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Dream Theater => Dream Theater => Topic started by: Glass Moonlight on October 29, 2012, 05:38:52 PM

Title: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Glass Moonlight on October 29, 2012, 05:38:52 PM
Simple as the title says, what band member wrote the best lyrics? My vote undoubtedly is KM, his lyrics were so deep and thought provoking. Don't Look Past Me, Pull Me Under, and Surrounded. Just awesome. My second pick would be John, Voices is just insane. Also throwing in a mention for John Myung's stuff, Trial of Tears was stellar.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: wasteland on October 29, 2012, 05:45:29 PM
I can't really say. Any of them has written very good lyrics, but most of them also had some misteps (KM in LFAGA or Lie, JP recently and MP in 96-97 and 05). At the moment, I'm leaning towards KM, but generally, I'm a JP-JM man  :tup

Also, JLB's personal and deep lyrics always, and I say always, manage to move me in some way.  :)
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Syzzle on October 29, 2012, 06:00:58 PM
Easily Kevin Moore for me.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: SeRoX on October 29, 2012, 06:04:24 PM
My picks from them:

KM: Only A Matter Of Time
JP: Scarred
MP: A Change Of Seasons
JLB: Disappear
JM: Trial Of Tears

And the best one is for me would be Disappear from JLB. Its every word just gives me the exact feeling how it supposed to be. It's sad, truly emotional and deep. Trial Of Tears is close behind.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: senecadawg2 on October 29, 2012, 06:09:12 PM
It's easy to see where this is going, although I voted for Myung.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: wasteland on October 29, 2012, 06:15:36 PM
It might have sense to name the best song per lyricist:

KM: Surrounded
JP: Scarred / The Silent Man
JM: Trial Of Tears
JLB: Disappear
MP: ACOS
Charlie: The wind has blown. Me halfway across the world :neverusethis:
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: The Presence of Frenemies on October 29, 2012, 06:29:50 PM
Went with KM, not that lyrics are a big deal for me. I've never really found any DT lyrics to detract from the song, nor any that really make it a transcendent experience.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Glass Moonlight on October 29, 2012, 06:32:22 PM
It might have sense to name the best song per lyricist:

KM: Surrounded
JP: Scarred / The Silent Man
JM: Trial Of Tears
JLB: Disappear
MP: ACOS
Charlie: The wind has blown. Me halfway across the world :neverusethis:
I loled

For me it's
JP: Voices
KM: Damn, probably um, Don't Look Past Me or Surrounded
MP: ACOS no contest
JLB: Far From Heaven
JM: Trial of Tears
Charlie Dominici: Status Seeker
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: The Presence of Frenemies on October 29, 2012, 06:34:17 PM
Charlie: The wind has blown. Me halfway across the world :neverusethis:

I always think of JP on the 5YIALT commentary saying "Then again, if we'd said 'The wind has blown me...'"
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: RaiseTheKnife on October 29, 2012, 06:49:36 PM
Chris Collins - Afterlife.  Not that I've deciphered what he is singing in his version, but I assume it is the paramount of all earthly sentiments.

By the way, Charlie did not write the lyrics to To Live Forever.  It was JP, followed by a pinch of KM.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: DebraKadabra on October 29, 2012, 07:06:18 PM
GAWD - never woulda thunk this would be such a hard question. ???
 
I may just go with Myung solely because of his contributions to Images and Words - yeah, I will.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: WDADU on October 29, 2012, 07:29:32 PM
Easily Kevin Moore. But John Myung gets an honorable mention.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Unlegit on October 29, 2012, 08:18:00 PM
John Myung.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: iamtheeviltwin on October 29, 2012, 08:29:31 PM
I chose KM, but I probably should have taken JLB.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Lucidity on October 29, 2012, 08:35:02 PM
Moore by a landslide.

