Top 10 Current Pop Singers Who Write ALL Their Own Songs

WatchMojo

In a world of ghost writers and producer-driven hits, these artists break the mold! Join us as we count down the pop stars who truly pen their own success stories. From humble beginnings to chart-topping dominance, these musicians prove that genuine songwriting talent still reigns supreme in today's music industry.

Transcript

00:00I keep cruising, can't stop, won't stop, broovin'.

00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 artists in the

00:11modern world of pop who have a huge part in the composition of their own music.

00:23Number 10. Olivia Rodrigo.

00:26When it comes to modern music, Olivia Rodrigo is often considered a gold standard when it

00:31comes to transitioning from acting to music.

00:40As a Disney Channel star in her teens, Rodrigo found new momentum as a singer-songwriter,

00:46first with her debut single Driver's License. Things only got better for her with her debut

00:51album Sour, which was a critical and commercial success.

00:56Forever now I drive alone past your street.

01:00But unlike so many other pop stars who transitioned over from teenage fame, Rodrigo singled herself

01:06out for her heavy involvement in her songwriting. Her talent for composition is found all over Sour

01:12and its follow-up, Guts, making her a rarity in a field that can often be filled with industry plants.

01:19But you made me look so naive the way you saw different parts.

01:26Number 9. Kesha.

01:28In the 2010s, Kesha lit the world of pop music alight with singles like TikTok and Right Round.

01:34You spin my head right around, right around, when you go down, when you go down.

01:41She carved a very lucrative path for herself as a solo star to earn herself millions.

01:47But what some of you may not know is that she is a prolific songwriter for other musicians too.

01:52Not only did she have a direct hand in her own success, but she also provided songs for artists

02:05such as Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, and even Alice Cooper.

02:10From her biggest hits to the album-made tracks that made up each LP release,

02:15Kesha oversaw and had a direct hand in everything.

02:17Number 8. Alicia Keys.

02:25Alicia Keys came into the world of R&B and pop with a background in classical piano.

02:38So her talent for songwriting and general melodic ideas should come as no surprise.

02:43But it's the heart and soulfulness of her lyrics that tend to inspire her fans

02:47more than anything else.

02:48Keys brought something truly fresh to the genre

02:51when she burst onto the scene with her first album, Songs in A Minor.

03:03And no, despite the title, only two of the songs are actually in the key of A Minor.

03:08But she had songwriting credits on every full track on the album,

03:12including many soul credits.

03:14She also helped to produce the record, a trend she followed for the entirety of her career.

03:23Number 7. Bruno Mars.

03:26Bruno Mars is without a doubt one of the most prolific pop superstars in the game.

03:30What you don't understand is I'll catch a grenade for ya.

03:38No matter the genre, Mars just doesn't miss.

03:41Hit singles like Right Round by Flo Rida and Forget You by CeeLo Green

03:45all had some level of songwriting input from Mars.

03:49While he was best known for lovelorn ballads like Grenade and Just The Way You Are,

03:53Bruno took hold of his creative direction and pivoted to funk.

04:04During this period, hits like 24 Karat Magic and his work with Anderson .Paak as Silk Sonic

04:11showcased his dynamism. Whether he's writing songs for those in the midst of a breakup

04:15or filling a dance floor with a new funk classic, Bruno Mars does it better than anyone.

04:26Number 6. Sia.

04:28Sia was already an experienced musician and recording artist

04:31by the time her career took off in the late 2000s.

04:34But her discomfort with her level of fame led her to take a break from her solo work

04:47and instead write for artists such as Rihanna, Beyonce and Flo Rida.

04:51But when she felt comfortable returning, she did so with a number one charting album,

04:56One Thousand Forms of Fear.

05:06Like any veteran songwriter, she took a central role in every aspect of the album's creation.

05:12Sia is a songwriter first and foremost, but she also brings a very unique sound

05:17and direction to the table, an unmistakable quality that makes her so sought after.

05:22Number 5. Lady Gaga.

05:30The second Lady Gaga exploded onto the scene back in 2008,

05:34it was pretty clear that she was a force to be reckoned with.

05:42Everything from her look to her music videos was like a breath of fresh air.

05:46And of course, it came as no surprise to learn how directly involved she was

05:51with the composition of her songs.

06:01Gaga is the type of artist who simply wouldn't have it any other way.

06:05And her enduring success is a testament to the strength of her creative vision.

06:09Pop music as we know it today wouldn't be the same without albums like The Fame and Born This Way.

06:21Number 4. Adele. Adele is an artist with a capital A.

06:26Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements?

06:32Responsible for crafting some of the most important musical standards of the century,

06:36it's impossible to listen to her albums and not realize that it's all coming directly from the source.

06:41Her album 19 showcased real potential, but it was her follow-up 21,

06:46and singles like Someone Like You and Rolling in the Deep that truly set her off.

07:02To this day, the album remains the best-selling album of the 21st century in the UK,

07:07and it makes total sense. Adele has a gift for writing songs that immediately sound essential,

07:13instant classics that burrow their way into musical culture as soon as they reach our ears.

07:25Number 3. Ed Sheeran. Ed Sheeran's humble roots as a street musician gave him the tools he needed to

07:31carve out one of the most remarkable commercial runs of his era.

07:40Sheeran didn't just write himself a string of huge hit singles,

07:43but he also delivered career-high releases for other artists too.

07:47Can you imagine a world where Justin Bieber didn't put out Love Yourself?

07:51And if you think that I'm still holding on to something,

07:57you should go and love yourself. Well, you can thank Ed Sheeran for that. Sheeran works as hard

08:03as anyone, even though he's one of the most financially secure musicians on the planet.

08:07If that doesn't tell you everything you need to know about his love for his craft, nothing will.

08:12Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hands of baby,

08:15I just wanna dance with my pretty little Broadway girl.

08:19Number 2. Billie Eilish. Billie Eilish is one half of one of the most prolific

08:24songwriting duos of this era. Did I cross the line?

08:30Alongside her brother Phineas, Eilish has ripped up the playbook when it comes to creating moody and

08:35visceral pop music. She first gained attention as a teenager with her song Ocean Eyes. And while that

08:41song was penned entirely by Phineas, her debut album saw Billie step up to the plate in every way.

08:47Despite her age, Eilish has been a trendsetter and a trailblazer with nearly every move she's made.

09:00And in a world filled with performers who don't have anything to do with their musical direction,

09:05to say that Billie is involved would be an understatement.

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09:28Number 1. Taylor Swift.

09:30Taylor Swift has a level of renown as a songwriter that most prospective musicians would kill for.

09:35In many ways, she is the pop songwriter of her generation. The one with the most hits,

09:49the most acclaim, and probably the most devoted fans to back her up. From her roots as a country

09:55artist to her emergence as a legitimate stadium pop star, Swift has been a dominant force in the

10:00world of music since the 2000s.

10:02We never, ever, ever, ever getting back together.

10:10Her attention to detail with her songwriting and her flair for lyricism have inspired millions.

10:15But for as many artists who try to emulate her style, there is only one Taylor Swift.

10:20We never go out of style. We never go out of style.

10:26What modern pop superstars do you think deserve a mention for their songwriting?

10:31Let us know in the comments.

10:38I'm doing the most famous music to make a songwriting one that I do.

10:47I'm just trying to play with them.

10:52S horror music continues.

10:55So I really do thank myself.

10:56I really do it.

10:57I'm just trying to play with them.

10:59I love a songwriting one that I do.

11:00I think I'm going to play with my songwriting one that I do.

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