Songs written by SEVERAL authors

[Villavic]

How many songs do you know, songs written by lot of authors?

Besides THE CHAIN, written by Lindsey, Stevie, Christine, John and Mick (something most of us really doubt, probably just 2 or 3 were the actual authors), I do know Arthur's Theme (Best that you can do) was written by Christopher Cross, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen. I remember clearly because the 4 of them went to receive the Oscar the night it won, and I said There's a lot of people for one song!

What other songs do you know?

[mezzoforte]

"Kokomo" springs to mind immediately--a (hilarious and catchy) creative low point for all four gentlemen involved.
Terry Melcher, Mike Love, Scott McKenzie, and John Phillips, I shake my head.

[olive]

I am not a fan of her or the song but remember it being up for an award ,and thought it took 5 people to write that crap .. all i wanna do. David Baerwald, Bill Bottrell, Wyn Cooper, Sheryl Crow, and Kevin Gilbert.

[GypsySorcerer]

"Ray of Light" by Madonna was written by a lengthy cast of characters: Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Muldoon, Dave Curtiss, and Christine Leach,

[WildHearted]

A hefty majority of songs you find on any current pop album will have multiple contributors.

[PenguinHead]

How many songs do you know, songs written by lot of authors?

Besides THE CHAIN, written by Lindsey, Stevie, Christine, John and Mick (something most of us really doubt, probably just 2 or 3 were the actual authors), I do know Arthur's Theme (Best that you can do) was written by Christopher Cross, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen. I remember clearly because the 4 of them went to receive the Oscar the night it won, and I said There's a lot of people for one song!

What other songs do you know?


Within the established army of writers who develop songs for singers who don't write their own material there is usually some collaboration between several writers. But often those songs get passed around and other writers and producers get involved, manipulating elements of the song and putting their imprint on them. That's why some songs end up credited by multiple authors.

With "The Chain," the situation is different, or as Lindsey might say, "organic." It was a instrumental originated from a jam session. Stevie subsequently provided lyrics for it. It's credited to the entire band only because they are responsible for the instrumental jam that served as the nucleus for the song.

[Jondalar]

anything jennifer lopez cowrites

[Artemis]

I think Beyoncé is particularly guilty of this, I've often heard people say "change a word, take a third" when it comes to her.

[HejiraNYC]

I think Beyoncé is particularly guilty of this, I've often heard people say "change a word, take a third" when it comes to her.

Seven (cough) Wonders (cough)

[Sleepless-Child]

Seven (cough) Wonders (cough)

:laugh::thumbsup:

[chiliD]

Take a look at the songwriting credits for the Eagles' "Heartache Tonight".

[Villavic]

Seven (cough) Wonders (cough)

Since that song is written just by Stevie Nicks & Sandy Stewart (just 2, not several).. you must know a hidden story behind the song. Can you share it?

[Villavic]

Take a look at the songwriting credits for the Eagles' "Heartache Tonight".

4 authors.. including Bob Seger

[chiliD]

Take a look at the songwriting credits for the Eagles' "Heartache Tonight".

4 authors.. including Bob Seger

ONLY four? Hmmmm...I seem to recall when The Long Run came out, there were at least 6. Maybe Henley & Frey had them knocked off. :shrug: :nod::D

[HejiraNYC]

Since that song is written just by Stevie Nicks & Sandy Stewart (just 2, not several).. you must know a hidden story behind the song. Can you share it?

I was responding to the "change a word, take a third" comment about Beyonce. Supposedly "Seven Wonders" was written entirely by Sandy Stewart, but Stevie got part of the publishing for adding a few words. So in her case it was more like "write a line, take forty-nine."

[mezzoforte]

I was responding to the "change a word, take a third" comment about Beyonce. Supposedly "Seven Wonders" was written entirely by Sandy Stewart, but Stevie got part of the publishing for adding a few words. So in her case it was more like "write a line, take forty-nine."

And she didn't even change it intentionally! She got took credit because she did a bad transcription and sang it wrong.

[David]

Seven (cough) Wonders (cough)
Yeah, I was just gonna say!!

And remember when she told Jim Ladd why she is listed as a co-writer on If I Were You?

According to her, she wrote:

I believe that love is a living thing
Born into our destinies
From a single moment of inspiration
As it xxxxx, it changes our lives forever

[Villavic]

ONLY four? Hmmmm...I seem to recall when The Long Run came out, there were at least 6. Maybe Henley & Frey had them knocked off. :shrug: :nod::D

4 according to Wikipedia, not 100% reliable I know

[Villavic]

And she didn't even change it intentionally! She got took credit because she did a bad transcription and sang it wrong.

Interesting. Where did you read that? Or did Stevie admitted so in an interview?

[Travisevian]

all i wanna do. David Baerwald, Bill Bottrell, Wyn Cooper, Sheryl Crow, and Kevin Gilbert.

Sheryl, I think, was aspiring to create a Rickie Lee Jones "Chuck E's In Love" kind of song.

[Johnny Stew]

It's interesting that Stevie's credited with additional lyrics on "Seven Wonders" for something so minor, while Brett Michaels has stated that she re-wrote (with his blessing) several parts of "Love's A Hard Game To Play," but declined a songwriting credit. Go figure.

(For the record, I've always felt the co-credit on "If I Were You" was deserved, since she wrote the entire bridge. It may only be four lines, but -- in my opinion -- those lines are crucial to the song's effectiveness.)