Celeb Sightings & Greatest Songwriters

Summary

The Nightly (May 9, 2026)

Episode Theme: Celeb Sightings & Greatest Songwriters
Hosts: Wils Pelton & Josh Gondelman
Format: Warm, humorous late-evening conversation about celebrity encounters and a detailed look at the New York Times’ "30 Greatest Living American Songwriters" list.

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Episode Overview

This cozy episode centers around late-night musings on celebrity run-ins and the intrigue of “greatest of all time” lists—specifically, the recent New York Times ranking of American songwriters. Wils and Josh swap personal stories about celebrity encounters (from Brad Pitt to Anna Wintour), revel in the joy (and discourse) of pop culture list-making, and break down songwriting legends from Taylor Swift to Smokey Robinson. The chemistry is relaxed and playful, making it both engaging and sleep-friendly.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pug Problems and Neighborhood Celebrity Encounters

(00:45–04:29)

• Maggie the Pug: Josh shares a lighthearted update on his pug, Maggie, and her stubborn refusal to use a newly gifted step to climb onto the couch. This story segues into Maggie’s habit of trying to “fight” every other dog she meets.
  • “She will not use the step… she just sits there very contentedly, but doesn’t use it to go up or down.”—Josh (00:52)
• Mysterious Famous Neighbor: Josh mentions routinely bumping into a “very recognizable celebrity, an actor” walking his dog. The unnamed actor always responds in-character to Josh’s jokes about Maggie being “grumpy.”
  • “He just points at her and goes, ‘right on.’”—Josh (03:21)
  • Hosts agree: it’s reassuring and fun when admired celebrities turn out to be likable in real life.

2. Memorable Celebrity Sightings

(04:29–09:21)

• Wils’ Big Spot: Brad Pitt at an LA art gallery, alongside Tracee Ellis Ross and Malia Obama.
  • “With Brad Pitt… the energy in the room really changed in a way I had never experienced”—Wils (05:26)
• Josh’s Encounters: Recent sighting of Greta Gerwig at a friend’s book launch (“she shouted ‘Sacramento!’”—Josh, 06:10), and Anna Wintour at a Brooklyn Italian restaurant.
  • “She (Wintour) pointed to what Maris had for breakfast and was like, ‘That looks good, I’m going to have that.’”—Josh (08:40)
• Dancing with Shonda Rhimes: Wils recalls Shonda Rhimes lighting up the dance floor at a Bridgerton afterparty.
  • “She clearly wanted to dance, so obviously, like, everyone starts dancing.” —Wils (09:17)

3. Dissecting the New York Times' 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters List

(09:30–22:58)

The List Debate

• List Origin: Published by the NYT, determined by a panel rather than just staff critics.
  • “It was very scientific. My friend Natalie got a ballot for it… She’s a critic, but not in-house.”—Josh (10:44)
• List Prompts Big Discourse: The hosts swap guesses, comment on the criteria, and celebrate the inclusion of both superstar performers and less-visible behind-the-scenes songwriters.

Notable Artists on the List

(Main walk-through from 12:44–21:07, see below for full rundown)

• Key reactions include:
  • Surprise at Young Thug’s inclusion (“Maybe the one that surprised me the most”—Josh, 14:49)
  • Excitement for Missy Elliott (“Her pen is dispersed. Outrageous.” —Wils, 13:47)
  • Dolly Parton lore (“She wrote ‘I Will Always Love You’ and ‘Jolene’ in one day”—Josh, 14:21), and the unique way she uses her nails as percussion in “9 to 5.”
  • Lana Del Rey as a “surprising consensus” from critics.
  • Behind-the-scenes legends like Diane Warren (“She wrote every amazing song you’ve ever heard”—Wils, 16:11) and songwriting teams from Nashville.

