Lyrics or the music?

Submitted by meganelizabethjade t3_126j639 in Music

I was having a conversation recently where it came up that when I listen to music (and I listen to a fair bit), I don’t really dissect and analyse the lyrics. My friend is the complete opposite and looks for meaning in all of the lyrics. I know it feels like the artist’s hard work is going to waste if I don’t really take in what the message is, but I’d like to think that the art doesn’t mean any less to me. What do you reckon? Do you listen to just the music without really grasping the lyrics too?

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sorengray t1_je9e8ec wrote

The lyrics are the last thing I really pay attention to, and sometimes go decades without really knowing all the words to some of my favorite songs.

I hear more lines and phrases I like and get a sense of the song's meaning, but don't often hear every word and string together the story.

Which is funny as a songwriter and avid lyricist myself, lyrics are important to me. Though just the last part I finish when writing a song.

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DubmyRUCA t1_jea8r68 wrote

Yepp. In an interview with Maynard from tool, someone was asking him about something lyric related and his reply was basically saying if lyrics were so important there would be sold out spoken word tours everywhere.

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AdmiralPrinny t1_jeb7o2w wrote

I feel a lot better that other people do this too, irony we wrote similar comments with the same avatar thing

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meganelizabethjade OP t1_jedo3ov wrote

I reckon we are the exact same! I can listen to songs on repeat but only when I’m with someone and they point out the lyrics will I really listen. I love writing songs and making (what I at least think 😂) really deep lyrics.

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CandleMakerNY2020 t1_je9b6fy wrote

For me…. Music is #1 … lyrics are secondary if any at all. Depends on my mood.

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bluebackpackedbear t1_jearosc wrote

I'm the same way. If I want something lyrical I'll put on Bob Dylan. If lyrics are taking a backseat then it's King Gizzard. If I want a bit of both, I find a happy medium like Common's album Like Water for Chocolate.

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Gonzostewie t1_je9gdmy wrote

Bass player. Gimme that groove.

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Waddiyatalkinabeet_ t1_je9eisr wrote

I think it largely depends on the genre of the music you are listening to. Personally though, at least in the genres I enjoy, I believe lyrics to be one of the most important aspects of a good song. Even if the music, arrangement and vocals sound good, if the lyrics are bad it can ruin the whole thing.

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jdarriaga46 t1_je9hxg0 wrote

Lyrics, idk sometimes really bad lyrics just ruin a song for me worse than the music itself

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Faruzia t1_jeatesq wrote

Yeah, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found what I thought was a banger song, just to have it ruined by awful lyrics. It’s impossible to ignore for me

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jdarriaga46 t1_jeawdef wrote

Yeah, this is how I am with some rap and heavy metal artists

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ExternalPiglet1 t1_je9eo8u wrote

Music first, which includes vocal notes. I've heard cool lyrics with a lousy backing...it doesn't save the song. But cool riffs and grooves can work regardless of the lyrics.

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ProphetSword t1_je9h66q wrote

Lyrics are definitely important to me, and it’s why I like certain bands more than others when their lyrics are thought provoking or tell a story that hits a certain way. I was also shocked to find that people don’t pay attention to lyrics and oftentimes have no idea what a song is about. Blows my mind. Songs are like poetry timed to music.

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meganelizabethjade OP t1_jedon6m wrote

When I do finally sit down and listen to the lyrics - my best mate loves Tay Swizzle and would dissect if she wrote “it’s cold tonight” - some artists blow my mind, but I still don’t have a really deep connection with the words. They could nail an exact niche feeling and I’ll be overwhelmed with this invisible and unrequited bond, but that’s only for a moment. I feel more emotional when I connect with a melody. So odd, I love love reading.

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Xylemicarious t1_jea265w wrote

More than half of the songs I listen to regularly are instrumental. Another good portion have lyrics that are unintelligible because they're using the vocals as an instrument and not as a method of delivering poetry/meaning.

Saying songs are poetry tied to music is missing the forest for the trees imo. Songs can be (and are) so much more than that.

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ProphetSword t1_jea7b8d wrote

This particular conversation is about songs that include lyrics, so instrumentals don't really qualify as an answer in regards to what was asked. Additionally, lyrics that are unintelligible don't fit the context of the question about if a person listens to or dissects the lyrics, which is what the OP asked.

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Nimelennar t1_je9w7ti wrote

Lyrics give music meaning. Music gives lyrics emotion.

I need both.

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bavbarian t1_je9ceog wrote

In Germany (and other European countries like Sweden), a significant share of popular songs has English lyrics. Even for those of us who have a fair grasp of English, following song lyrics involves effort - so I am sure almost anyone focuses on the music on those cases.

For songs in the native languages, it is probably similar for other reasons - namely the quality of many song lyrics.

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speedball3r t1_je9sb1o wrote

For me i really need to get a grasp of the meaning and context of the song. It might not always be the lyrics specifically but often times it is. I need to get a feel on how the artist felt when they made the music and lyrics is often the most efficient way of getting a feel of their state of mind during the music making process. I mean you certainly can tell without music but then the artists in this case have to be involved in creating the whole sound, in today’s music landscape where their is so many producers and writers that will make the music for the artist therefore it isn’t really interesting. That’s why it is hard to listen to commercial acts or just generic music in general. This doesn’t even have anything to do with the post or comment but yeah

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cassette1987 t1_je9fv5r wrote

I focus on the music more.

