Lyrics, melody or both?

[SleepyWitch]

hey guys, here's another poll :D
when you listen to music, how important are the lyrics for you? do you usually pay more attention to the lyrics or the melody/beat or both? or do you go for singers with an interesting voice?
if a song has crap lyrics, will you listen to it anyway if the melody is nice? or vice versa?

[AdoreroDio]

I like the lyrics a lot, gives meaning to the song but id a song has a good beat and a good melody but the words weren't the best I'd still listen to it. Same visa versa if the lyrics are wonderful but the melody not the best I'd still enjoy it. But the best song is when both come togethor.

[amalia1985]

As a mastermind of modern music said, you must have the artistic combination of both lyrics and melody. Personally, I fully agree with AdoreDio, although sometimes, I admit that a certain melody "stays" with me.

[Niamh]

Some songs can be really good even though the lyrics can be rubbish or make no sense.

[Nossa]

Both of them. I can't listen to good lyrics, without a good melody, and vice versa.

[crazefest456]

Voice is pretty important to me too... I don't mean an ethereal voice or something; I guess it's the expression of emotions in their voice (or even the lack of makes a good song if the theme is appropriate).

[huihuffaker]

Lyrics aren't just words but emotions. The melody is quite important too. Together they can make beautiful love songs, dedication songs, or just sad songs. Being separtated can have the same affect as well. Both are heard by me.

[Virgil]

A song is the bringing together of various elements: melody, harmony, rhythm, lyrics, and voice. The art of song is all of that coming together. Some songs may emphasize one elemnt over the others, but really in general all of them are important. Now to qualify that, the lyrics for song are of a different nature than that of poetry. Some people evaluate song lyrics as if it's a poem, and that's not the standard.

[kratsayra]

Certainly all are important.

But I voted for "lyrics" because that is what I notice first and what often interests me the most in a song (although there is plenty of music I love that is just instrumental, so that is assuming that the song has lyrics to begin with). If a song has crap lyrics it will interfere with my enjoyment of the song itself, no matter how awesome the rest of the song is. And I don't think I feel quite as strongly about the other parts of the song being bad. That's just me. I notice lyrics.

[SleepyWitch]

Certainly all are important.

But I voted for "lyrics" because that is what I notice first and what often interests me the most in a song (although there is plenty of music I love that is just instrumental, so that is assuming that the song has lyrics to begin with). If a song has crap lyrics it will interfere with my enjoyment of the song itself, no matter how awesome the rest of the song is. And I don't think I feel quite as strongly about the other parts of the song being bad. That's just me. I notice lyrics.

my best friend claimed I listened mainly for/to the lyrics... I think that's not true because most songs we listen to together are in English and I understand them while she doesn't really. So I think I listen to both, but seeing as I often comment on the lyrics (which she doesn't really understand), she gets the impression I only pay attention to the lyrics.

Here's a video by German rapper/r n b singer Xavier Naidoo(The song is in English. He's the guy in the woolly hat) I find his voice extremely annoying, so I invariably end up 'commenting' on the lyrics of his songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp6n1HnuCYw

[Mal Reynolds]

I could really care less about lyrics if there's a good melody.

But good lyrics won't really be able to carry a bad melody. You know?

[SleepyWitch]

I could really care less about lyrics if there's a good melody.

But good lyrics won't really be able to carry a bad melody. You know?

yep, I guess you're right there.
but on the other hand, crappy lyrics can really ruin a song for me even if the music is great. e.g. with all those 80s/90s hard rockers, where the music is really wild but the lyrics are cheesy and talk about love, roses etc.
(I don't mean Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell II).. I mean groups like Bon Jovi, Guns n Roses, Brian Adams....
uh oh, I think I'll take a bashing from lots of members for this comment :)

[Idril]

I find I generally perfer good lyrics to good melody but of course, there are those exceptions. And voice is a huge thing for me, as Riesa can attest to with our countless conversations about Tom Waits. ;) It doesn't matter how brilliant the lyrics or melody is, if the voice is grating or unpleasant, I just can't deal with it.

[Virgil]

I could really care less about lyrics if there's a good melody.

But good lyrics won't really be able to carry a bad melody. You know?