Exclusions & Audience Reactions

(21:13–22:41)

• Eminem and RZA are suggested as notable absences.
  • “If I had to pick one hip-hop artist to put on the list that’s not on there, I think it might be the RZA.”—Josh (21:49)
• Other snubbed artists named by online discourse: Stevie Nicks, the Chicks, Joni Mitchell (disqualified as Canadian, to Wils’ surprise).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the universal change in the room at Brad Pitt’s arrival:
  • “Unlike other celebs, the energy in the room really changed…”—Wils (05:26)
• Greta Gerwig confirming her identity:
  • “Greta Gerwig went ‘Sacramento’… we’ve all seen ‘Lady Bird.’ We know she’s a big Sacramento head.”—Josh (06:08–06:19)
• Dolly Parton’s creative process:
  • “9 to 5, she does on her nails… she taps them together for the beat.”—Wils (14:27)
• On music list-making drama:
  • “Rolling Stone will do one where they’re like, ‘The 500 greatest guitarists of all time.' Someone will be like, ‘You forgot one.’ And it’s so funny to me.”—Josh (09:53)
• Acknowledgment as the episode winds down:
  • “But goodnight to you and goodnight to Joni Mitchell. I’ll say that.”—Wils (23:02)
  • “Goodnight to Bon Iver. Not necessarily number one in this chart, but number one in many hearts.”—Josh (23:10)

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New York Times’ 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters (in discussed order, 12:44–21:07)

1. Nile Rodgers
   • “Diana Ross’s ‘I’m Coming Out’…Sister Sledge’s ‘We Are Family’…” (12:51–13:05)
2. Lucinda Williams
3. Stevie Wonder
4. Jay-Z
5. Paul Simon
6. Taylor Swift
7. Brian & Eddie Holland (Motown supremes’ hits)
8. Missy Elliott
9. Lionel Richie
10. Dolly Parton
11. Young Thug
12. Diane Warren
13. Josh Osborne, Brandy Clark, Shane McNally (Nashville)
14. Fiona Apple
15. Babyface
16. Steven Merritt (The Magnetic Fields)
17. Romeo Santos
18. Carole King
19. Outkast
20. Mariah Carey
21. Willie Nelson
22. Kendrick Lamar
23. Valerie Simpson
24. Bob Dylan
25. Lana Del Rey
26. The-Dream
27. Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
28. Bad Bunny
29. Bruce Springsteen
30. Smokey Robinson

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Episode Flow & Tone

• Relaxed, playful, and lightly irreverent.
  The banter is affectionate and clever, with genuine excitement for lists, culture, neighborhood life, and the quirks of pop fame.
• Accessible even without sleepiness.
  The hosts gently guide listeners through each topic, balancing fun trivia with bits of personal nostalgia and humor.

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Suggested Listening Segments

• Celebrity neighbor antics: 00:40–04:30
• Room-changing star moments & Anna Wintour’s breakfast order: 04:29–08:43
• Dissecting the “30 Greatest” list (with guesses and debates): 09:30–22:58
• Goodnight send-offs (Joni Mitchell & Bon Iver): 23:02–23:14

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For List Lovers & Dreamers Alike

Whether you’re tuning in to tally songwriter snubs, giggle about Anna Wintour’s mysterious Brooklyn jaunts, or just to nod off to genuine late-night camaraderie, this episode is a comforting, pop-culture-rich bedtime companion.

Transcript

[A]

Hello.

[B]

You're about to drift into an episode of the Nightly, a podcast designed to help you unwind and relax. For the full phone free immersive light

[A]

experience, visit Hatch Co.

[B]

Enjoy.

[A]

Hey there. I'm Wills.

[B]

And I'm Josh. Welcome to the Nightly from Hatch, where your late night thoughts go to rest.

[A]

Oh, my God, Josh. It's amazing to be here with you.

[B]

Always a joy to join you in the pillow forum.

[A]

Always and forever. I've been curious. I wanted to hear how your beautiful, beautiful pug, Maggie is doing.

[B]

The newest news is that my wife bought a step because our couch is kind of high up. Like, it's a big soft cushion. So she got a step so that Maggie can hop up onto the couch herself instead of just kind of like making sad eyes. Until we plunker down on the couch, of course. And she will not use the step. If you put her on the step, she, like, sits there very contentedly, but, like, doesn't use it to go up or down. Cause she gets down fine. She just hops right off the couch. But it's very funny.

[A]

She's like, thank you for buying me this new beautiful chair.

[B]

Yeah, this is a nice chair, but honestly, I'd prefer to be on the couch. So if you want to put me up there, that's fine.

[A]

Totally. I wonder if she'll. Do you think she'll learn or you have more to tell?

[B]

I have confidence in her.

[A]

Okay. Okay.

[B]

She is also continuing her bad habit of trying to fight every dog she. I would say 9 out of 10 dogs she sees she wants to fight outside. We don't, like, bring dogs into our home for her to fight with. Yeah, but there is a. I don't wanna dox this person. But there is a very recognizable celebrity, an actor who must live near us. He's very recognizable, has been in huge things that everyone knows. And he must live close because we see him all the time walking his dog, who is much bigger than Maggie. And I don't ever wanna be annoying, even though I am a big fan. But I've never said that. I always just have to be like, my dog has. She's really grumpy. Or like, she has a bad attitude. And my wife has said the same thing, like, separately running into him and being like, she's kind of a jerk. And he always does, like, a different little bit back to us.

[A]

Oh, God.

[B]

Yeah. Every time. So, like, what has he done? The most recent one was he. This was like last weekend we were walking together, my wife and I, because it was Like a Saturday morning. And we took the dog together. Is like, oh, this is beautiful weather. This is like our morning together. And we ran into this actor and his dog and he said, sorry, she's got kind of a bad attitude and she's, he can see her starting to get agitated and like, you know, growling a little bit. And he just points her and goes, right on.

[A]

Okay, I like him.

[B]

Funny, truly, every single time. It does like a unique, silly bit. The first time I said that, I was like, oh, you know, she's, she's a little, she gets a little scrappy. And he goes, you don't want it with her, and points at his dog. He goes, she'll fight you right back. Like, I love this guy. This guy rules.

[A]

This guy's awesome. This guy likes, likes to joke around. It's nice to learn, like, the celebrities that you like are actually likable. It's really good to know, isn't it?

[B]

Yep, totally. There are a few in my neighborhood and there are a couple people that I think keep to themselves a little bit more, as is their prerogative, but a few that are like, pretty magnanimous and like, kind of just like in the fabric of the neighborhood in a way that, you know, it's not like you would stop them to talk for a long time, but it's like you could see them and be like, how about that Knicks game? And they would be like, yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

[A]

Yeah, it's your neighbor.

[B]

Yeah, that's my neighbor. Karl Anthony Town Nick Star.

[A]

That's amazing. I haven't seen many celebrities in my neighborhood in, in Brooklyn. I was in Bed Stuy and now I'm in Crown Heights where, where I live. I really feel like there aren't many celebrities around at all. Except I did. I'll say this. I learned that Ivy woke Rising star lives like three, three apartments down from me. But she's moving soon. So that, that's the celebrity that I have in my neighborhood right now. But I, I, I was being reminded of the, the, I think the most famous person I've ever seen like in the wild is Brad Pitt.

[B]

I think that's a big one.

[A]

And the reason, and I will say this, I went to this was like years and years and years ago when I lived in la. I went to an art gallery opening. And he is like a big, he's a patron of the art of all kinds of arts. And it was kind of star studded and it, the people that I saw there were, I saw Brad Pitt. I saw Tracy Ellis Ross and I saw Malia Obama.

[B]

Wow, that's very star studded.

[A]

I know, I know. But I was like, I feel like with Brad Pitt, when he came, like, unlike the other two celebs, like, the energy in the room really changed in a way that I had never experienced, like being around interesting famous people, if that makes sense.

[B]

Yeah, no, totally.

[A]

Yeah. But that's. That. That's my big one is like Brad Pitt. And I'm trying to think of anyone else that I've met.

[B]

We just had a pretty good one. We were at a book launch for a friend's book that's like a. It's a food book and a memoir and Greta Gerwig.

[A]

Oh, that is good. That's Greta Gerwig. That's good.

[B]

And then I was like, is that Greta Gerwig? And then the author mentioned something about California or Northern California, and Greta Gerwig went Sacramento. And I was like, that's definitely her. It's her. We've all seen Lady Bird. We know she's a big Sacramento head.

[A]

Yeah, she's a sack head. Oh my God. Wait, that's amazing. I love that she's doing like shout outs.

[B]

I was like, delighted. I thought that was so funny. And it's also like the kind of thing that if she was not a beloved actor director, just like shouting out the name of a city, I'd be like, okay, center. Center of attention much. But like, because it was like, it just felt like so sweet and earnest and everyone was like Greta Garwin.

[A]

It's also funny because, like, obviously she is like Sacramento. Like, that's her where she's from. But when you said her name, I'm like, that is like a Brooklyn celeb. Like, that's like a classic. That's a really.