There are millions of words that can be used for lyrics. Mix in another language and that number increases exponentially.

With music, there are a finite number of notes/keys one can use.

So when I hear a song that sounds fresh and interesting it's because the melody is clever and inventive. Not because someone used "love" and "above" in his/her lyrics.

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New-Effective-2445 t1_jebr2fp wrote

You know that number of possible note combinations even within 1 bar is astronomically huge, right? Even 1 voice, even within 12-tone western system.

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cassette1987 t1_jec610o wrote

I'm aware. That doesn't mean every combination will be listenable and pleasant.

Many combinations will be awful and discordant...even by very liberal standards.

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megavikingman t1_je9rj9i wrote

The older I get (37, I'm not old!), the more I find the lyrics to be important to my enjoyment of a song. I get bored quickly with mindless music these days. The songs that stick with me are the ones I actually relate to.

Not by genre, but by message.

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LudwigVonPoodle t1_je9bvm1 wrote

I used to try to make sense of lyrics, until I read an interview with a guy from REM (maybe it was Michael Stipe, I don’t remember) who said their lyrics were just words they stuck together because they sounded good together.

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cassette1987 t1_je9exgs wrote

Stipe often used a music stand to hold sheets of lyrics

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s-multicellular t1_je9gl1e wrote

Both I guess fairly evenly. I like how they interact emotionally especially.

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TheDudeWhoAskedYou t1_je9b1wu wrote

I usually try to dissect the ones that sound important to the message

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Rushderp t1_je9zw11 wrote

The music draws me in, but the lyrics keep me in.

Rush were (sad face) one of the best at that.

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This_Dying_Soul t1_jedu122 wrote

Some will sell their dreams for small desires

Or lose the race to rats

Get caught in ticking traps

And start to dream of somewhere

To relax their restless flight

Somewhere out of a memory

Of lighted streets on quiet nights

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Fit-Friend-8431 t1_je9d7pr wrote

I try to grasp both but in MUSIC… the music matters most. For me with lyrics. It’s less about writing good lyrics, and more about try to not to write bad lyrics. Bad lyrics stick out to me in a distracting way.

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beanstalkel t1_je9g899 wrote

There's a solid rom com called 'music and lyrics' with hugh grant and drew Barrymore and it is all about this debate.

Def worth a watch!

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Thijsjuh44 t1_je9innn wrote

Glad I am not the only one. Everyone around me almost instantly remembers the lyrics on a song and there's me who actually has to listen to it 100 times to be able to sing along... for a bit. Anyways, lyrics are not really important for me and my favorite genres doesn't always have lyrics anyway.

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Louieobz t1_je9o737 wrote

As a fan of all kinds of metal it’s all about the music and rhythm

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killjoy4443 t1_jebj2xf wrote

Good lyrics are harder to come by than good music, but the best songs always have both in spadefuls. They aren't mutually exclusive but all my go too songs have both

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fishified1 t1_je9ic1l wrote

There are songs I consider favorites that I've heard thousands of times, that i would not recognize by the written lyrics untitled in front of my face.

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Warm_Tap_2202 t1_je9uszs wrote

I find that unless you google the lyrics most songs you wil tend to sing wrong

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KMizzle98 t1_jebnfx7 wrote

This is me and my husband.

Him: Man, did you hear that guitar tone? (Or whatever)

Me: What? I heard a song….a beautiful story with music in the background.

I never ever thought about the individual instruments until he brought it up. To me, without the lyrics there is no song….the music is the vessel that delivers the song.

I mean, I get that it’s more than that and I appreciate both but for me the lyrics are where it’s at.

My husband doesn’t care as much about the lyrics.

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phred_666 t1_jec6gan wrote

For me it depends. I listen to a lot of foreign artists who sing in a language I don’t speak. In that case, music is #1. I will google translations to get the gist of what they’re singing about, but it isn’t my priority. As far as English language artists, I pretty much listen to both music and lyrics. Some artists, I pay more attention to the music, others I pay more attention to the lyrics. Old school country, I’ll focus more on lyrics. Metal, I’ll focus more on music.

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Select_Insurance2000 t1_jed7his wrote

Difficult to say. I love a good instrumental. Lyrics get your attention because they are words being expressed over the musical instruments.

There are countless great songs being sung and countless great instrumentals being played.

Enjoy them both!

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amandamaniac t1_je9bxdw wrote

I’m the same as you, especially right now with the new FOB album. Everyone is raving about the lyrics being so deep and meaningful and I’m like …..Whatre you talking about lol

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Jezyk11037 t1_je9cae9 wrote

Lyrics are like a fun fact for needs who want dug deeper than normal music enjoyers, because people like how those lyrics sound, not what they actually mean

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DerTeufelkind t1_je9d1w3 wrote

Music first 99% of the time, but occasionally I will find a band where the lyrics are actually vital to the band.