Absolutely. I find it difficult to imagine someone liking the lyrics of a song but disliking the melody and still liking the song. However, the converse is quite possible: it's easy to imagine someone liking a melody and disliking the lyrics and still liking the song.

[kiz_paws]

I find I generally perfer good lyrics to good melody but of course, there are those exceptions. And voice is a huge thing for me, as Riesa can attest to with our countless conversations about Tom Waits. ;) It doesn't matter how brilliant the lyrics or melody is, if the voice is grating or unpleasant, I just can't deal with it.
Ha ha, Tom Waits! I find his stuff, well, charming! Very interesting individual methinks. ;)

Joe Cocker and his gravelly voice was cool. What about Bob Dylan talking his way through a tune? Love it.

I love the yelling of Kurt Cobain and the bashing sounds of NIN when I am having a bad day -- they do the releasing for me, ya know? :thumbs_up

As for people analysing lyrics for poetic value -- well, I truly love what Leonard Cohen has to say, just to name one performer who truly has his act together (musically, lyrically, and the voice).

Wow, I could talk about this at lengths, but anyhow, this was my two cents worth. Good poll, Sleepy! :thumbs_up

[papayahed]

I love upbeat songs that I can sing along to which originally made me thing it might be lyrics, but I know there are song (I know I've posted about this before) that have awful, crude, horrible lyrics that I still like and begrudingly listen and sing along too. IUnfortunately I can't think of any examples at the moment - I'll be back.

[kratsayra]

Here's a video by German rapper/r n b singer Xavier Naidoo(The song is in English. He's the guy in the woolly hat) I find his voice extremely annoying, so I invariably end up 'commenting' on the lyrics of his songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp6n1HnuCYw

Wow, he is quite annoying! And the lyrics are nothing special either. ;) I generally like hip hop and r&b too.

I was thinking that I listen to a good deal of music in languages I don't understand, so lyrics maybe aren't as important to me as I think.

I'm trying to think of songs where the melody isn't so impressive but I like the lyrics so I like the song . . . a lot of Loreena McKennitt's songs are a little bit like that. Her "epic" type songs are long and repetitive in terms of melody because she has indeed put poetry to music ("The Lady of Shalott," "The Highwayman"). So it's not really the melody that I like but more hearing the words and hearing her voice, as well as just the idea of what she is doing. Other songs of hers do sound good overall though.

[Idril]

Ha ha, Tom Waits! I find his stuff, well, charming! Very interesting individual methinks. ;)

Joe Cocker and his gravelly voice was cool. What about Bob Dylan talking his way through a tune? Love it.

I love the yelling of Kurt Cobain and the bashing sounds of NIN when I am having a bad day -- they do the releasing for me, ya know? :thumbs_up


I definitely agree that Tom Waits is interesting, I can even acknowledge his lyrical genius, I just can't listen to the man. :lol: I don't like the talking/singing thing either, never been a big fan of that. Screaming I can take under certain circumstances. I firmly believe there is such a thing as musical screaming, I think of Chris Cornell or Ted Neeley from Jesus Christ Superstar and many numbers of singers. The screaming I can't stand is just the really aggressive, completely devoid of any musicality whatsoever screaming that is so popular with a lot of thrash metal and some of the emo stuff I've heard my kids listen to. But it's interesting how one thing can completely turn off one person and yet thrill another, that's the beauty of music, there's always something out there for all tastes.

[crazefest456]

I'm disappointed...Why isn't AimusSage here to say "Iron Maiden" in all caps? :)

[Koa]

I'm all for lyrics... of course I sometimes like things with crappy lyrics, but lyrics is waht put a song/band above all others for me. I don't like instrumental music, well fine if an album has an instrumental song, but I can't listen to classical music at all. The will to understand lyrics of songs I like in other languages has contributed a lot to my language skills, my English first of all.

[SleepyWitch]

The will to understand lyrics of songs I like in other languages has contributed a lot to my language skills, my English first of all.
yep, mine too. I learned the words 'detestable' and 'gorgeous' from listening to Edwyn Collins :)

[Pensive]

All three are important for me but if lyrics are crappy, I feel the annoyance in me remaining for quite a lot of time, even after the song. Now most of the songs that come on radio, have lyrics similar to this:

dil ki sard deewaroon pay tera naam likha hai

On the cold walls of heart is written your name. :( (Quite confusing, eh?)

