Gordon wins international lyrics award in Nashville
THE Wexford singer/songwriter Gordon Barry has won this year’s top prize for lyrics at the International Songwriting Competition in Nashville for his song ‘Devil & St. Jesus’.
An annual event judged by the likes of Tom Waits, Lorde, Rickie Lee Jones and Donovan, the Nashville contest is considered the most prestigious songwriting competition in the world. Previous winners include Gotye, Passenger, Gregory Porter and Bastille. Gordon now joins Cork songwriters Mick Flannery and Jack O’ Rourke as the only Irish artists to win the award.
Speaking of the Wexford town man’s win, Candace Avery, founder and director of the International Songwriting Competition said the judges really rated Gordon’s lyrics. Their citation read: ‘Irish troubadour Gordon Barry’s lyrics show that classic lyric writing is alive and well in the 21st century. With vivid imagery and the deft turn of phrase, (his) lyrics are certainly worthy of winning First Place for lyrics at this year’s International Songwriting Competition’.
Gordon said he was ‘ honoured’ to have won the award given the high regard in which the ISC is held. ‘I’m obviously proud of the song itself. I wrote it on Christmas Day a few years ago out strolling on the quayfront in Wexford and to think it has now gone on to win this prestigious award is very pleasing,’ he said. ‘I was notified last week that over 20,000 artists from 137 countries had entered and I had won the award which is really something. It was judged among others by two of my absolute songwriting heroes in Tom Waits and the late great Chris Cornell (who died tragically last week). I consider Tom Waits to be one fo the greatest lyricists of our time. So for him to have a say in the win is very pleasing and to think that the words stand alone as a solitary piece and are recognised by my peers is something I am very grateful for,’ said Gordon who has released two albums ‘Sojourning’ and ‘ The Best Way to Kill a Monster’ which was mixed by the American producer Steve Fish. The single of ‘Devil & St. Jesus’ is due to be released soon.