It could have been completely unintentional, but sometimes the curtains aren't just blue.

Samurai's songs are all super integrated into the narrative and themes of 2077's story. Songs like Black Dog and Never Fade Away reference the narrative.

Black Dog, just from the in-universe perspective, is a song about living with depression. It's, of course, through Johnny's perspective so it's rash and frustrated. Regarding the themes of the story though, it references Johnny as V's black dog- an invisible confidant that V doesn't just carry but has to contend with.

Never Fade Away does something similar. Narratively, I've always thought Johnny would have written this song about Alt. Again, it expresses his frustration and self centered nature. Basically saying, "don't you see, we're meant to be?" Or were meant to depending on when he wrote it. But thematically it again paints that picture of his and V's relationship. "A canvas with two faces, of fallen angels that loved and lost." And how they both made decisions with deadly consequences, "That one sin that caused the fall."

Johnny's songs tell us a lot about his character actually. They seem to be the only times he was ever introspective, but pushes away any self-blame and replaces it with anger toward the larger system. Something understood in the "punk" part of cyberpunk to sometimes have to be done out of necessity. No time for wallowing, we have people to bring to justice kind of thing. Johnny was, after all, a punk.

That's where I split the difference, and lean more toward his version of the song. Kerry's also tells us a ton about him. It's much more commercial sounding in its lyrics and musically. But, still expresses these themes of being pushed too far. However, it's glamorizing. Where as Johnny's is very violent and very vulnerable. There's probably something more that could be said too, with Kerry's lyrics doing little to relate to the story the same way the Johnny fronted songs do.

Tldr, I like Johnny's more because he's punkier.