Joe, sharing that brought so much joy to my morning. I clicked and watched the interview as well. I miss typewriters alot, especially the IBM selectric with the ball. This reminds me that WhiteOut was invented by the mother of Monkees star Michael Nesmith who made a cameo at our home when I was 13 and out moms played bridge together. Your books are a joy. Life goes by so fast that pausing to read about many memories we'd long forgotten about allows them to rewash over me and infuse me with such happiness. Thank you!
Joe, congratulations, and also, thank you. This piece just inspired me to spend the last hour writing and posting one of my own—something I needed to say. Appreciate you!
Several years ago a book of short stories came out, I can't remember if they were written by Tom Hanks or if he collected them, and the connecting theme in all the stories was typewriters. I need to see if I can find it, I can't even remember the title offhand.
Just eyeballing the list, it's absurd. Bad Bunny? Lana Del Rey? Who the hell is Young Thug?
Anyhow -- and I'll note that I'm not even a huge fan of some of these names -- but how this can fail to include Michael Stipe, Billy Joe Armstrong, Billy Joel, James Taylor, and so many others? It's the height of ludicrousness.
NYT . . . I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the obvious pandering of this list. What can I say?
Lana Del Rey is not the hill I would have chosen to die on...I mean...Mariah Carey ? )) That said, I agree with you about Billy Joel, Elton John, Phil Collins, perhaps? It definitely feels like they have mostly forgotten those who are still around but havent written much recently.
Elton & Phil are Brits, so not on this list. If Brits were included, I'd be storming the gates over Paul, Mick/Keith, Townshend, Page/Plant, Ray Davies . . .
How are the clouds at your place. Lana Del Ray is a very respected songwriter. Bad Bunny is the most popular act in the world. Not a big fan of his genre, but even I know who Young Thug is.
I didn't know who Young Thug was until his massively screwed up criminal trial in Atlanta in 2023-24. It would make for a good story about prosecutorial overreach and judicial misconduct. I don't know but wouldn't be surprised if there were subsequent songs written about it.
I imagine that everyone has a favorite songwriter who isn’t on that list.
Mine would be Tom Russell.
I was looking around for it and came across a comment that said something like: “I can’t believe those idiots left that country singer named Zach or Zac or Zack something off of the list!”
Awesome giving Dani DaOrtiz a spotlight like that. The version of that trick when he did it on Penn & Teller's show is something I can never stop watching.
I just watched that this morning. Smiled ear-to-ear the whole time and FREAKED OUT. I've watched some magic tricks and thought, "Okay, I don't think I could ever learn that... but I see how it works in theory." That one? Man, "Dani DaOrtiz is actually, literally, truly a wizard," is not the worst possible explanation for it.
I’ve said this elsewhere Joe but if you do Big Fan 2 and include Aussie Rules football, do not go to the Grand Final (too many corporate people in the stands) go to the Collingwood v Essendon ANZAC Day game, start the day by going to a Dawn Service at the Shrine of Remembrance then go to the MCG to watch as a 100,000 rabid fans go deathly silent for a minute as the Last Post is played by a single bugler, it’s an incredible experience
If Tom Hanks isn't on the Holiday Draft episode then what are we even doing???
1. Tom Hanks invited me to a baseball game
2. I still have not met him
How do both these things exist in one world?
If you are looking for some new music to listen to try Trevor Hall and Will Evans. Amazing uplifting musicians!
Joe, sharing that brought so much joy to my morning. I clicked and watched the interview as well. I miss typewriters alot, especially the IBM selectric with the ball. This reminds me that WhiteOut was invented by the mother of Monkees star Michael Nesmith who made a cameo at our home when I was 13 and out moms played bridge together. Your books are a joy. Life goes by so fast that pausing to read about many memories we'd long forgotten about allows them to rewash over me and infuse me with such happiness. Thank you!
Joe, congratulations, and also, thank you. This piece just inspired me to spend the last hour writing and posting one of my own—something I needed to say. Appreciate you!
Thanks for writing that!
For the Brilliant (and less so) Readers, click on "kind words ..." next to the poster's name above. It's worth your time.