As much as I want to like Myung's lyrics, I find them really pretentious and almost nonsensical, in a way. Maybe I'm just too stupid to get them, but I feel like he's really trying too hard :/
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: wolven74 on October 29, 2012, 09:54:20 PM
I voted for JMX. For me his lyrics have always been jaw dropping in their spirituality and depth. Second choice goes to KM.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: DarkLord_Lalinc on October 29, 2012, 09:55:39 PM
Kevin Moore.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 29, 2012, 10:30:57 PM
I don't know what the big deal is with KM's lyrics. They range from no better than anyone else's to pretty bad imo.

I may have voted JM, but since he's not very prolific, I voted for JP. JP's had his share of clunkers too of course, but he's written a lot of my favourite lyrics, and I like most of his lyrics. I get the feeling people won't agree with that logic, but it's my vote dangit! :lol
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: wasteland on October 30, 2012, 01:45:06 AM
By the way, Charlie did not write the lyrics to To Live Forever.  It was JP, followed by a pinch of KM.

I know, but the band joked about the weird phrasing of that line being due to Charlie eccentricity!  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Zydar on October 30, 2012, 02:37:19 AM
My vote:

(https://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_maug3ng8D11qbqjqvo3_250.gif)
(Courtesy of Milena)
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: MoraWintersoul on October 30, 2012, 03:17:33 AM
My vote:
*snip*
(Courtesy of Milena)
Aw, they're being used. Yes, I checked whether it was sped up. It really wasn't :biggrin:

Considering how KM > universe, it's easy to see where my vote went, but also what wasteland said in his opening post. It's not fair to pit JMX or JLB or KM against JP when they practically haven't had/barely had the chance to screw something up. They only wrote stuff they felt strongly about, and JP was the resident lyricist. I don't think JLB would have screwed something up even if he were to write a lot more, for example, that's why I really want more lyrics by him. And KM is one of my favorite lyricists ever, that tells you how I feel about him. JMX, on the other hand, as good as he is, talks only about one thing (in the essence), so more songs like that would be dull - this way they're special because they map where he is as an artist at the given point of time.

(I found the lyrics of BAI to be the least impressive part of the song, but saying that will get me a deathwish)
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: ? on October 30, 2012, 03:33:03 AM
Easily Kevin Moore for me.
This. Even the lyrics to Lie, which many dislike, are great IMO. He wrote lyrics that were very poetic yet you could easily relate to them. While he has gone with a more down-to-earth approach to lyrical themes later, they are still pretty open to interpretation and not too obvious. JM is my second favorite, but while his quality has remained great, he has written so few lyrics that it's hard to compare him to the others.

The rest are kind of hard to rank - I'd probably put JP 3rd because of his best lyrical achievements, although he has written some cringeworthy and bland stuff as well. But as Milena said, the more you write, the harder it is to stay consistent. James would be next, his lyrics are mostly ok with a few gems. MP wrote ACOS and The Mirror, and those songs are among my favorites both musically and lyrically, but he's also had the biggest amount of not-so-stellar moments. Charlie only wrote Afterlife and parts of Status Seeker so I can't really say anything about his writing.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Cruithne on October 30, 2012, 03:51:53 AM
Kevin Moore, easily. JM and JLB also both write good lyrics but they aren't very prolific.

JP *was* the most reliable (rarely great, but never anything less than decent) up until SC, but SC and BC&SL were big blots on his copybook. He was back on solid ground for ADTOE though.

Portnoy was the most varied in lyric quality - from absolute horrors through to top-of-the-class excellence and pretty much everything in between.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Octavaripolis on October 30, 2012, 05:00:42 AM
Kevin Moore. Much due to him being able to express his love for a photo in a magazine, Space Dye Vest  :heart
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Elite on October 30, 2012, 05:52:52 AM
Jordan Rudess.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: BlobVanDam on October 30, 2012, 05:54:35 AM
Jordan Rudess.

LISTEN TO THE SOUND OF MY SPLENDOR! :metal
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: IdoSC on October 30, 2012, 06:31:09 AM
Is it like, who wrote that one DT song with the best lyrics, or who writes the best lyrics generally?

