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.
carcinogenj t1_je9nj6m wrote
Reply to Lyrics or the music? by meganelizabethjade
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.