The music being first, though, means I can think of the vocals as just being another instrument, so it enables me to enjoy a multitude of different styles, so long as the vocals fit and don't grate my ears.

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sweet-billy t1_je9jn7b wrote

Music is an aural experience, not an oral one! Personally I don't care about the lyrics. I barely notice them. I feel like those who say they are of equal importance must have genres they're not keen on, so an artist could be writing the best lyrics you've ever seen, but if you don't dig the tune, you're surely not going to want to listen to it just for the words?

But I also feel that any aspect of any art is in the eye of the beholder, so how and what any one person enjoys is no more or less valid than anyone else, so knock yourselves out!

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Sea-Amoeba-3388 t1_je9qqyb wrote

It is oral in origin though, the oral tradition of passing down stories relied heavily on song, that's what songs were, stories. That doesn't mean that we have to tie all music to stories today but that's where its roots lie. But like you say, it's all down to what each person takes from it, and today's music has come a long way from intergenerational story-telling.

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sweet-billy t1_je9r943 wrote

I'd say songs are oral, just that music is an aural experience.

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chicknurch t1_je9l38g wrote

Music always comes first. Everyday, and twice on Sundays. If you just want to be moved by lyrics, go read poetry. That being said, if the music is already great and then the lyrics end up being great too, it just takes the song up another level. Lyrics are still important, but secondary to the melody, harmony, interesting riffs/licks, and rhythms.

Edit: Wanted to add that as long as the lyrics aren’t physically cringeworthy, then it doesn’t really matter to me what they’re saying.

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WingZombie t1_je9l4u6 wrote

Depends on the type of music for me. I'm a metal guy primarily so in that case I'm probably 80% music and 20% lyrics. I also like acoustic singer/song writer type stuff and in those cases I'm probably 50/50.

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ivoiiovi t1_je9ll59 wrote

I honestly don’t even comprehend lyrics most of the time. Singers ruin a lot of bands for me and there are only a handful of things I like that are not purely instrumental.

If lyrics are present I do want to know what they are about so I know what I’m listening to but I have to really pay attention because my brain works musically and my focus is always automatically taken by what is happening rhythmically/melodically/harmonically. I just don’t have any need for that egoic relatability or whatever engages us in lyrics, and generally I’d prefer it to be left out but I understand that some music is really created just to envelope a story and may be very uninteresting without that element.

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orlec t1_je9loo7 wrote

>I know it feels like the artist’s hard work is going to waste if I don’t really take in what the message is, but I’d like to think that the art doesn’t mean any less to me. What do you reckon?

On the other hand some times they beat you over the head with their lyrics

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Trump_in_a_noose t1_je9mo9h wrote

Depends on the song, actually.

I love the lyrics in Sally Simpson because they tell a story (and it rocks) as opposed to the lyrics in the world's worst song, We Built this City which is just banal garbage.

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batlord_typhus t1_je9n3q1 wrote

I prefer my music without pitched vocal noises. Words are lies. Music is truth.

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carcinogenj t1_je9nj6m wrote

Depends on genre. I listen to a fair bit of punk, post-punk, hardcore, whatever you wanna call loud fast music that isn’t metal. (Thrash is the closest I’ll go.)

Half the time I can’t understand what they’re singing until I do a listen with the lyrics in front of me. So for that I judge based on music, whether or not I like it enough to spend more time with it.

Hip hop is half music half lyrics, beats gotta slap but I also want them to say something.

Twangy old country I listen to more for the lyrics. Like Townes Van Zandt, most of his songs are pretty simple musically speaking, couple fingerpicked chords and some unique lead lines here and there, but a lot of just “one voice, one guitar” which lets the lyrical content take centre stage.

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Trolef t1_je9p6nj wrote

I can ignore the lyrics, but the music is always there.. so yeah.. Music #1

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Maccai3 t1_je9p83h wrote

Depends on the song for me, also depends on the musician. As a fan of people like Bob Dylan and Tom Waits I do enjoy going through their lyrics as I feel it's worth doing.

On the other side though, I also enjoy bands like AC/DC and Nirvana and as much as I can sing along I'm not really taking in the words the same as I would over a Leonard Cohen.

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AddaleeBlack t1_je9pkm1 wrote

I wonder what the correlation would be if any between that and the people that get goosebumps and those people that don't.

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drericfautstein t1_je9pnnf wrote

There are about 10% vocals in the music I listen to (from all over the world in multiple languages). If it's lyrics they want, why not just get into poetry?

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HunterTheHoly t1_je9pq5l wrote

Music of course. This sub is called r/Music, not r/Lyrics. If you want good lyrics, then go read some poetry. Sure, music is allowed to have good lyrics too, but the overall sound of the artist in question is far more important than whatever lyrics they write.

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MD_Mike t1_je9qcb4 wrote

If lyrics were anywhere near as important, you could judge which songs were good songs based on just pages of written lyrics. You can't.

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brsb5 t1_je9qs49 wrote

The music has to draw me in first. Then i take in the lyrics

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jedii- t1_je9r5ft wrote

Well as a singer, I definitely pay attention to the lyrics, but what point is the story if the soundtrack sucks? A good song needs both!

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spiderpharm t1_je9rgwy wrote

This post made me feel better. I try to listen to lyrics, but always fade back into just hearing the music and the sound. Sometimes I feel like I can't even hear the lyrics.

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I_Boomer t1_je9rotw wrote

I like a good lick and I like a good hook. I also like a good turn of the phrase. I would say if the music sucks me in I'll respect it by giving the lyrics a good listen.

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earf123 t1_je9rpeq wrote

I primarily listen to the instrumentals when I listen to music. Focusing on the words and stringing them together to form paragraphs takes active engagement from me and detracts from listening to the instrumentals, which I enjoy more anyway. I listen to a ton of different types of music, but this is the reason why genres like rap are just not something I particularly enjoy unless the song has a lot of good beets and other sounds.

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cr0wj4ne t1_je9rvb0 wrote

I care equally about both the music and the lyrics. The idea of not being interested in the lyrics at all is bizarre to me, like if you watched a movie in a language you didn't speak and with no subtitles, but I get that people have different priorities when it comes to listening to music. I just think you're missing a dimension of music if you fully discount lyrics.

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vocalistMP t1_je9sn8e wrote

The music is what catches my attention. The lyrics are what keep my attention.

If a song sounds great but has horrible lyrics, I like it less and less every time I hear it.

If a song has really meaningful lyrics, it grows on me more and more.

Neither one is “wrong” though.

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AnonymousP30 t1_je9t071 wrote

Both for me but it depends on the person.

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cotch85 t1_je9t93d wrote

I’m bad with lyrics the music is my focus as I produce music I tend to be keen to see transitions and learn.

It took me years to realise and it was actually my ex who told me pumped up kicks was about a school shooter/shooting.

I legit never focused enough to pay attention to what was said I thought based on the title it was someone with Nike air pumps like a throw back to a cool shoe in the 90s.

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Buffythedjsnare t1_je9tkuk wrote

Lyrics is just sound to me. I don't really listen to the words.

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jonviper123 t1_je9u10x wrote

im all about music and like you lyrics dont always paint a picture to me they are often just words. words that i often mishear anyway. often the music potrays a totally different feeling to the lyrics.

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PeterNippelstein t1_je9v7x2 wrote

I don't think the lyrics matter as much as the vocals, but the music needs to be good

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Abtino11 t1_je9vuv3 wrote

Been listening to death metal for almost 20 years, the vocals are very much a percussive element of the music. There’s a few bands I know all the lyrics to but most of the time I’m listening for the technicality of the musicians.

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the5thstring25 t1_je9wjmw wrote

I like both. For a song to stand the test if time for me, it needs great musicality and anything but ignorant lyrics.

I can listen to great lyrics in a simple song and enjoy it.

I can also hear ignorant or problematic lyrics in an otherwise fantastic song (musically) and the bad lyrics will cause me to walk away from the song over time.

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the5thstring25 t1_je9wk2c wrote

I like both. For a song to stand the test of time for me, it needs great musicality and anything but ignorant lyrics.

I can listen to great lyrics in a simple song and enjoy it.

I can also hear ignorant or problematic lyrics in an otherwise fantastic song (musically) and the bad lyrics will cause me to walk away from the song over time.

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Mr-_-Steve t1_je9wqqr wrote

This is a debate me and my best friend have often.
I used to be in a band with him and we have very similar music tastes but i listen to these songs for the music and he 100% for the lyrics (He used to sing and be chief lyric writer, I played bass and wrote the music)

15 years later I'm in a new band and working on my first album with them, ill send him songs as I know he isn't afraid to criticize, the only issues he ever points out are lyrics, if he doesn't like them he wont give the music a chance.
Me on the other hand I couldn't give a naff about the words as long as the music is spot on and vocal melody is catchy.

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alarrimore03 t1_je9x7bi wrote

Kinda depends on my mood and what I’m listening too. Personally sound is the most important because the lyrics can be best ever but if the song sounds bad cuz of a bad mix or something like that then it’s way worse than if a song sounds amazing but the lyrics are brain dead trash. For example playboi carti music has no lyrical content but is really good still cuz of the music anc sound

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flankattack27 t1_je9yd4v wrote

If the artist wanted the lyrics to be the most important thing, they should have published a book of poetry

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gogozrx t1_je9yhwp wrote

I often times can't tell what's being said or sung. it's just, as Frank Zappa said, "Modulated mouth noises." It can be *years* before I really get the lyrics.
Perfect example: "Brown Sugar"

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catkraze t1_je9z5dn wrote

It really depends on the genre/song. Some songs it's impossible for me to discern the lyrics of without reading them. That's applicable to me for some of the metal I listen to, as well as some of the songs I listen to that aren't in English. Other songs with genres like indie folk are much easier to discern the lyrics of, and the ones I listen to often have lyrics with a bit more depth than other songs and genres. I don't really do one over the other due to the variety of music I enjoy, but I do really appreciate a song with well-written lyrics. Songs that have lyrics about certain things I find reprehensible I can't really enjoy if I can understand the lyrics regardless of how good the other instruments sound.

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d_koala1 t1_je9z7rn wrote

Good lyrics enhance the song for sure. The best is when they fit together. Black by Pearl Jam is a perfect example

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jiggetty t1_je9zm79 wrote

The Music comes first, if it's not catchy enough musically to grab your attention the lyrics don't really matter because I wouldn't give it repeat attention.

There's songs that I've loved for years that I never really dissected the lyrics on until way later and realized what the meaning was.

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Rucati t1_jea040o wrote

I mostly listen to rap music, and lyrics are basically the only part I care about. I actually don't even notice when there's beat switches or something unless it's pointed out to me.

If the lyrics aren't interesting or clever and sound good I'll almost certainly never listen to it again, even if the music itself sounds good. Obviously though if I'm listening to like EDM or something then the music is incredibly important haha.

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NurgleTheUnclean t1_jea0pjo wrote

Acapella vs Instrumental. I'll pick instrumental every time.

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rocketpianoman t1_jea12dg wrote

That's one thing I would like to study one day, the cause and effect of certain chord structures

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Chemical_Favors t1_jea2j2w wrote

Honestly this might just be the litmus test for whether people have played an instrument to any depth.

Hearing lyrics is a skill I didn't start developing until I chose to, when I was 19 or 20 - my gf played a song for me and I had no idea the lyrics were in German lol.

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Traditional_Dinner16 t1_jea33ox wrote

It really depends. If I notice that the lyrics are actually deep, well thought out commentary I’ll pay attention, otherwise I just treat them like another instrument in my head.

I feel like most mainstream listeners expect lyrics at this point. I’ve literally had people be confused or surprised when I’ve shown them songs without lyrics. It’s kind of annoying, because it seems to lead to people just shitting on genres of music simply because the lyrics are muddy or not concise, or not the forefront of the music

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NigglingChigger t1_jea3awr wrote

I was the exact same way as you up until very recently. I’m all about the music and the instruments, and I’ve been that way all my life. Very recently, a good friend of mine sent me some music in a playlist, it’s all more or less simple stuff, but to them it’s all about the lyrics. So I say with this playlist, listened to it “my way” then on the 2nd go, really payed attention to the lyrics, even with them on screen for me to read along with. It was refreshing to say the least, it let me appreciate the music that I glanced over for so long, and my music taste has been changed ever since.

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EverybodyLovesCrayon t1_jea4rf6 wrote

I think it depends a lot on the song. I like a lot of songs for their lyrics, but if the musicality isn't there, it's never going to be a good song. There are tons of songs I like that have pretty trite lyrics, but they sound great. I even like a lot of songs that sound good, and the lyrics are good, even when I don't like the message of the song. I'm probably more lyrics focused than the average music fan, so the best songs to me have great music and lyrics, and I can really enjoy a very simple song (so long as it still sounds good) if it has great lyrics. I like a good story song.

Listen to the lyrics of the song Hook by Blues Traveler. It's all about how lyrics don't matter/no one cares about the lyrics, so long as the song sounds good.

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2Strokes22 t1_jea4s8a wrote

When im depressed i pay more attn to the lyrics and when I'm in a good mood i jam out to the music.

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Nixplosion t1_jea52ey wrote

If it's Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen - I'm listening for the lyrics.

Pretty much anyone else it's the music BUT, the lyrics do help enhance the experience if they're meaningful.

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psuedonymously t1_jea5cmm wrote

Mostly the music, but man, bad lyrics really can ruin an otherwise good song for me.

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JockoV t1_jea5o4f wrote

One of my wife's friends was complaining about a heavy metal song I liked. She said, "I can't even understand the lyrics!" And I was like "What does that have to do with anything?!" 😅

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herbythechef t1_jea7lww wrote

Some people are lyrics people some are music people. I appreciate both but im a music guy being a musician myself. I also really enjoy lots of instrumentals

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ImagineStoneHappy t1_jea8j6d wrote

Depends on the genre of music. Lyrics are pretty important when I listen to folk. Irrelevant if I listen to hyperpop.

There are times where bad lyrics can lessen the song for me though.

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Kenan-1 t1_jea8qgd wrote

it’s music not poetry. the lyrics aren’t important to the song but can still be cool.

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InfiniteAzu t1_jea9ssx wrote

I barely listen to lyrics at all, which is probably why I'm not that into hip hop (excluding experimental hip hop with strangely interesting instrumentals like Death Grips and Injury Reserve)

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DSteep t1_jea9xw7 wrote

Music for sure. I listen to music of all genres and languages so half the time there's no way for me to understand what they're saying anyways.

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ButterUtters t1_jeaa54w wrote

Both, I just want them to compliment eachother while independently being good.

I'm not too bothered by meaning, good lyrics can just be choosing the right words and sounds to make at that specific point in the song.

My favourite band may as well be speaking another language for how much sense their lyrics make, but they fit the atmosphere of the music so well I don't even care.

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Pahanka t1_jeaatd7 wrote

I pay close attention to the lyrics, the meaning or if they are clever, and how well they fit within the music. I will like stupid lyrics if they mesh well with the music-even if they make no sense whatsoever (I’m looking at you “ I Am the Egg Man). If you know, you know.

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ScenicHwyOverpass t1_jeab1xt wrote

I can listen to good music with bad lyrics while I’m not going to listen to bad music with good lyrics. That said even in songs I like, if there’s particularly weak lyricism I will notice it and it may color my opinion of a song. By the same token, if a song has really good lyrics that will elevate it for sure. I think I put enough stock in lyrics that when I think about my favorite bands it’s those that do both well.

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AbreakaTech001 t1_jeacnsq wrote

I listen to both! As far as I'm concerned, the singer's voice is every bit as important an instrument as any other.

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DigiornoJoestar t1_jeadefu wrote

the lyrics meaning doesnt really matter to me but i do care about lyrics. i put the words and voice of the song over other aspects a good example of this would Summer Girls by LFO the music itself isnt amazing, the lyrics are dumb and nonsensical but i like how their voice sounds and i like the lyrics for what they are. New kids on the block had a bunch of hits, sounds so good to hear to me lol

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alannordoc t1_jeadurv wrote

I have a big record collection and there are about 10 songs I know the words too. My brain just doesn't work that way. I'm more focused on the musicians than the singers.

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AngrySteelyDanFan t1_jeaeqop wrote

It depends. Some songs will hit me with the lyrics, some with the music. Some days, it’s different than other days. Generally, I like for jam oriented bands then I do singer songwriter types.

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JurisLightbringer t1_jeaex4f wrote

Lyrics are super important to me, it completes the song and is the icing on the outside of the cake. I once heard that Rap stands for "Rhythm Assisted Poetry". The poetry of it comes first and is assisted by the rhythm, but this may be exclusive to that genre only.

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NastySassyStuff t1_jeafvvr wrote

My opinion has always been that you don’t need great lyrics to have a great song. Great lyrics are always a fantastic addition that elevates the music, of course, but the music itself is where the magic lies. We made language in an attempt to communicate things that music can without a single word.

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SnipDart t1_jeagn1w wrote

Before I met my wife, I never really paid attention to the lyrics or "meaning" behind songs. All I would really hear/ pay attention to was the beat of the song, and sound of it etc. Even today, I find myself not really paying attention or listening to what is being said in the song, until usually much much later

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Diab9lic t1_jeahd62 wrote

Music is a whole, so yes you must pay attention to the lyrics. Artist like King Diamond for instance, writes concept music which tells a story. From track 1 to 14 he's telling us a complete story. The lyrics AND the music is what tells the tale. How can I jam to music but not know what he's trying to tell me about Abigail? The singer is also telling you a message, you be blown by what it is.

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The_Huff_Daddy t1_jeahers wrote

The music is what brings me to a song, the lyrics are what keep me around.

All of my favorite songs have lyrics/stories/verses that I adore.

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Correct_Advantage_20 t1_jeahx41 wrote

Music alone can evoke a mood or a feeling , but lyrics tell the story. Really brilliant music does both.

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Clear-Pear2267 t1_jeahxoh wrote

For the most part, the music is what really holds my attention. I can't think of a time when a lyric convinced me to like a song I would not otherwise have wanted to listen to. BUT if a lyric is really cringe it ruins the song for me. A lot of country songs are like this (I call it "country cleaver"). Like Pour Me (Trick Pony). Like "poor me" and "pour me" - get it? yuk. A like Shania Twains voice and a lot of her arrangements are killer, but "Man - I Feel Like A Woman" and "Looks like we Made it" just seem. While I'm bashing country music, I would say I'm not a big fan of the fake southern twang either.

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RxDawg77 t1_jeaigcx wrote

I'm like you. The lyrics are a far afterthought compared to the melody and instruments to me.

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OmenVi t1_jeajhhx wrote

Depends on the music, but generally music first. Lyrics maybe.

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SadAcanthocephala521 t1_jeak5wm wrote

I don't pay too much attention to the lyrics, at least not initially. Sometimes knowing the lyrics actually takes away from my enjoyment of a song.

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Omnifreakfx t1_jealhfh wrote

I can do both. There are songs I like but hardly know all the words and meanings but then there are songs I really like where I’ll dissect them and theory craft and find similar relations to my own life for some songs. Music to me is more than just a vibe of sounds. Sometimes the sounds amplify the meaning behind the song and the message can be quite meaningful. There are a plethora of songs that have gotten me through hard times and some that motivate me and what not. An emotional connection that I feel you can’t fully achieve by just simple listening and liking a song just because it sounds good or has a nice beat.

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Sc00ter7622 t1_jeang7u wrote

I listen to a lot of death metal so the vocals don't really factor in for me as much. For me, I think it's just the speed and technical prowess that moves me.

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loveiseverywhereigo t1_jeaqu0w wrote

I personally like not knowing the lyrics/meaning behind songs. The music itself conveys so much of what the artist is feeling, but I do prefer to find my own meaning. There have also been a few songs that I've found too depressing to listen to after reading the lyrics.

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Antmantium108 t1_jeatsce wrote

Dirt by Alice in Chains. It is still one of my favorite albums,but I didn't pay much attention to (or think about too deeply) the lyrics for a long time. It is sooo dark. Still one of my favorites of all time. I wonder about what any thinks when I'm walking down the street and enthusiastically singing along to that album. Like I almost expect someone to offer help.