If it's the former, I'm gonna go ahead and vote for James LaBrie, If it's the latter, it's a tough question, because JP and MP wrote some great lyrics along with some awful lyrics, while JLB, JM and KM wrote fantastic lyrics but they barely contribute. So it's basically quality vs. quantity.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Sketchy on October 30, 2012, 07:39:16 AM
A wild Myung fanboy appears.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: snapple on October 30, 2012, 08:04:11 AM
Myung by a healthy margin.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Dreamer81 on October 30, 2012, 08:35:21 AM
Myung, or JP,  IMHO KM is very overrated ...
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: krands85 on October 30, 2012, 09:21:45 AM
I don't know what the big deal is with KM's lyrics. They range from no better than anyone else's to pretty bad imo.

I may have voted JM, but since he's not very prolific, I voted for JP. JP's had his share of clunkers too of course, but he's written a lot of my favourite lyrics, and I like most of his lyrics. I get the feeling people won't agree with that logic, but it's my vote dangit! :lol
This is pretty much how I feel too.

But lyrics are never usually that important to me.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: wolfandwolfandwolf on October 30, 2012, 10:32:13 AM
I voted KevMo, but I love JP's contributions on Awake.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: KevShmev on October 30, 2012, 01:39:34 PM
JP was neck and neck with Kevin Moore in the early days, but he has written a lot of duds over the past decade, so he's dropped a few notches, giving Moore the win here. 

Myung's are usually great, but he simply doesn't have enough of them. 
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Adami on October 30, 2012, 03:38:35 PM
The question is "who wrote the best lyrics", not "who has the best record for writing the most amount of good lyrics"

If it were the latter question, it would be Kevin Moore, no doubt.


But it is the former question, thus the answer is John Petrucci (to me). He wrote Lines in the Sand, Voices, Scarred etc which are better than anything KM wrote (also, just to me). The fact that he is responsible for the worst lyrics DT has ever had is irrelevant.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Implode on October 30, 2012, 03:46:16 PM
I'm going to have to say Kevin Moore.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: ColdFireYYZ on October 30, 2012, 06:54:59 PM
Moore, followed by Myung.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: DP_Gumby on October 31, 2012, 01:42:15 AM
Hmm... I would go with either JM or KM. I personally feel that they have written some of the most compelling lyrics in DT's discography.

And regarding JM, it's not about the quantity, but rather the quality that makes his lyrics so good I think.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Eldomm on October 31, 2012, 04:01:57 AM
Easily Kevin Moore for me.

but JP has some great ones!
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Octavaripolis on October 31, 2012, 09:56:18 AM
Who voted for MP?  :loser:  :loser:
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Mebert78 on October 31, 2012, 09:58:29 AM
Gimme some Moore!
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: MoraWintersoul on October 31, 2012, 01:53:50 PM
Gimme some Moore!
Okay, the next person who uses the Moore-pun gets punished :D
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Adami on October 31, 2012, 01:54:36 PM
Gimme some Moore!
Okay, the next person who uses the Moore-pun gets punished :D

Anyone who doesn't want to get punished by you is a mooreon.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: SeRoX on October 31, 2012, 02:07:56 PM
Then I am perfectly OK to be mooreon.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: DebraKadabra on October 31, 2012, 02:08:30 PM
Who voted for MP?  :loser: :loser:

Um... for his earlier output it's a valid vote.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Adami on October 31, 2012, 02:09:46 PM
Who voted for MP?  :loser: :loser:

Um... for his earlier output it's a valid vote.

Which of MPs songs are better than JPs songs? I mean, I agree that ACOS is great, but even that doesn't top JPs prime.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: DebraKadabra on October 31, 2012, 02:11:30 PM
IN YOUR OPINION.
 
Dude, what the hell is your problem with me?
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Adami on October 31, 2012, 02:20:13 PM
IN YOUR OPINION.
 
Dude, what the hell is your problem with me?

No problem. Didn't know we all had to agree with you.


