather than the songwriter themselves. It takes a lot of talent to do this and I have so much respect for these people. To me denying the music because someone else is singing it is disrespectful to the songwriters part in the process.
My first example is:
Linda Perry
You likely know Linda Perry's career as the front woman for this one hit wonder band:
4 Non Blondes-What's Up?
and she attempted a solo career with this highlight:
Linda Perry feat. Grace Slick-Knock Me Out
Linda Perry's music career never took off but she must have had garnered some respect amongst her peers because she was requested by Pink to help write. Pink's first single of the album M!ssundaztood fully written by Perry was very successful and that album in which Perry greatly contributed too jolted Pinks career and IMO they are GREAT pop songs. I think Pink owes her current career to working and learning with this great artist. These are the ones Linda contributed to!
Pink-Get The Party Started (single, full writing credit)
Lonely Girl (full writing credit)
Pinks greatest collaboration would be with Christina Aguilera. Aguilera would be famous for being the "other" pop princess and honestly she was a far more talented vocalist. Still, she had a bunch of cornball pop hits but was never taken seriously. Her second c.d. had to be great in order to prove that Christina was a legit artist and not just another teen flash in the pan. Linda worked a pop miracle with Christina and truly helped deliver what I think is a pop classic with Stripped! Granted the skanky turnaround that Christina did with her image was excessive and exploitative but the album itself was soulful, diverse and just solid track for track. This was a defining moment in bringing out the potential in an artist. These are the tracks that Linda contributed to:
The most obvious pick is
Beautiful (single, full writing credit)
This song was actually written by Perry and she had such a deep connection to it that she wanted to use it in herself musically. She even withheld it from Pink but Christina won her over when she sang it in front of Linda. I think it was a great result and maybe Linda didn't get to be the face behind she at least got to create something that resonated with the world.
Others:
Cruz (co-wrote)
(Really like this one)
Make Over (co-wrote)
I'm O.K. (co-wrote)
(really brought some depth)
Linda Perry would write on every song on the second disc to the follow up Back To Basics which garnered Christina even more respect with it's retro flavored pop!
Save Me From Myself (co-wrote)
The full list of artist on Linda's eclectic list of writing collaborations are:
Pink
Christina Aguilera
Jewel
Courtney Love
Blaque
Gwen Stefani
Vanessa Carlton
Juliette and the Licks
Sugababes
Lilix
Robbie Williams
Melissa Etheridge
Sierra Swan
Fischerspooner
Solange Knowles
Cheap Trick
Gavin Rossdale
Lisa Marie Presley
Unwritten Law
Britney Spears
LP
Kelley Osbourne
James Blunt
Ben Jelen
Enrique Inglesias
Giusy Ferrari
Last edited: