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The sound. I never really hear the lyrics the first few times I hear a new-to-me song.
savatage1973
Addicted Member
I'll have to go with the sound as well. There are a lot of songs that "sound" good, but have some pretty lame and meaningless lyrics--but they are "catchy". OTOH, there are some some songs with very "thoughtful" and/or "philosophical" lyrics that just aren't tolerable to listen to.
This is what I think, and I couldn't have phrased it better.
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
gotta agree
I seldom can even hear the lyrics to a song... yeah you get bits and pieces but...
pre lyrics published on the internet you just had to guess...
now, we have to guess at the meaning of the words written!
I still am not clear as to why Johnny was in the basement. Mixing up the medicine.
loopstick
Lunatic Member
OTOH lyrics can really make a song special. Compare "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones to "Mr. Soul" by the Buffalo Springfield. The music is very similar but the lyrics to "Satisfaction" are boilerplate. I can't say that I understand the lyrics to Mr. Soul but there's certainly an "impressionist" vibe there that's really cool - thanks of course to Neil Young. However - unlike his fellow countryman Leonard Cohen - Neil is most famous for his hooks, not his lyrics. Neil's lyrics are great - but not everything is riding on the lyrics like it is with Cohen.
gotta agree
I seldom can even hear the lyrics to a song... yeah you get bits and pieces but...
pre lyrics published on the internet you just had to guess...
now, we have to guess at the meaning of the words written!
I still am not clear as to why Johnny was in the basement. Mixing up the medicine.
Exactly. Lyrics tend to be some combination of indecipherable, incomprehensible, and/or utterly banal. As often as not they're more a distraction than anything else. I listen to a lot of classical music, and the nice thing about, say, an aria in Italian or a requiem mass in Latin is that I can enjoy the vocals as another layer of instrumentation without having to pay any attention to whatever it is they're singing about.
squirrelnest
Lunatic Member
I go for the sound first....then the lyrics if I can figure them out.
richamor
amateur house husband
An interesting query. If the music sucks the lyrics may never get a chance. But I've heard songs that I normally wouldn't listen to that the lyrics just blow me away. Chris Issak is a good example. The music is ok if a just a little ordinary. But the lyrics, and the way they're presented, makes me a fan.
Sometimes it isn't the words but how they're sung. And besides....how many of us sat up late at night in the sixties singing along to our favorite song of the week. YummyYummyYummy I Got Love in my Tummy. Great song!!
But at this stage in my life....it's the music first and foremost. I don't care how great the lyrics are or who is singing, if the music blows it blows.
Sometimes it isn't the words but how they're sung. And besides....how many of us sat up late at night in the sixties singing along to our favorite song of the week. YummyYummyYummy I Got Love in my Tummy. Great song!!
But at this stage in my life....it's the music first and foremost. I don't care how great the lyrics are or who is singing, if the music blows it blows.
biscuithead
Me likes the eargasm retroplasm...
I am double damned. Some songs I am attracted to the lyrics, some the sound. I can find something I like about most songs, most genres. I like music and poetry.
noisefreq
Super Member
I'm pretty much following the prevailing sentiment, here.
I don't pay much attention to the meaning of lyrics. The vocals are just another element of sound within the music for me. I don't miss them when they're not there and they can often be distracting if they don't seem to fit with the rest of the sound.
I especially like when vocal parts are used as samples or treated in some way to create new elements like an instrument.
I don't pay much attention to the meaning of lyrics. The vocals are just another element of sound within the music for me. I don't miss them when they're not there and they can often be distracting if they don't seem to fit with the rest of the sound.
I especially like when vocal parts are used as samples or treated in some way to create new elements like an instrument.
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
Great counter point to most posts.
Indeed, it took me years before I listened to Dylan because his sound was so irritating.
biscuithead
Me likes the eargasm retroplasm...
I'll try and make a case for lyrics:
These are some of my favorite songs, and albums.
1.) Imagine -- John Lennon
2.) Whoops -- Blues Traveler http://www.metrolyrics.com/whoops-lyrics-blues-traveler.html
3.) Up on the Roof -- Jame Taylor
4.) Cats in the Cradle -- Harry Chapin
5.) Stand by me -- Ben E King
6.) Landslide -- Fleetwood
7.) Wonderful World -- Loius
8.) L.O.V.E -- Nat King Cole
9.) Across the Universe -- Beatles
10.) Ripple -- Grateful dead
11.) Working Class hero -- John Lennon
12.) Barbara Allen -- whoever
13.) Living for the city -- Stvie Wonder
14.) Masters of War -- Bob Dylan
15.) Papa was a Rolling stone -- Temptations
16.) American Prayer -- Album -- Doors
Some songs are a poetic message, a profound parable, or a philosophical idea... For all those that are only attracted to beat, tempo, instrumental prowess, and "sound"... I challenge you to concentrate on story, plot, narrative and dare I say: Meaning.
Edited 4-28
These are some of my favorite songs, and albums.
1.) Imagine -- John Lennon
2.) Whoops -- Blues Traveler http://www.metrolyrics.com/whoops-lyrics-blues-traveler.html
3.) Up on the Roof -- Jame Taylor
4.) Cats in the Cradle -- Harry Chapin
5.) Stand by me -- Ben E King
6.) Landslide -- Fleetwood
7.) Wonderful World -- Loius
8.) L.O.V.E -- Nat King Cole
9.) Across the Universe -- Beatles
10.) Ripple -- Grateful dead
11.) Working Class hero -- John Lennon
12.) Barbara Allen -- whoever
13.) Living for the city -- Stvie Wonder
14.) Masters of War -- Bob Dylan
15.) Papa was a Rolling stone -- Temptations
16.) American Prayer -- Album -- Doors
Some songs are a poetic message, a profound parable, or a philosophical idea... For all those that are only attracted to beat, tempo, instrumental prowess, and "sound"... I challenge you to concentrate on story, plot, narrative and dare I say: Meaning.
Edited 4-28
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