And yes, obviously it was my opinion. Forgot that every post has to include IMO in there or else people forget that we're stating opinions.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: DebraKadabra on October 31, 2012, 02:21:16 PM
Did I say that everyone had to agree with me?
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Adami on October 31, 2012, 02:21:42 PM
Did I say that everyone had to agree with me?

Nope. But when I disagreed with you, you asked me what my problem was.

Edit: Nevermind, this is an easily solvable problem. You won't have any problems from me again.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: DebraKadabra on October 31, 2012, 02:25:35 PM
I should've PM'd you that question.  Not having a great day over here, sorry.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: El JoNNo on October 31, 2012, 09:40:27 PM
I think Petrucci is the clear winner! Also here is a list ordered by author, in case you guys forgot anything.  ;D .... Also can html be embedded in this forum? The code button just allows you the ability to copy and paste code. It would be useful for making this list into a table.

Title   Lyricist
"Afterlife"   Charlie Dominici
"Take the Time"   Dream Theater
"Anna Lee"   James LaBrie
"Blind Faith"   James LaBrie
"Disappear"   James LaBrie
"Far From Heaven"   James LaBrie
"Prophets of War"   James LaBrie
"Sacrificed Sons"   James LaBrie
"Scene Seven: II. One Last Time"   James LaBrie
"Speak to Me"   James LaBrie
"The Way It Used to Be"   James LaBrie
"Vacant"   James LaBrie
"Octavarium"   James LaBrie,John Petrucci, and Mike Portnoy
"Caught in a Web"   James LaBrieand John Petrucci
"Learning to Live"   John Myung
"Lifting Shadows Off a Dream"   John Myung
"March of the Tyrant"   John Myung
"Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy"   John Myung
"Trial of Tears"   John Myung
"Breaking All Illusions"   John Myungand John Petrucci
"Another Won"   John Petrucci
"Two Far"   John Petrucci
"Vital Star"   John Petrucci
"Your Majesty"   John Petrucci
"A Fortune in Lies"   John Petrucci
"Status Seeker"   John Petrucci
"The Killing Hand"   John Petrucci
"The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun"   John Petrucci
"Another Day"   John Petrucci
"Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper"   John Petrucci
"To Live Forever"   John Petrucci
"Under a Glass Moon"   John Petrucci
"A Mind Beside Itself: II. Voices"   John Petrucci
"A Mind Beside Itself: III. The Silent Man"   John Petrucci
"Innocence Faded"   John Petrucci
"Scarred"   John Petrucci
"Cover My Eyes"   John Petrucci
"Hollow Years"   John Petrucci
"Lines in the Sand"   John Petrucci
"Peruvian Skies"   John Petrucci
"Take Away My Pain"   John Petrucci
"Where Are You Now"   John Petrucci
"Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On"   John Petrucci
"Scene Five:Through Her Eyes"   John Petrucci
"Scene Four: Beyond This Life"   John Petrucci
"Scene One: Regression"   John Petrucci
"Scene Three: I. Through My Words   John Petrucci
"Misunderstood"   John Petrucci
"The Great Debate"   John Petrucci
"As I Am"   John Petrucci
"Endless Sacrifice"   John Petrucci
"In the Name of God"   John Petrucci
"I Walk Beside You"   John Petrucci
"Panic Attack"   John Petrucci
"The Answer Lies Within"   John Petrucci
"These Walls"   John Petrucci
"Forsaken"   John Petrucci
"In the Presence of Enemies"   John Petrucci
"The Dark Eternal Night"   John Petrucci
"The Ministry of Lost Souls"   John Petrucci
"A Nightmare to Remember"   John Petrucci
"A Rite of Passage"   John Petrucci
"The Count of Tuscany"   John Petrucci
"Wither"   John Petrucci
"Beneath The Surface"   John Petrucci
"Bridges In The Sky"   John Petrucci
"Build Me Up, Break Me Down"   John Petrucci
"Lost Not Forgotten"   John Petrucci
"On The Backs of Angels"   John Petrucci
"Outcry"   John Petrucci
"This Is The Life"   John Petrucci
"You Not Me"   John Petrucciand Desmond Child
"Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence"   John Petrucciand Mike Portnoy
"6:00"   Kevin Moore
"A Vision"   Kevin Moore
"Don't Look Past Me"   Kevin Moore
"Lie"   Kevin Moore
"Light Fuse and Get Away"   Kevin Moore
"Only a Matter of Time"   Kevin Moore
"Pull Me Under"   Kevin Moore
"Space-Dye Vest"   Kevin Moore
"Surrounded"   Kevin Moore
"Wait for Sleep"   Kevin Moore
"A Change of Seasons"   Mike Portnoy
"Burning My Soul"   Mike Portnoy
"Constant Motion"   Mike Portnoy
"Honor Thy Father"   Mike Portnoy
"Just Let Me Breathe"   Mike Portnoy
"Never Enough"   Mike Portnoy
"New Millennium"   Mike Portnoy
"Raise the Knife"   Mike Portnoy
"Repentance"   Mike Portnoy
"Scene Nine: Finally Free   Mike Portnoy
"Scene Six: Home"   Mike Portnoy
"Scene Two: II.Strange Deja Vu"   Mike Portnoy
"The Best of Times"   Mike Portnoy
"The Glass Prison"   Mike Portnoy
"The Mirror"   Mike Portnoy
"The Root of All Evil"   Mike Portnoy
"The Shattered Fortress"   Mike Portnoy
"This Dying Soul"   Mike Portnoy





Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: KevShmev on October 31, 2012, 10:24:59 PM
The question is "who wrote the best lyrics", not "who has the best record for writing the most amount of good lyrics"

If it were the latter question, it would be Kevin Moore, no doubt.


But it is the former question, thus the answer is John Petrucci (to me). He wrote Lines in the Sand, Voices, Scarred etc which are better than anything KM wrote (also, just to me). The fact that he is responsible for the worst lyrics DT has ever had is irrelevant.

Good point.  On that basis, since Voices has the best lyrics of any DT song ever, IMO, give it to Petrucci, then.

Who voted for MP?  :loser: :loser:

Um... for his earlier output it's a valid vote.

For A Change of Seasons it is, yes. It really is baffling that his lyrics in that song are so good, and then the lyrics in just about every other song he wrote them for range from mediocre to bad.  But definitely gotta give him props for A Change of Seasons.  :tup :tup
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Jaffa on November 01, 2012, 12:47:09 AM
Not really sure overall.  I'm going with JP, mostly just because he wrote Misunderstood, my favorite DT lyrics. 

I should've PM'd you that question.  Not having a great day over here, sorry.

*hug*
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: DebraKadabra on November 01, 2012, 02:00:11 AM
D'aww. :hug:
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Jaffa on November 01, 2012, 02:00:52 AM
Yeah, that.  I keep forgetting there's a hug emote. 
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: DebraKadabra on November 01, 2012, 02:01:15 AM
 :lol

I knew what ya meant.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Sketchy on November 01, 2012, 12:22:45 PM
March Of The Tyrant is a Myung lyric? Nice.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Rainee100 on November 04, 2012, 11:25:37 PM
John writes the best lyrics.  :heart
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: MoraWintersoul on November 05, 2012, 01:56:29 AM
Awwwwwwwwwwwwww :heart
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Octavaripolis on November 05, 2012, 02:17:50 AM
John writes the best lyrics.  :heart

This is so sweet.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: wolfandwolfandwolf on November 05, 2012, 08:08:50 AM
The question is "who wrote the best lyrics", not "who has the best record for writing the most amount of good lyrics"

If it were the latter question, it would be Kevin Moore, no doubt.


But it is the former question, thus the answer is John Petrucci (to me). He wrote Lines in the Sand, Voices, Scarred etc which are better than anything KM wrote (also, just to me). The fact that he is responsible for the worst lyrics DT has ever had is irrelevant.

Good point.  On that basis, since Voices has the best lyrics of any DT song ever, IMO, give it to Petrucci, then.
You and I agree on everything, and we both hail from St. Louis.

Yes.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Adami on November 05, 2012, 10:28:53 AM
The question is "who wrote the best lyrics", not "who has the best record for writing the most amount of good lyrics"

If it were the latter question, it would be Kevin Moore, no doubt.


But it is the former question, thus the answer is John Petrucci (to me). He wrote Lines in the Sand, Voices, Scarred etc which are better than anything KM wrote (also, just to me). The fact that he is responsible for the worst lyrics DT has ever had is irrelevant.

Good point.  On that basis, since Voices has the best lyrics of any DT song ever, IMO, give it to Petrucci, then.
You and I agree on everything, and we both hail from St. Louis.

Yes.



Makes three of us.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: VioletS16 on November 07, 2012, 04:59:49 PM
Wow, this question is super hard. KM, JP, and JLB all have some great lyrics. I feel like KevMo's lyrics on I&W were his highlight, especially Surrounded. JP's lyrical highlight is definitely Voices. They're very, very good. JLB's lyrics are always good but I feel like he *really* shines on Static Impulse, particularly Jekyll and Hyde. I don't really care for JP's recent lyrics (of course, they're still good and they were actually quite a bit better on ADTOE) and I haven't followed outside-of-DT KevMo (sad I know) so I guess I will vote for...James :heart
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: SeRoX on November 07, 2012, 05:22:01 PM
I start to think some of you just voted considering which member writes more. I mean, for example, Charlie Dominici could write just one but it can be the best lyrics in DT's catalog.

That's what I consider in the first place while voting. James LaBrie, for me, wrote the best lyrcis for DT and it's Disappear. I can say both Myung and Moore are close behind but must say that John's style is out of lyrical theme, it's mostly poetic. While they are all perfect with the musical concept, I hardly think that they can be considered the best lyrics in the lyric theme logic. Moore is, by the way, if James hadn't written Disappear I'd have said Moore has the best writing ability.

Petrucci's attempts are mostly perfect, his top works, for me, are Scarred and Voices but I have to admit he lost this magic since SFAM. But he is still pretty decent lyricist for me.

Portnoy, while I enjoy some of his work and have to say "ACOS" is his peak point which is included both deep emotions and lyrical theme. I think other works of him not my cup of tea. I consider many of them disjointed as a whole in one song. 12 Step Suite, for instance. They surely are cool parts but disjointed as I said.

So, James takes the cake for me by writing Disappear. I consider Disappear top 20 DT song as a whole but when the only lyric matters it's the best for me.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: 54_diplomats on November 10, 2012, 10:37:44 PM
My favorite is probably Kevin Moore with MP as runner up. Yeah MP has had some meh lyrics, but I liked a lot of his stuff and I absolutely love ACOS. Kevin Moore's lyrics were phenomenal and easily the most unique out of every DT members. I will say that I don't particularly dislike any of DT's lyricists. If John Myung had written more lyrics he may very well be my favorite (though his most recent song, Breaking All Illusions, I don't find the lyrics to be all that great.)

Since people did this in earlier posts:

John Petrucci - Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper
James Labrie - Blind Faith
Mike Portnoy - A Change of Seasons
John Myung - Learning to Live
Kevin Moore - Space-Dye Vest
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: robwebster on November 11, 2012, 06:25:48 AM
Who voted for MP?  :loser: :loser:

Um... for his earlier output it's a valid vote.

For A Change of Seasons it is, yes. It really is baffling that his lyrics in that song are so good, and then the lyrics in just about every other song he wrote them for range from mediocre to bad.  But definitely gotta give him props for A Change of Seasons.  :tup :tup
I think it's just those two secret ingredients. Time, and inspiration.

A Change of Seasons had been honed over six years by the time it was committed to booklet, and we've seen some of the earlier drafts. Which weren't terrible, but that's a long time to work out the kinks.

When he stepped up on Falling Into Infinity, it was to replace Kevin Moore. He was writing songs on demand, because he had to, as much as because he wanted to. Huge difference! Plus, the subjects he started writing about became a little more angry. Burning My Soul and Just Let Me Breathe drift a little further into rant territory - which is fine, but it channels a completely different vibe. Less magical. More earthy.