[B]

For sure.

[A]

That's a really good person to see in Brooklyn. I feel like, like Greta Wickerwig is just. Is just an absolute classic. There's like, there's people like that.

[B]

The. The one. And sorry to keep piling on.

[A]

No, please.

[B]

Name drops that are. There's not even a name drop if you're just like near someone. The. The wildest one.

[A]

Yeah. Name drops of like people that you've just seen on the street.

[B]

I've stood eight feet away from. Yeah. They were not aware that there. I don't think it's day drag dropping if they don't know that you exist or we're near them, literally. So there's a little Italian restaurant in our neighborhood that's like, we've seen a bunch of very cool, exciting people there. But the one that, like, really blew my mind was Maris was looking out the window. We were sitting, eating lunch. Maris looked out the window, and she's like, is that Anna Wintour across the street? And I was like, for sure it's not right. And then she came in. She's wearing the sunglasses. She's got that, like, severe bob.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

She sits down and, like, starts to talk, and we're like, oh, that is for sure her. I didn't even think she knew that there was Brooke Lynn.

[A]

No, I mean, that's completely shocking. She's completely unmistakable, as you said. She has the bob and she has the glasses. It's amazing that she's in that all the time. I know. I'm like. On the one hand, I was feeling that. I was like, I can't believe she goes to Brooklyn. But I am like, she's a lady about town, and she, to some degree, must have her finger on the pulse of. Of what's going on. You know what I mean? I'm like, she's probably in Brooklyn more than we think.

[B]

Yeah. Oh, that's a good call. And then this is the most exciting part. She looked at, like. Didn't say anything to us, but she. When she was ordering, she pointed to what Maris had ordered for breakfast. Was like, that looks good. I'm gonna have that. And Maris is like, good taste confirmed.

[A]

Literally. She's like, I knew it this whole time. One time I will. This is my last one that really made me laugh once, though, is that I went. My. My brother works on Bridgerton, and we went to the premiere together, like, maybe a year or two ago, and we went to the after party, and it was very, very fun, but no one was dancing. And I remember my brother left, and I was, like, over there, like, near the dance floor. And then while he was gone, Shonda came out, and she clearly wanted to dance. So obviously, like, everyone starts dancing. And then he came back and he was like, what happened? Like, it completely changed while I was gone. I was like, well, Shonda came out and she wanted to dance. So now. Now we are all dancing.

[B]

That's really funny.

[A]

Yeah, but those are the. That's my celeb sightings that I have to share. I think have tapped my. Well, do you have anything else on your mind tonight, Josh?

[B]

Yes, I've really been thinking about the. This list that the New York Times published of, like, the 30 greatest living American songwriters. Those are the criteria. And then, like, the discourse around it. Because I love a good kind of low stakes argument.

[A]

Well, yes. And any of those lists that are like the greatest of all time, it's so funny. And they just cause so much discourse and chatter. It's like amazing.

[B]

I love it. And then sometimes Rolling Stone will do one where they're like the 500 greatest guitarists of all time. And someone will be like, you forgot one. And it's like, I don't know, man. It's so funny to me.

[A]

Come on. Come on.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay. I'm excited to hear about this.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

All I know is that Taylor switch is on it. That's. That's as much as I know.

[B]

Yes. Do you have any other guesses? Is there anyone else that you're like, this person's gotta be on it.

[A]

The greatest living songwriters of all time.

[B]

American too. Because so many people in the comments were like, Nope, Paul McCartney. And everyone's like, he's not American, you dummy.

[A]

You. Well, I feel like. Wait, I'm sorry. Bob Dylan is alive.

[B]

Bob Dylan is alive.

[A]

Okay. I feel like he must be on there.

[B]

I believe he is. Yes.

[A]

Okay. Okay. I'm trying to think of who else, like, best. Best living songwriters. I'm trying to think of who the New York Times would say.

[B]

And. And so the way they did it too, it's not just like their in house critics. I think there was a panel that they reached out to.

[A]

Okay. This was science.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. It was very scientific. My friend Natalie got a ballot for it and she's a. She's critic, but she's based in Dallas and like, I imagine has freelanced for the Times if. If they knew her to reach out to her, but like, she's not like New York Times in house critic. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Okay. I'm gonna say Bob Dylan. I'm trying to think of like other pop stars that I feel are like pop musicians that I feel like would be on it.