Right after I typed that last sentence,I just happened to look up at your username. Awesome.

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BrockCandy t1_jeasjnr wrote

Music first then eventually lyrics. I actually listen to a LOT of foreign and international music, so it’s literally just the music and the sound of the words until I look up a translation. But sometimes I eventually come to know the words and even sing along. So it really depends on how long I get to know the song

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Antmantium108 t1_jeasqtd wrote

I figure that if the lyrics are really important,then they would be foremost in the song;which tends to happen anyway. Like,story-telling songwriters are almost always the most understandable,but if it's all about the groove then that's where the focus lies. I think that's why a good chunk of my generation (x) hates mumble rap. Hip-hop is usually about the story. But it seems that the words and music are all one sound (?).

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Killer-Styrr t1_jeaux53 wrote

With lots (and lots) of good music, you almost always have both. Virtually every heavy metal band that I love/follow has great lyrics and amazing music to match (that DOES match, in tone, atmosphere, emotion, etc.,). Taking away/dumbing-down either the lyrics or the music would ruin it for me.

The problem is that tooooooooons of bands have sh!t or trite lyrics, but people love them anyway and try to project meaning or depth onto them, or just ignore them completely and it doesn't take much away. Not my type of band.

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Dirks_Knee t1_jeawkog wrote

I'm even further into the music side of things than you, the vast majority of stuff I'm into is instrumental.

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FaceTimePolice t1_jeawlpd wrote

I used to go all-in into analyzing a song’s lyrics. These days, not so much.

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Technicalhotdog t1_jeaxk1b wrote

"And I say, is it too much to ask for both?"

My favorite songs typically sound great but also have lyrics that I find impactful/interesting. If I have to choose one I guess the music is the more important factor

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ofnuts t1_jeay7e1 wrote

Instrumentals!!!

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onioning t1_jeaydmu wrote

I know it's common but I flat out don't understand how someone can be a fan of lyrical music without caring about the lyrics or the music. I hear "I don't listen to the lyrics" so often and I can't even comprehend how that could be. How do you listen to and like music without noticing and caring about what they're saying?

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Wargmonger t1_jeaz66f wrote

I listen to enough instrumental music, or music in foreign languages or such extreme vocalisations that lyrics are definitely an afterthought.

Granted the more intelligible the lyrics are, the more they can detract from a song if I don't like them.

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ztmwvo t1_jeb3683 wrote

Good lyrics will not save a bad melody. Bad lyrics can sink a good song. The band Phoenix is a perfect example of good tunes and bad lyrics.

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Pablomeisterr t1_jeb3ung wrote

Depends on the song. If it’s happy go lucky then I don’t care. If it sounds serious then the lyrics are part of the song and should be listened to as it can add deeper meaning and understanding of the song.

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SerenaSurf1 t1_jeb5onb wrote

Lyrics for me. Once those hit then I pay attention to how to music compliments the words

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AdmiralPrinny t1_jeb7f5t wrote

I used to be better about lyrics, learning an instrument I’ve admittedly gotten worse at really comprehending lyrics. Rap that isn’t a problem for me with but other music I tend to just hear pitches from singers and like half of a sentence. It takes an embarrassing amount of effort to think past the individual line of lyrics that’s being currently performed to me.

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hawkwings t1_jeb8rlk wrote

Lyrics are important. I like instrumental music, but when I listen to instrumental music, I don't feel any particular emotion. In order for a song to have emotion, it has to have lyrics.

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Zbrinc t1_jeb9h4z wrote

I managed to listen to the same albums for about 2 decades without learning any of the lyrics. Sometimes some cool sounding phrases stick (No one wants to take you home/like a pizza in the rain) but most of the time I prefer to listen to songs in languages I don't understand and I can pretend that they are saying something really smart.

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weedyscoot t1_jeb9prm wrote

Being good with words is important, but good music is importanter.

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acinorev88 t1_jebb1wi wrote

Music for sure. Lyrics are something I just don’t pay a lot of attention to.

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Lalathesad t1_jebbhg0 wrote

I'm a music girl. I like good lyrics, but they don't matter nearly as much as the music and voice itself. I can imagine an interesting story for an interesting sounding music which has meh lyrics. But I can't bear to listen to a music that sounds meh even if I like the lyrics.

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Keith-BradburyIII t1_jebe7zo wrote

Nothing against you, but it annoys me when people don’t dissect the lyrics. I know so many people who insult metal for example, and I try to tell them “listen to what they’re saying!” Because it’s often very deep stuff. All they hear is the aggressive instrumentation tho.

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swiftlyemo t1_jebg2e0 wrote

I need to know the lyrics. If I don’t like them creatively or connect with them, I don’t like the song. I can appreciate music, but if the lyrics don’t hit I just get bored. If a song has an intro longer than ten seconds, I’m done.