The Mirror, The Glass Prison, A Change of Seasons are all songs he was burning to write, and it shows. He's written loads of other cool lyrics, too. I'll go on record as loving what he did with Octavarium, for instance, but I think you can tell when he was properly, truly desperate to write a song.

EDIT:

Since people did this in earlier posts:

John Petrucci - Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper
James Labrie - Blind Faith
Mike Portnoy - A Change of Seasons
John Myung - Learning to Live
Kevin Moore - Space-Dye Vest

Man! Tricky. Alright.

John Petrucci: Misunderstood
James LaBrie: Blind Faith
Mike Portnoy: Raise the Knife
John Myung: Trial of Tears
Kevin Moore: Surrounded
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: MoraWintersoul on November 11, 2012, 01:29:29 PM
A Change of Seasons had been honed over six years by the time it was committed to booklet, and we've seen some of the earlier drafts. Which weren't terrible, but that's a long time to work out the kinks.

When he stepped up on Falling Into Infinity, it was to replace Kevin Moore. He was writing songs on demand, because he had to, as much as because he wanted to. Huge difference! Plus, the subjects he started writing about became a little more angry. Burning My Soul and Just Let Me Breathe drift a little further into rant territory - which is fine, but it channels a completely different vibe. Less magical. More earthy.

The Mirror, The Glass Prison, A Change of Seasons are all songs he was burning to write, and it shows.
Yes, completely!

I am completely torn between at least two songs for that "everyone's best song" thing.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 12, 2012, 09:56:20 AM
I say Myung, but only because of consistency.  I can't think of any duds.

KM at his best was great, but he had some clunkers too.

JP wrote the actual best lyrics, but his best stuff was long ago.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: MoraWintersoul on November 13, 2012, 04:01:09 PM
John writes the best lyrics.  :heart

This is so sweet.
NOW WAIT A MINUTE, MAN

She didn't say which John! :lol
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Lucidity on November 13, 2012, 09:08:18 PM
I say Myung, but only because of consistency.  I can't think of any duds.

KM at his best was great, but he had some clunkers too.

JP wrote the actual best lyrics, but his best stuff was long ago.

Not meaning to be persnickety, but what's an example of a KM "clunker"?
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 13, 2012, 11:28:43 PM
I say Myung, but only because of consistency.  I can't think of any duds.

KM at his best was great, but he had some clunkers too.

JP wrote the actual best lyrics, but his best stuff was long ago.

Not meaning to be persnickety, but what's an example of a KM "clunker"?

Lie. Only a Matter of Time.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: MoraWintersoul on November 14, 2012, 02:01:57 AM
Only a Matter of Time.
???
Wow.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: wasteland on November 14, 2012, 02:06:07 AM
Only a Matter of Time.
???
Wow.

OAMOT is good, but not anywhere near to his contributions on Images.  :-X
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 14, 2012, 02:19:59 AM
Only a Matter of Time.
???
Wow.

Not so much the actual words themselves, so much as the disregard for a sense of phrasing or musicality to fit them to a song, resulting in the poorest vocal phrasing on the album (which is no small feat).
It's good and well to write nice poetic lyrics that work standalone, but actually fitting them to the music is just as important a step in the process of writing lyrics for a song, and in that regard, OAMOT really highlights the amateurish nature of the writing on WDADU.

Either that, or Kevin Moore was just trolling Charlie Dominici to make him pass out while singing it. If that was the case, I'd actually give KM bonus points. :biggrin:

You may disagree with how I am judging lyrics, which is fine, but I just thought I'd clarify my reasoning for that choice.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: MoraWintersoul on November 14, 2012, 04:17:16 AM
It's good and well to write nice poetic lyrics that work standalone, but actually fitting them to the music is just as important a step in the process of writing lyrics for a song...
Oh that sounds reasonable. Some stuff on IAW, such as Take The Time, is equally bad in that respect... the "unbroken spirit - must turn to hope" verses seriously sound like they were pranking JLB just like KM could have hypothetically pranked Charlie in OAMOT.

