NEIL FINN
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Forever I've been hearing that McCartney has called Finn, the best or greatest modern songwriter, or some such. I've never seen a link to an interview or attribution to establish this as fact. Similarly Sinatra supposedly called Tony Bennett the best singer in the world. Again, other than hearsay, I can't find a direct link. Can anyone shed any light on this?
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I too have heard that many times without seeing footage or text, although I am a huge Neil Finn fan and would agree that he is one of the best. In fact, the only real link I am aware of between the two is the Finn played the beautiful "She Goes On" at the Concert for Linda.
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I heard that macca said the song he wish he had written is the Billy Joel song Don't go changing
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nowords:
I heard that macca said the song he wish he had written is the Billy Joel song Don't go changing
He said that about ELO's Mr Blue Sky also (sort of tongue in cheek though), in the recent ELO special. btw, exactly about Neil Finn. Neil Finn is not that great. he is decent. Like Harry Nilsson flies past Neil Finn in my opinion. not to mention any of the Beatles themselves. Crowded House honestly is sort of BadFingery. a couple hits, but just good enough to get on records. I mean I'm sure if Paul said something he was just being nice
IMHO -
The story I've heard is that Paul was being asked what it is like being the world's greatest living songwriter. Paul's response was something like "You should ask Neil Finn". Finn is probably the closest artist stylistically in my opinion to McCartney - very melodic. For the person who said that Crowded House had a couple of hits but isn't worth buying the albums, I disagree completely. The hits pale in comparison to the albums. Woodface and Together Alone were two of greatest albums of the 1990s, while not being all that commercially successful (at least in the USA).
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kapoo:
nowords:
I heard that macca said the song he wish he had written is the Billy Joel song Don't go changing
He said that about ELO's Mr Blue Sky also (sort of tongue in cheek though), in the recent ELO special. btw, exactly about Neil Finn. Neil Finn is not that great. he is decent. Like Harry Nilsson flies past Neil Finn in my opinion. not to mention any of the Beatles themselves. Crowded House honestly is sort of BadFingery. a couple hits, but just good enough to get on records. I mean I'm sure if Paul said something he was just being nice
IMHO
Some time ago Paul even said that the greatest song ever written was brian wilson's God Only Knows . Although I love Brian, i would'n necessarily belive everything Paul says -
In my opinion Neil Finn is indeed one of the best songwriters ever. Beautiful melodies and often really clever lyrics. I like this one for example, and a million others:
Seen Crowded House live twice, always great
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Mrs. Pepper:
In my opinion Neil Finn is indeed one of the best songwriters ever. Beautiful melodies and often really clever lyrics. I like this one for example, and a million others:
Seen Crowded House live twice, always great
Good song, but that's a pretty bold statement, I just don't see Neil Finn in the company of the songwriting greats. His songs are very light and then gone. Like Gordon Lightfoot, anyone think he's up there with the greats of all time? Truth is I could stand to listen up on my Lightfoot catalogue.. But same type of low impact music for me. But hey tons of people (where's LazyD and company) swear by Neil Finn so what do I know..
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Interesting reading. I like Split Enz MUCH more than Crowded House, but I'm not pro-Finn or agin him, I'm just putting the question out there.
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Iowa Hawkeye Beatlefan:
I too have heard that many times without seeing footage or text, although I am a huge Neil Finn fan and would agree that he is one of the best. In fact, the only real link I am aware of between the two is the Finn played the beautiful "She Goes On" at the Concert for Linda.
Split Enz producer Hugh Padgham worked with Paul and Enz's Eddie Raynor played on Press To Play. And I think she who shall not be named was a massive Crowded House fan.
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nowords:
I heard that macca said the song he wish he had written is the Billy Joel song Don't go changing
"just the way you are"
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I love Neil Finn he is a fine songwriter and have been a bit of a fan since the Split Enz days. Crowded House had some very good albums none better than Woodface which was a collaboration with his brother and Split Enz co-frontman Tim Finn. If you want to find out how great Neil Finn and Tim Finn can be together I strongly recommend their 2004 album "Everyone Is Here". One of the best albums to ever come out of Australasia.
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Iowa Hawkeye Beatlefan:
The story I've heard is that Paul was being asked what it is like being the world's greatest living songwriter. Paul's response was something like "You should ask Neil Finn". Finn is probably the closest artist stylistically in my opinion to McCartney - very melodic. For the person who said that Crowded House had a couple of hits but isn't worth buying the albums, I disagree completely. The hits pale in comparison to the albums. Woodface and Together Alone were two of greatest albums of the 1990s, while not being all that commercially successful (at least in the USA).
Neil's album with his brother (The Finn Brothers....Everyone Is Here) is one of my absolute favorite albums. I never tire of it. I find it rather Beatlesque too. "Anything Can Happen" would have fit perfectly on "Rubber Soul" in my opinion....all the hand claps, etc. Crowded House's "Not The Girl You Think You Are" is sooooo Beatles' sounding. But I don't just like them for the Beatles' melodic sound. They're just good. Period!
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I consider Neil Finn as the southern hemisphere's greatest pop composer. I am an Aussie and over the years this man has not lost the knack for writing the most gorgeous pop melody, I am not sure how much notice his solo career and side projects recieve outside of Australia and his Native New Zealand but I can tell you he is brilliant. Here is an absolute gem from the 2nd most recent Crowded House album 2007's Time On Earth:
I would have him in my list of top 5 collaborators Id most like to see work with Paul -
As prolific as Neil Finn is, what separates Paul McCartney far him are two important things: The range of chords that Paul plays and the volume of genres Paul has ventured.
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Im a Neil Finn fan I think its been mentioned before how Finn's music is described as the best McCartney songs he(Paul) didn't write. e.g.One has to look at "Message to my girl" As Audi says the "volumes of genres" many artist's songs are as agood as Paul e.g.Ray Davies but the volumes of genres that seperates Paul from the rest
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Fly Paul Fly to Australia:
I consider Neil Finn as the southern hemisphere's greatest pop composer. I am an Aussie and over the years this man has not lost the knack for writing the most gorgeous pop melody, I am not sure how much notice his solo career and side projects recieve outside of Australia and his Native New Zealand but I can tell you he is brilliant. Here is an absolute gem from the 2nd most recent Crowded House album 2007's Time On Earth:
I would have him in my list of top 5 collaborators Id most like to see work with PaulThe entirety of Time On Earth is SO special to me for such songs as "Even A Child," "Pour le monde" and "English Trees." Brings tears to hear them. Played that album constantly while lying on my bed cuddling my little black Miniature Schnauzer, Asti, in 2010. She was nearing the end of her life and died on October 18, 2010. Time on Earth became "Asti's Album". It so captured how I felt.
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I am just surprised the two have never collaborated. I would say they should do so sooner rather than later. Neil Finn and Paul McCartney on the same album? Now, that would be something.
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Been a Crowded House Fan for a while, Neil Finn is one of the best songwriters around i.e who would come up with a title like Pineapple Head!
seen the Finn Brothers twice in 2005 and CH in 2007, they never play 2 shows the same. -
Crowded House are basically seen as a two hit wonder in the US so Neil Finn's outstanding songwriting has mostly been lost out there. I'd say over the last 25 years or so his songwriting has been much more consistent than Paul's, and far less sloppy too. I think there's quite a lot of deep thoughts in Neil's best songs something Paul rarely shows in his which is a shame. As much as i love Paul he does have glaring lapses of taste from time to time, something Neil rarely falls pray too.
