Writing a lot of hit songs is more impressive than producing them but there aren't any songwriters who can guarantee you a hit song but there are producers who can guarantee you a hit song.
Besides usually songwriters who write hit songs have a few people helping them. Most producers do it alone and its a sure thing.
See, I don't think a song being a 'hit' should define the abilities of a producer OR a writer.
But I agree on production vs. vocals being debatable.
Good lyrics are just a bonus. Asereje has the dumbest lyrics ever but it's still one of the best songs of all time. If you care too much about lyrics then you're stuck with languages you speak and then you close yourself off to 95% of the world's music.
When atrl'ers quote lyrics on paper to prove how good/bad someone's songwriting is It's so out of context
It's music, you're supposed to hear it, not read it, to judge
Applause's lyrics are the main reason I hate it tbh. They are literally the most embarrassing thing ever done by a pop girl recently and I've seen wide awake's performance at the BBMA.
It's so out of context