Except for the fact JLB came out on top *obligatory fangirling*
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 14, 2012, 04:52:46 AM
It's good and well to write nice poetic lyrics that work standalone, but actually fitting them to the music is just as important a step in the process of writing lyrics for a song...
Oh that sounds reasonable. Some stuff on IAW, such as Take The Time, is equally bad in that respect... the "unbroken spirit - must turn to hope" verses seriously sound like they were pranking JLB just like KM could have hypothetically pranked Charlie in OAMOT.

Except for the fact JLB came out on top *obligatory fangirling*

:lol Yes, the phrasing of that verse is quite brutal for a vocalist. Hey, maybe KM wrote that verse. :P
But in the case of TTT, the phrasing still fits a steady musical pattern, rather than feeling as randomly phrased as OAMOT, and the melody is amazing.
But it is indeed equally difficult on the vocalist. They're just lucky they got a vocalist who could nail it. :hat
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: MoraWintersoul on November 14, 2012, 05:00:11 AM
:lol Yes, the phrasing of that verse is quite brutal for a vocalist. Hey, maybe KM wrote that verse. :P
The only thing KM ever wrote post-89 that had that problem was Surrounded in my opinion, and it wasn't that bad, but it was still hard to sing. Afterwards, with the Awake and all the post DT lyrics he really shined in that department.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: ? on November 14, 2012, 09:59:04 AM
Hey, maybe KM wrote that verse. :P
No, apparently JP gets the blame for that one. (https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=31143.msg1226061#msg1226061)
The only thing KM ever wrote post-89 that had that problem was Surrounded in my opinion, and it wasn't that bad, but it was still hard to sing. Afterwards, with the Awake and all the post DT lyrics he really shined in that department.
Yeah, but I think it's because of the tricky time signature. The "light to dark, dark to light" part is a real tongue-twister, though! :lol I agree with you about the vocal phrasing on KM's Awake songs and post-DT stuff.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 14, 2012, 12:46:08 PM
FWIW, I agree with Blob on his KM analysis.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: The Presence of Frenemies on November 14, 2012, 02:06:06 PM
Dominici's staccato delivery certainly didn't help smooth any of the lyrics out, but yeah, it's a valid point that the words detracted from OAMOT. For the record, I actually enjoy Lie's lyrics a lot though.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: robwebster on November 15, 2012, 12:44:42 PM
I find Only a Matter of Time works a lot better if you can train yourself to stop seeing it as a prog rock song, and think of it more as the world's first progressive rap.

Finally, the worlds have met. It's the halfway point. It's what you'd get if you mixed a concept album about wizards with a three-minute single about casual misogeny. Charlie Dominici, proving for the record books that he can be, well, maybe not quite "street," but he's definitely "yellow-brick road."

We can't begin to comprehend the level of innovation. Frankly, it belongs in a museum.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: Adami on November 15, 2012, 12:47:27 PM
So I've given this topic a lot of thought, and realized I'd like to change my answer.



The person who wrote the best lyrics for DT is.............Desmond Child.
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: MoraWintersoul on November 15, 2012, 12:55:35 PM
I find Only a Matter of Time works a lot better if you can train yourself to stop seeing it as a prog rock song, and think of it more as the world's first progressive rap.

Finally, the worlds have met. It's the halfway point. It's what you'd get if you mixed a concept album about wizards with a three-minute single about casual misogeny. Charlie Dominici, proving for the record books that he can be, well, maybe not quite "street," but he's definitely "yellow-brick road."

We can't begin to comprehend the level of innovation. Frankly, it belongs in a museum.
So I've given this topic a lot of thought, and realized I'd like to change my answer.



The person who wrote the best lyrics for DT is.............Desmond Child.
Fuck it you guys I almost choked :lol
Title: Re: Who wrote the best lyrics?
Post by: GasparXR on December 03, 2012, 08:37:28 AM
It's easy to see where this is going

Really? Because I can't see where this is going.