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SaltyNutsss t1_jebn59t wrote

In My Opinion The lyrics of the Song mean alot. I mean we all have listen to a song thats in a foreing launguage and then years later we found out that its about something absolutely horrifying. If you take a song like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE0--Gf-kWU for examble it kinda makes you head bob for the rest of the day but if you take a song from bob dillon or even one of my favorites Elliot Smith you start thinking more instead of physicly acting upon the song. If you get what i mean?

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DJMoneybeats t1_jebnuo5 wrote

The music has to be good before I pay attention to the lyrics. A song can still be good even if the lyrics aren't that great, however, a song could have the greatest lyrics ever written but if the music isn't good, it's still a bad song.

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ZealousidealLet3352 t1_jec07ud wrote

It really depends on my reaction so I guess it’s equal. actually If a song brings me to tears I know it’s usually a beautifully written, sung and played song. but sometimes if the beat is good and fun I’m not expecting powerful thought provoking lyrics because I just want to have fun.

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DifficultyOk5719 t1_jec1zif wrote

I’m a metalhead, so I don’t really pay attention to lyrics. I still don’t know the lyrics to some of my favorite songs ten years later. For me, the vocalist is just another instrument, most of the time I can’t even understand what people are screaming about, especially when it’s in another language. But even though I don’t understand it, I rarely find myself going out of my way to read the lyrics.

I’m not really into other genres like rap where the lyrics and flow are in the spotlight. I’ve heard people praise rap lyrics, but honestly, I’ve never heard any cringier lyrics and god-awful rhymes. At least metal lyrics are more abstract and filled with metaphors, compared to rap’s more concrete and straightforward approach. It has fewer words per song, but I find them more meaningful. I don’t pay attention to lyrics, but it’s hard not to with rap since it’s right in your face.

Cradle of Filth is the only band I go out of my way to read the lyrics, Dani Filth is my favorite lyricist. For me, his lyrics are the most important part while the music is quite average and takes the backseat.

I don’t care about what metal lyrics are about, they can praise satan, praise god, talk about murder, protest the war, talk about global warming, even write all their lyrics about vikings, pirates, or slugs for all I care (cue Amon Amarth, Alestorm, and Slugdge).

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Cleppert t1_jechh6g wrote

Music first for me, I love how they compliment some good lyrics. That's why I love muse so much, they write some pretty good lyrics but they've always got such good music underneath, each musician is so good to where when they play out for their solos they will and fucking nail it while the others accompany them, but they all appreciate each other so much to where they focus on making one sound instead of trying to show each other up when it's not a soloing time.

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Lord_Kromdar t1_jecq19d wrote

Music always comes first. You can have a song without lyrics, but lyrics without musical elements is poetry.

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HeywoodPeace t1_jecwfph wrote

Y'know, it really depends on the music. If it's something that tells a story or has a point to make (Pink Floyd, Rage Against the Machine, SoaD, etc.) then I pay attention. But if it's just a rock singer singing about chicks, cars, drugs, how proficient he is with his cock, or how much his band rocks, then no I listen to the music. I've been singing along with AC/DC for 30 years and I don't even know half the words. I just make sounds similar to what I hear (hey not my fault Brian Johnson was totally unable to be understood in an era when you couldn't look up the lyrics online).

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odilasa t1_jed2l7x wrote

It is called listening to music...not vocalisms. Def agree.

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LawOutrageous1643 t1_jedeajr wrote

I think it depends on the song.It always feels good to listen to something relatable or what you’re going through out into words. I’ll listen to some songs and a specific quote speaks to me. After i feel connected to a specific lyric then it’ll interest me in knowing the deeper meaning of the song. Other times the production of a song draws me in first and it takes a while for me to understand the lyrics. So yeah, that’s just me tho

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No_Equipment1388 t1_jedhoek wrote

I am the worst at appreciating k Lyrics but lately been listening and changed my whole perspective !

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meganelizabethjade OP t1_jedo8pc wrote

Perhaps this explains my love for rave/techno music? I love nothing more than a random sample like a weather forecast and then the bass drops.

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This_Dying_Soul t1_jedto25 wrote

Why should I have to choose? They are part of the same composition. Although I do find that the songs I enjoy the most are the ones with great lyrics that I can sing along to. When they're simple, poetic and relatable, that's the best. But the lyrics compliment the music, and the music compliments the lyrics. I don't pick one or the other.

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singingqueen48 t1_jeee3ld wrote

I'm a singer in a band and honestly, the first thing that draws me to the song is the sound of the voice. Then the rhythm/melody and last thing I consider is the lyrics. (I can always remember the melody but can't always remember lyrics). Tough to be a singer that feels that way! It is a struggle to remember all those lyrics. lol

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Ok_Pressure1131 t1_jeetz1r wrote

To me, it depends. If a song has a great intro, I'll probably listen to the music, first. Then there are songs which the opening words kind of grab me and make me listen to the message.

It was "Within You, Without You" where I first paid attention to what was being sung rather than the music supporting it.

Years later, as a DJ, I was playing Atlanta Rhythm Section's song "Don't Miss the Message" and thought yeah! Gotta listen to the words 'cause there may be more there that what the music is saying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBGGvWFPuG4

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WILLDPDX t1_jefuni4 wrote

Music usually gets me first, then lyrics, then the dissection. Steely Dan is a classic example for me.

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