[B]

And some of them. So there are some that are like big time recording artists themselves. And then some of them are like the behind the scenes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Okay. So let me say, I wonder if Julia Michaels is on there. I love her.

[B]

I don't know who. Julia. Who's Julia Michaels?

[A]

She's written a lot of. So like Selena Gomez and the like. And she's. She kind of has her. She has her name on a lot of stuff.

[B]

Cool. I do not see Julia Michaels on this list.

[A]

Yeah, I'm like, just. I'm. Now I'm justice for Julia? No, I'm like one. To me, one of the best living artists of all time is Bon Iver, but I don't think he'd be on there. I don't think his, like, I don't know if his pen is that his pen. Is that that hard?

[B]

Bon Iver is not, but he's like

[A]

Adrian Linker on there.

[B]

Someone. I saw one Reddit comment that was like, adrian Lanker is a better songwriter than everyone on this list. It's like, calm down. Yeah.

[A]

I honestly don't even know if that's true. And also, it's like, it is the thing, too, where it's like, there's so many people who are so prolific, and I love Adrian Lanker, but I'm like, she's just simply not quite as prolific as a lot of people, so.

[B]

Yeah. Right. Doesn't have the catalog necessarily.

[A]

Those are my lame guesses. But I'm curious. Do you want to walk me through it?

[B]

Yeah. Okay.

[A]

I wonder who I'll even know. I'm very excited to hear.

[B]

I bet. You know, I bet at least half of them are, like, very much on your radar. Okay.

[A]

Oh, is. Is Kendrick on there? Sorry. Now I'm like, stepping on your toes.

[B]

Yes, Kendrick is great.

[A]

Great call when you've won a Pulitzer.

[B]

Right? You make some lists.

[A]

Yeah. It's hard to not get on the list. Okay, I'll stop asking and you can now.

[B]

No, no, no. I love it.

[A]

Walk me through it.

[B]

So I'll go in order that they are presented. Nile Rogers.

[A]

Okay. I don't know who that is.

[B]

So he. He has songwriting credits that are, like, in his name, but not songs that he recorded, like Diana Ross's I'm Coming Out.

[A]

Oh, I mean, come on.

[B]

And sister Sledges. We are family.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So he's like a recording artist, but also, like, huge, huge songs.

[A]

Totally, totally.

[B]

That he was not the face of.

[A]

So amazing.

[B]

Lucinda Williams is the next one. Country artist, really great. Stevie Wonder.

[A]

Yes. Jay Z. Jay Z. He's in there. Of course.

[B]

Paul Simon. Taylor Swift is the next one.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Brian and Eddie Holland, who I was not familiar with by name, but they.

[A]

I'm wondering who those people are.

[B]

They wrote most of the Supremes big hits.

[A]

Got it.

[B]

Where did our love Go, Baby love Come see about me Stop in the name of love so it's like Motown era. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Missy Elliot is next. Who was another one that I was like, huge love Missy Elliot. But I was like, a little. I was like, oh, cool.

[A]

That's tea. Yeah, that's good. I mean, she. Speaking of her pen. I'm like that her pen is disbierced. Outrageous.

[B]

The greatest one of the greatest of all time. And like, her songs sound like no one else. And that's obviously in part her collaborations with Timbaland, but, like, so wonderful. Lionel Richie is next. Another, like, oh, obviously. Dolly Parton. Another. Oh, obviously.

[A]

Oh, that is someone who I feel like I should have been able to guess, but I wasn't totally. I don't have all my faculties. But I mean, she's like. And there's so much lore about her too. Like her being like, she wrote all of her albums in one night or whatever.

[B]

Right. It was. What is it? I will always love you. And Jolene, she wrote in one day or recorded one day. Oh, my God, that's ridiculous.

[A]

What a day when she does that. Have you seen when she does Jolene with her nails? No, she does. I'm finding out from. From the pillow fort encyclopedia that 9 to 5 she does on her nails, she'll do at least like once. I don't know how often she does it, but I think she. She does her acrylic nails and she. She taps them like back and forth together for the beat.

[B]

Oh, I love that.

[A]

Yeah, it's very, very. It's amazing.