Thank you for reading and saying so!
Several years ago a book of short stories came out, I can't remember if they were written by Tom Hanks or if he collected them, and the connecting theme in all the stories was typewriters. I need to see if I can find it, I can't even remember the title offhand.
Uncommon Type. A collection of short stories, written by Tom Hanks.
Did Guttenberg turn you down?
Just eyeballing the list, it's absurd. Bad Bunny? Lana Del Rey? Who the hell is Young Thug?
Anyhow -- and I'll note that I'm not even a huge fan of some of these names -- but how this can fail to include Michael Stipe, Billy Joe Armstrong, Billy Joel, James Taylor, and so many others? It's the height of ludicrousness.
NYT . . . I guess I shouldn't be surprised at the obvious pandering of this list. What can I say?
Lana Del Rey is not the hill I would have chosen to die on...I mean...Mariah Carey ? )) That said, I agree with you about Billy Joel, Elton John, Phil Collins, perhaps? It definitely feels like they have mostly forgotten those who are still around but havent written much recently.
Elton & Phil are Brits, so not on this list. If Brits were included, I'd be storming the gates over Paul, Mick/Keith, Townshend, Page/Plant, Ray Davies . . .
How are the clouds at your place. Lana Del Ray is a very respected songwriter. Bad Bunny is the most popular act in the world. Not a big fan of his genre, but even I know who Young Thug is.
I didn't know who Young Thug was until his massively screwed up criminal trial in Atlanta in 2023-24. It would make for a good story about prosecutorial overreach and judicial misconduct. I don't know but wouldn't be surprised if there were subsequent songs written about it.
Didn't notice the clouds . . . I've been too busy yelling at the kids on my lawn.
It’s mind blowing to see how far Tom Hanks has come since Bosom Buddies!
I imagine that everyone has a favorite songwriter who isn’t on that list.
Mine would be Tom Russell.
I was looking around for it and came across a comment that said something like: “I can’t believe those idiots left that country singer named Zach or Zac or Zack something off of the list!”
Awesome giving Dani DaOrtiz a spotlight like that. The version of that trick when he did it on Penn & Teller's show is something I can never stop watching.
I just watched that this morning. Smiled ear-to-ear the whole time and FREAKED OUT. I've watched some magic tricks and thought, "Okay, I don't think I could ever learn that... but I see how it works in theory." That one? Man, "Dani DaOrtiz is actually, literally, truly a wizard," is not the worst possible explanation for it.
This one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yGg-bBaEFg
I’ve said this elsewhere Joe but if you do Big Fan 2 and include Aussie Rules football, do not go to the Grand Final (too many corporate people in the stands) go to the Collingwood v Essendon ANZAC Day game, start the day by going to a Dawn Service at the Shrine of Remembrance then go to the MCG to watch as a 100,000 rabid fans go deathly silent for a minute as the Last Post is played by a single bugler, it’s an incredible experience
OMG OMG OMG
Someone with a subscription to the NY Times should post the list of the 30 greatest songwriters.
They're not numbered in the article. This is just the order they're written about.
Nile Rodgers
Lucinda Williams
Stevie Wonder
Jay-Z
Paul Simon
Taylor Swift
Brian & Eddie Holland
Missy Elliott
Lionel Richie
Dolly Parton
Young Thug
Diane Warren
Josh Osborne, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally
Fiona Apple
Babyface
Stephin Merritt
Romeo Santos
Carole King
Outkast
Mariah Carey
Willie Nelson
Kendrick Lamar
Valerie Simpson
Bob Dylan
Lan Del Rey
The-Dream
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Bad Bunny
Bruce Springsteen
Smokey Robinson
Keep in mind it's LIVING AMERICAN songwriters, so it's gonna exclude Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Lennon/McCartney, etc.
Neil Young got US citizenship in 2020. So off the list on a technicality?
And Tom Petty was seriously close to Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Dylan and Simon territory as a lyricist!
And Tom Petty, my fav
https://www.reddit.com/r/BruceSpringsteen/s/NUABdWBQX8
Appropriately enough for Pos, this is from the Springsteen subreddit.
thx Matt, appreciate it!