The music world widely regards Keith Richards as a rock ‘n’ roll legend. As The Rolling Stones guitarist, he has worked hard to capture the spirit of what makes the genre so engaging. Despite attempts to downplay it, people frequently underestimate his exceptional talent as a lyricist.
In fact, as a songwriter, Keith Richards has a fine sense of dynamic orchestration and exact musicianship, cultivated not via a drive for artistic originality, but rather through a focus on what he sees as the eternal enchantment of music itself.
While Richards is an expert at creating memorable hooks, he is also a master of rawness, honesty, and emotional depth. Much like in interviews, his lyricism frequently combines vivid images with a sardonic sense of humor. Songs like ‘Satisfaction‘, ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’, and ‘Gimme Shelter‘ demonstrates his ability to create sounds that have become synonymous with the Stones.
Richards is candid about other influential songwriters. He’d certainly be the first to argue that rock ‘n’ roll is driven by physical intensity. However, he’d equally readily admit the significance of including the mind in the process. Warren is an album that inspires him to think deeply. Warren Zevon’s Excitable Boy, whom he calls “one of the best songwriters ever,” is an album that inspires him to think deeply.
He continued, “He’s really intelligent, and another one that made me wonder. Why didn’t I write a song about my typewriter? You can see this is a guy who thinks a lot and is troubled, but he’s not afraid to put it all out there.”
Richards’ favorites among Motown’s greatest songwriters are fairly easy to guess. “For me, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles epitomize Motown,” he went on to say. Regarding Carrying to a Go-Go, he remarked, “You could hear Smokey’s influence going on through Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.” Such a talented songwriter. I mean, ‘The Tracks Of My Tears’ … you might as well just go and throw yourself in the toilet [laughs].”
As a result, his love for great songwriters reveals much about his abilities as a musician and lyricist. His influences paint a vivid picture of his musical journey, highlighting the fact that, beneath the glare of rock celebrity, Keith Richards remains a devoted fan. Uncomplicated and, most importantly, genuine, his passion for music shines through.