[B]

Cool. Next one. This was maybe the one that surprised me the most was Young Thug.

[A]

Okay. I really am not familiar with Young Thug's game.

[B]

He's put out a lot of music over the last, whatever, 10, 15 years. But I think it's the track record where I'm like, to me, artists like Jay Z and Outkast, like, obviously I'm expressing more surprise that the New York Times is recognizing hip hop more than like old timey guy with guitar, rock and folk music.

[A]

Yes. I mean, of course it's always surprising, but I'm like, I really have not listened to Young Thug at all. I should get into it. And I honestly, I'm gonna be real. This is like, I'm gonna say some like, boomer ass sentence right now, which is that I get. I get confused sometimes when there's many people who have young at the beginning of their name, and then I have to kind of figure out who is who, because then it's like, young Thug. I actually do think I know who that is. But then I see someone like, I think his name is Youngblood or something, and it is like a scrawny white guy and I'm like, who is that? And what is going on there?

[B]

And then there's like Lil Baby and Da Baby and it's all, yeah, yes. Yep. Totally. Diane Warren is the next one, and she's written for Taylor Dane, Taylor Swift, Patti LaBelle, Heart Chicago.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

Yeah. Rhythm of the night by DeBarge.

[A]

Yeah. It's just the coolest thing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Speaking of, like, celebrity sightings, it's like the vibe of being like. You meet someone, and they're so innocuous, and then someone's like, they wrote every amazing song you've ever heard in your entire life.

[B]

It's like, wow.

[A]

It's just the coolest thing in the world.

[B]

It's so exciting. The next one, these were people I was not as familiar with. Josh Osborne, Brandi Clark, and Shane McNally and their Nashville music grow songwriters.

[A]

That makes sense. Yeah. I'm always forgetting about country music and the way that country music is just simply, like, the most popular genre of music.

[B]

Wills, I think about this all the time because it is, like. It just doesn't reach me. Not even that I like or dislike it. Same where I'm. You know, there. There are some country songs I really love, but it just doesn't get to where I am that much.

[A]

No, literally, they. My friends and I were talking about this recently because they brought Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band out on Survivor, and everyone. We were watching it, and everyone was like, who even, like, knows who this guy is? Like, da, da, da, da. I was like, guys, everyone watching this show except for us knows who this guy is, and it's a huge deal. No doubt.

[B]

No doubt about it. Next. Fiona Apple.

[A]

Oh. I mean, one of the greats. Yeah. That's gonna make sense to me, of course. Oh, my God. It Also with Fiona. I'm like, fiona, where are you? You have forsaken us. Please.

[B]

I know. Please.

[A]

We want a new album.

[B]

She put out that album in 2020.

[A]

Yeah. Fetch the bolt cutters.

[B]

Yeah. And my wife is a huge Fiona Apple fan, and it was 2020, so we weren't, like, out and about that much, obviously. And she put on her headphones, was like, I'm listening to this new Fiona Apple album and take a walk. And I was like, there's a chance she's just gonna, like, meet up with, like, a coven of women throughout New York City, and they're just gonna form their own society.

[A]

No, literally, I mean, that album, like, that was so. To me, that's the soundtrack of the early pandemic, like, that album. And it was. Oh, my God, it's so good. I love that album. I want her to make another album, but I don't. She does what she Wants to do. And I also respect that.

[B]

Yeah, she really seems to live life the way she wants. Babyface. Next one.

[A]

Okay, good.

[B]

Steven Merritt, who is the Magnetic Fields.

[A]

Oh, wait. Of Edward.

[B]

Wait, no, no, that's the Magnetic Zeros. Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeroes.

[A]

Keep that in.

[B]

Keep it in.

[A]

I was like, what are you talking about?

[B]

They're really good. They're like a very kind of quirky indie group. They did an album called 69 Love Songs. That's like a triple album. Romeo Santos, he's Dominican American. He has written for bachata groups, but he's also a solo artist. And from the Bronx, amazing Carole King.

[A]

Okay, yeah, that obviously makes sense.

[B]

Outcast. Mariah Carey. You're like, of course that.

[A]

Once again, of course. Someone who just can write like no other.

[B]

Yeah. Willie Nelson is next.

[A]

Another that also makes sense.

[B]

Kendrick Lamar.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Valerie Simpson. She wrote Ain't no Mountain High Enough.

[A]

A classic, that era.

[B]

Yeah, a classic. Bob Dylan. Your first guess. Easy. Okay. Second most surprising, I think for me, Lana Del Rey.

[A]

Okay. Okay. I really don't know her. Like, I don't know her in the way that a lot of people know her. I love a lot of her songs. I'm not completely, like, familiar with her entire canon, but I can see it.

[B]

And I'm not, again, not surprised in that I'm like, londa Del Rey is bad and not good, But I'm like, oh, interesting that there was a consensus around her work from, like, this demographic of critics. I think that's cool. The Dream. So he's like a pop, R and B songwriter. He has a credits. Okay, here they listed Umbrella.

[A]

Oh, okay.

[B]

Ride, Ciara's Ride, Baby. The Justin Bieber song. Classic Samurai. Carey, Run the World, Girls, Single Ladies. He's like, yeah, it's like an era of music. He was all over Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis classics.

[A]

Okay. I don't know who that is either.

[B]

They wrote for a lot of songs for Janet Jackson is what this article is giving them the most credit for.

[A]

Wait, I have one more guest that I actually don't think is going to be on the list. But one, I thought of the Chicks.

[B]

The Chicks, Great. Guess I do not think they're on here.

[A]

That kind of. I could kind of see. No.

[B]

Bad Bunny.

[A]

Okay. Bad Bunny. I mean, give it up.

[B]

Yep. Then. And then the last two are both, like, true household names as well.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

One of them is, like, the biggest rock music guy that we haven't talked about.

[A]

Do you want me to guess?

[B]

Yeah, give me one guess. Just give Me one guess, and then

[A]

I'll tell you the biggest. Rock music guy.

[B]

Old category.

[A]

Old category is old. I literally don't know.

[B]

I'm like Bruce Springsteen.

[A]

Oh, okay, okay, okay. That. Of course. That makes sense.

[B]

Classic rock music guy. And then Smokey Robinson is the last one.

[A]

Okay. Both of those make complete and total sense.

[B]

And that's the list. I thought it was pretty interesting. And I like arguing. Yeah.

[A]

Who do you feel like has been excluded from the narrative?

[B]

That's such a good question. I don't know. I have such a hard time ideating on these things. You know who? I kind of. I don't think this person is an omission, but it. It would have made sense to me if they were on the list. Is. This is good. This is like, such a funny, specific thing, but Eminem.

[A]

Yeah. Oh, I could definitely. I mean. Yeah, that makes sense to me as well. Yeah. I'm trying to think of who. Well, I mean, I feel like a ton of, like, rappers.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, so many people. I'm like, now I'm thinking, like, like 50 Cent, maybe.

[B]

Yeah. I would go. I think if I had to pick one person to put on the, Like, a hip hop artist to put on the list that's not on there. I think it might be the rza.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That makes sense to me. I'm wondering who everyone online is upset that didn't make it.

[B]

Wait, let me see. I'm in the Reddit thread.

[A]

Or maybe they're just more upset about who did make it.

[B]

Stevie Nicks. Oh.

[A]

Oh, my God. That is kind of crazy.

[B]

And then some people. I think, my friend Natalie, I think wanted to put. She mentioned online that she tried to put Joni Mitchell on her list, only to find out that she was Canadian.

[A]

Oh, okay. When you said that, I literally was like. I, like, went, like, white as a ghost. I was like, you're right. No. Joni Mitchell.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you know what's confusing about that? She's Canadian and yet she has an amazing song, California. And that's what's so confusing to me.

[B]

I know it.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[B]

Thanks for. Thanks for letting me run this. And thanks for guessing. I know that's very vulnerable.

[A]

No, I was. I didn't come up with Bruce Springsteen, but that's okay. And I. But that's.

[B]

You had to pick Bruce Springsteen out of a haystack. At that point, you're guessing out of two people.

[A]

Of course. Well, thank you so much for sharing, Josh.

[B]

Yeah. This is a joy.

[A]

I think it's time to turn in. But good night to you and good night to. Good night to Joni Mitchell. I'll say that.

[B]

Yeah. Good. Good night to you and. And good night to Bon Iver. Not necessarily number one in this chart, but number one in many hearts.

[A]

Number one in my heart. Sam Sa. Sam sa. Sa.

[B]

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