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3 Songwriters Paul Simon Thinks Are His Equals
American Songwriter has compiled a list of three songwriters that Paul Simon himself has named as being on a par with his own talents. The piece draws on Simon's own public comments and lyrics over the years, offering an insight into which of his peers the folk-rock veteran holds in the highest regard, rather than the publication's own ranking.
The three named are Paul McCartney, whom Simon has placed alongside Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Hank Williams as one of the all-time greats; Bob Dylan, whom Simon has said he always "comes in second" to, admiring Dylan's ability to sound both sincere and ironic at once; and John Lennon, whose talent Simon acknowledged despite their sometimes fractious relationship, notably in his 1980s song "The Late Great Johnny Ace", written after Lennon's death.
In short
- Paul Simon rates Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and John Lennon as his equals
- He ranks McCartney with Gershwin, Berlin and Hank Williams
- Simon admits he always feels he "comes in second" to Dylan
Explained simply
Paul Simon is an American songwriter and musician best known for his work with Simon and Garfunkel and his solo career spanning several decades. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters in popular music history. Through his public comments over the years, Simon has identified three other songwriters whom he considers his equals in songwriting talent.
The three musicians named are Paul McCartney, former member of The Beatles; Bob Dylan, the folk-rock pioneer; and John Lennon, also formerly of The Beatles. Simon has placed McCartney alongside legendary songwriters including George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Hank Williams. He has said he always comes second to Dylan, and has acknowledged Lennon's talents despite sometimes fractious relations between them.
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