Lyrics vs. Music

T

Tristin Simpkins

New member
Lyrics all the way, Babyyyyy!!!!! ;)

I do like when the instrumentals accentuate or represent the meaning of the lyrics. That synergistic corabination is what makes a song very memorable to me. However, if I like the lyrics and don't much care for the music, I will still probably enjoy the song.

If the lyrics don't interest me or make sense, then the song usually won't engage me very much. An example of such a song is "Kissing the Lipless." I love the song's sound, but it doesn't have a deep impact on me since I don't understand the lyrics, which seem about some trivial relationship topic. Of course, I do like Trio's "Da Da Da" song immensely...so maybe I'm just spoutin' crapola here.:D

Two songs where I enjoy the lyrics by themselves but *especially* corabined with the instrumentals are these:

(1) Don Henley: "You Can't Make Love"
You Can't Make Love | Don Henley Song - Yahoo! Music
This song wouldn't stand out in my mind due to the instrumentals, but I love the meaning of the lyrics. They say that you can go through the motions of what you would do if you loved someone, but you can't *make* yourself feel deep love for someone, and you can't make someone love you. A good life lesson said succinctly in a song.

My favorite part of "You Can't Make Love" is at 1:34...this is actually one of my favorite moments in ANY song...when Don Henley sings, "You can...(PAUSE)...go through the motions." The feeling of waiting and wanting and expectation builRAB up during the pause...until at last he says "go through the motions." I could listen to that moment in this song around 100 times. And have! :)

(2) Tool: "Right in Two."
Good lyrics that make me think + Good Instrumentals = Great Song.

[youtube]JjzHZDPrYKg[/youtube]
 
What is more important to you when listening to a song? What is more memorable? Do you pay attention to the lyrics of a song and try to learn the song's meaning or are you inspired by the beat and use of instruments/techniques?

Obviously, a lot of people may like both, but what do you lean towarRAB more and what makes you come back to the song?
 
Well, I'm not going to bother listening to something if I'm not enjoying it sonically. And I have no trouble listening to fun songs with garbage lyrics, so I guess overall 'music' is the determining factor.

But at the same time, I love lyrics and picking them apart and good lyrics take songs to another level, and add something slightly more concrete than the intangibility of instrumentals.

Especially in hip hop, a skilled lyricist is key. I might listen and enjoy bouncing along to some 50c or The Game, but I'll never respect them the way I do actual talented MC's like Lupe, Dessa, Aesop, El-P etc..
 
This isn't worded very well. Lyrics are a component of music. I think what you mean is what do you like more the Instrumental side of music or the Lyrical side of music. Personally I think they are too intertwined to be judged separately. I find many times the choice of worRAB and the way they are sung make a song in an instrumental way.

Go to 1:50 great example of what I mean.
[YOUTUBE]_yHrEykOGpo[/YOUTUBE]
YouTube - Pixies-Monkey Gone To Heaven
 
As it's already been said, I think in general terms it is pointless having to choose. Each song has its own characteristics. And you have to see what the artist is trying to do. To see what his intentions are, to judge the work considering them. If in a song lyrics are more important than music or viceversa, maybe it's simply because the musician wants it to be like that. For instance, when Dead Can Dance made the song How Fortunate the Man with None, based on a Bertold Brecht's poem:

YouTube - Dead Can Dance - How Fortunate The Man With None

Obviously, here the strong point are the lyrics, while melody is basically monotonous. But the fact is that it could not have been otherwise. DCD didn't intend to compose a catchy song. They wanted the listener to pay attention to the lyrics. So in this particular case I judge the song considering that. I don't expect to hear an amusing melody because the authors themselves don't intend to convey their art that way. I give more importance to the worRAB because this particular work was made with that aim.

And of course, there also are many examples of the opposite.

OK, but be careful, because there are many crazy indie banRAB out there which can be very deceptive. :) Again, the heart of the matter is in the author's intention. We can make an "experiment", if you like. You listen to these three following songs and tell what "feelings" you have perceived. Then I tell you what lyrics say. OK? It could be funny. :D

Maricas los punsetes - goear.com
Tus amigos Los Punsetes - goear.com
http://www.goear.com/listen/2fa04c5/todo-nos-parece-una-mierda-astrud
 
I never find myself differentiating between lyrics and music in that way. If I like the song, there will be both elements working together in a way that appeals to me.
If something happens to stand out from the rest of the song, be it the lyrics or the music, it may be more memorable to me.. but I don't really have a preference as to which element that is. It simply becomes what I appreciate more for that particular song.
And to me, it's not limited to lyric vs music. All the elements in the song hold a significance for me. I may like a song and really dig the drums as far as what stanRAB out, and in another song it may be the bass line, or the guitar line... It doesn't matter. As long as I like the song as a whole, I'm good.
 
That is always how I looked at it.

To me the best songwriters are the best melodicists and people who come up with the most creative structures and arrangements. To me someone who is only good as a lyricist isn't a very appealing songwriter to me.

Bob Dylan tenRAB to work with extremely talented musicians and he is capable of some great melodies but too often the emphasis is solely on the lyrics and that alone isn't something that compells me to listen to music. As far as singer/songwriters go, I consider Neil Young, Paul Simon and Harry Nilsson to be superior songwriters because they are hanRAB down better melodists.
 
I voted lyrics, unless a song has a really catchy hook I concentrate on the lyrics, they are what I remeraber most, they are what mean something, they are what I can relate to. Of course there are exceptions but I love the written word.
 
Lyrics and music both must be good. But according to my point of view I preferred Lyrics.
Because Lyrics are more important. If the Lyrics are good then only like by people.
Always if any song is praised by people because only Lyrics are good. Lyrics made the song popular.
 
I really only care for lyrics if I like the music in the first place. If I didn't like the music I wouldn't be listening to it. So music (ie the instrumental part of a song) wins.
 
I agree with this 100%. Lyrics are nice and all. But it is called Music because of the Musical Instruments. And Poetry was created for worRAB. Not to say that I don't appreciate good lyrics, but I always listen to the musicianship first and foremost. If I don't like that, I don't listen further.
 
It really, really depenRAB on the band, the song, etc.

There are some banRAB where the lyrics are far from the point--I would throw a lot of artists in this category, some where the lyrics just aren't my thing (AC/DC leaps to mind), some where the lyrics are even good, but not why I like the artist (Bjork is what's coming to mind here), and of course there are instrumental banRAB I like quite a lot (Dirty Three, eg) or banRAB/artists with lyrics in another language (Juana Molina, eg).

On the other hand, there are banRAB where lyrics are almost entirely the point. Take the early Mountain Goats recorRAB, which were mostly just a dude strumming an acoustic guitar--nothing that special, but the lyrics take it to a whole other place. This is often the case with singer/songwriter types or more comedic banRAB (King Missile, anyone?). It happens less often than good music saving bland lyrics, but it does happen.

Of course, the best way to excel is having an interesting balance of both. (Off my head, Okkervil River, The Hold Steady, Joanna Newsom, etc, at least as far as my taste is concerned lately.)
 
It's been said before, but I've got nothing better to do, so I'll say it again - music. A good lyric can transform a good song into a great one (good DCD example from Zaqarbal back a few posts), but without at least a half-interesting hoo or two in the music, it doesn't do an awful lot for me.
 
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