What is a singer/songwriter?

[Whitney Altine]

Singer/songwriter is a phrase that, curiously enough, is both self-defining and ill-defined. In short, a singer/songwriter...well, sings and writes songs. But what KIND of singing, and what kind of songs? And in a band, the one who sings and the one who writes songs are not always or even usually the same person. In fact, can bands even be considered as a singer/songwriter, since a band is a group and a singer/songwriter is singular? Any thoughts?

[Sammy Blue]

Writing the words that touch the soul is more than singer/songwriting. But some titles and expressions of said
titles are always up to the beholder. I hope that most of us are true artist with something valuable to say regardless of what label we choose to go by. Does it matter what kind of singing or songs are written? Perhaps
in certain situations it does. I believe it matters more that it gets done but I have heard lots of songs that I
didn't really like or couldn't feel. That's just part of the human experence that is SONGWRITING.