5 Classic Rock Legends Whose Songwriting Shines as Bright as Their Vocals

We often remember musicians for their best talent—impeccable vocals, ripping guitar, timeless songwriting—but these five classic rock legends whose songwriting shines as bright as their vocals defy the idea that they would belong in one category over the other. Not only did they create some of rock ‘n’ roll’s most iconic cuts from thin air. They also delivered them in inimitable, genre-defining ways.

Indeed, some musicians write stunning lyrics but sing them with relatively mild voices. Other rock stars can howl, growl, belt, and yell with the best of them, but the words they write would likely never garner them a Pulitzer Prize. This talented lineup features five powerhouses who make it impossible to say whether their vocal or writing chops are better.

So, we won’t even try.

Robert Plant

The way Robert Plant’s voice floats above Led Zeppelin’s distinct instrumentation is graceful and aggressive all at once. Frankly, one doesn’t need to understand the words Plant is saying to appreciate the blend of his voice and the rest of the band. But take a deeper look into his lyrics, and Plant is quite the impressive wordsmith.

Plant’s songwriting often centered around the literary, mythical, and philosophical. From J.R.R. Tolkien to Norse mythology, Plant’s lyrical contributions to Led Zeppelin are just as enduring and iconic as his stunning vocal range, agility, and live stage persona.

Ann Wilson

Ann Wilson was one-half of the rock ‘n’ roll sister duo that fronted Heart. She and her sister, Nancy, composed some of the band’s most timeless tracks, including “Barracuda” and “Magic Man.” Songs like the former proved that the woman-fronted band could overcome stereotypes of only singing about love and heartbreak—instead opting to pen a song about predatory men in the music industry.

Behind every rock track’s powerful songwriting, of course, there were Ann Wilson’s incredible vocals. A belter in a class all her own, Ann’s voice carried the words she and Nancy wrote to new levels of rock ‘n’ roll immortality.

Freddie Mercury

We most often associate the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury with his captivating, passionate stage persona and immense vocal range. But he wasn’t just the voice behind these classic songs. Mercury was the mastermind behind some of Queen’s most iconic cuts, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Somebody to Love,” “Killer Queen,” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”

Mercury’s songwriting certainly shines as bright as his vocals throughout Queen’s extensive discography, proving he was just as sonically and lyrically creative as he was a talented singer. With equally impressive piano chops and his jaw-dropping, four-octave vocal range, Mercury gave new meaning to the “total package.”

Stevie Nicks

Fleetwood Mac was, for all intents and purposes, a concerted group effort. Songwriting credits varied from all six members to individual contributions, and Stevie Nicks’ were some of the group’s most enduring. From “Dreams” to “Rhiannon,” many of Fleetwood Mac’s most beloved hits came from Nicks’ witchy, darkly romantic poetry.

Nicks’ unique blend of feminine and masculine vocal qualities was the perfect vehicle for her often opaque, sultry, and wistful lyrics. Her voice’s unmistakable rasp and laidback delivery offered a harder, almost aloof edge to sweeter ballads like “Landslide” and “Sara,” keeping Nicks’ style slightly more ominous than straightforward pop.

Paul McCartney

Part of what made Paul McCartney’s voice so uniquely special was, arguably, the way it blended with John Lennon’s. But even outside the Beatles’ lengthy musical catalog, McCartney has proven time and time again his vocal delivery is as mutable and creative as the songs he sings. From his delicate crooning to his ability to shriek out a gritty rock ‘n’ roll wail, McCartney has let no genre define his vocal delivery.

Sir Paul has certainly had a similar approach to his songwriting, which boasts a wide range of classic rock cuts from the romantic to eclectic, poignant to silly, topical to timeless, including “Yesterday,” “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” “Band on the Run,” and “Maybe I’m Amazed,” all of which highlight his impressive vocals.

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