Or

mein gur kha kay mar jawaan ya tera majnun ban jawan

May I die by eating brown sugar or become your Majnun (from this folk tale of Majnun and Laila) Now these lyrics don't make any sense to me as well.

Or

Aaa khushi say khudkushi kar lain

Come and commit suicide with happiness.

Now these don't make any sense to me, and there are others which are too romantic for my liking, all about the eyes, nose, hair, and what-not of some girl. But still sometimes I have to have these turned on in hope of a better song or if someone else in the house is listening to these songs, there is not much usually that one can do.

[SleepyWitch]

hahah, Pensy, these lyrics are truly hilarious :lol:

[Pensive]

hahah, Pensy, these lyrics are truly hilarious :lol:

These are nothing compared to some songs (it's a pity I find it difficult to remember their lyrics at the moment). Oh well there are a few more I have just remembered.

Ik phool motiye da maar kay jaga soniyeh

Wake me up by throwing a flower on me, oh beautiful one (a guy to some girl, a lose translation from Punjabi)

Or

Na na karte piyaar hai mein tu kar gayi, kar gayi, kar gayi
Tu ne kiya ikraar hai mein tu mer gayi, mar gayi, mar gayi

Didn't like it first, but then I started loving you, started loving you, started loving you
When you accepted my love, I just passed away, I just died, I just died (with happiness)

Or

Woh meray haathon mein aaj tak jo hena ki khoshboo mehak rahi hi
Woh sab teray liye hai, woh sub teray liya haiiiiiiiii

The fragrance in my hands of hena (you know the dye with which designs are made on hands, feet and else where?) still alive today, is there just for your sake.

Or

Agar tum mil jaao zamana chor dein gay hum
Pagal zamanay say har rishta tor dain gay hum

If we get to meet (get together) we would leave this world
We would break off every relation with this stupid mad world

Or

Aa us say milne challain - Girl number: 1
(come and meet him!)
Woh tera kiya lagta hai? Girl number: 2
(is he some relative of yours that you want to meet him?)
Aao nadaana karain - Girl number: 1
(let's be stupid and meet him)
Nah baba dar kagta hai - Girl number: 2
(noooo I feel scared!)
Bach ke chalna duniya hai chakar - Still Girl number: 2
(Be aware of every step you take, this world is a mad place)
Nah us say milna hay sub say barh kar - Girl number: 1
(Meeting him is above anything else!)

---

Now some of these songs have a great beat, quite good voices and melody but still I get so lost in trying to work out lyrics (of some) while others seem so evidently crappy that one can't get to like the song, that's why I put a great stress on lyrics. There are some very nice Urdu and Punjabi songs too, with much better lyrics than these. :)

[manolia]

My first reaction to your poll was "both". But after considering your question i thought that many times i like those german songs which i don't always undertand (and i have to actually read the lyrics). Same goes for other songs which although they are in english or in a language i can speak, the way they are sung prevents my understanding them :D

[xlxlauraxlx]

Sometimes i like just having the melody, u can imagine ur own story to it, yet with lyrics u can learn someone else story :)

[SleepyWitch]

My first reaction to your poll was "both". But after considering your question i thought that many times i like those german songs which i don't always undertand (and i have to actually read the lyrics). Same goes for other songs which although they are in english or in a language i can speak, the way they are sung prevents my understanding them :D

heheh, yeah, I know what you mean.
I listened to some songs in Swedish (by Kent) and it turned out the song I liked best was about oral sex :blush: ... I had no idea ...
any Swedish song that's got the word drottning (sp?) in will do, too, no matter whether I understand the rest of the lyrics.

[manolia]

heheh, yeah, I know what you mean.
I listened to some songs in Swedish (by Kent) and it turned out the song I liked best was about oral sex :blush: ... I had no idea ...
any Swedish song that's got the word drottning (sp?) in will do, too, no matter whether I understand the rest of the lyrics.

hehehehe...i remember liking a song very much..it was awesome...a great melody...and then i realised that it was a tribute to a dog :lol: