Let the Rain Fall Down and Wet My Dreams

There's an article on Slate today about song writing, and why pop-stars, some of whom clearly can't write, are increasingly penning tracks on their albums. Jessica Simpson's "With You" is the focal point, but Britney and Justin both get shout outs as exemplifying this trend. The author, Kevin Canfield, wants to pin this on critics, who only respect writers, on record companies, who only want to pay one person, on artists, who want the royalties, and on the growth of Access Hollywood and Us Weekly, who have more questions for a writer/singer than just a singer.
But, personally if I never heard this exchange:
Nancy O'Dell: So where do you get your inspiration for songs?
Jessica Simpson: Well, ""With You" just came to me while I was sitting around my house in just a T-shirt and Nick was watching basketball or something and I just felt so myself. You know? Like, this is where I belong. So I went into the studio with this idea for a song, and we just kind of fleshed it out a little."
I'd be a happier camper.
I think Canfield is kind of missing the point on a number of counts. Pettiest first, being a songwriter doesn't make for a better interview. In fact, when the singer is a bad, insipid writer it makes for a worse interview. And it's not like Access Hollywood or Us runs out of questions in the 30 seconds or 2 sentences spots they give such singers anyway.
More importantly, his article just ignores the idea that artists who are good songwriters actually deserve more of our and the critics respect than artists who are not. Artists are trying to write their own songs because they want the credibility and respect that comes with being a songwriter. And that should come, at least, from being a good songwriter. Granted, it would be great if many of the singers who write some of their songs would spare us, but how can you fault them for trying to elevate themselves from beyond just entertainer to, well, talent?
Justin Timberlake's transformation from puppet to adored super talent exactly mirrors his growing writing credits. Furthermore, a song like "Cry Me a River," is believably a song only Mr. Timberlake could have written. A point he hammered home with his video: this song is my heartfelt confession about my break up with Britney Spears, and not the work of faceless nobodies good with harmonies and gospel choirs. And, most importantly, it’s good.
The writing move doesn't always work, as Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson demonstrate. All of their songs could just as easily have been written by Max Marin or a four year old with a book of clichés as the singer herself. One of the most common early assaults on Britney Spears, and a way in which haters insist she remains distinct from Madonna, was that she didn't actually write her own songs, proving she was a record label pawn. The fact that she now does "write" her own songs hasn't really deflected this attack, in part because there is essentially no difference between songs she writes and songs written for her. In short, she's bad, where Timberlake is good, so she doesn't get any respect, and he gets a bunch. In her case writing doesn't create the hard sought credibility popsters are after. But you still can't fault her for giving it a shot; authenticity and longevity are always worth striving for.
Canfield thinks that this whole writing thing is just a trend, and that as the novelty of songwriting wears off, we'll return to the days when professional songwriters ruled the charts. I am dubious that Spear's song quality was that much better before she co-wrote some of her tracks than after (though, before the recent appearance of Toxic, Baby, One More Time, clearly ruled the Spears cannon).
Furthermore, as long as our respect is reserved for those who are talented, either by virtue of a great voice or great songs, those who lack the former are going to keep trying to come up with the latter. Which is to say, singers who can’t sing, trying to write songs, is here to stay. The most we can hope for then, is not the return of the professional songwriter, but the rise of singers who can actually write.