Lyrics or Music?

Comic Book Guy · 10-26-2002, 02:21 PM

What does everybody believe, in regards to songs is more important, music or lyrics?

I would say music is more important as music is a lot more memorable while it can still touch emotions. However, it depends on the artist or group, Jimi Hendrix isn't a great lyricist but a great guitarist and the opposite can be said for Dylan and to some people The Beatles to an extent.

Fred Baggins · 10-26-2002, 02:25 PM

Well that is an easy one. you can't have lyrics with out the music, and though people may disagree, you can't have music without the lyrics.
The opinion of a singer.

Coney · 10-26-2002, 02:51 PM

Hmmm, depend on what message the song is trying to convey..

As CBG said Dylan was a great lyricist and his words can be delivered without music and stand alone as poetry. So IMO the music is secondary to the lyrics in his works.

Then of course there is a lot of music where the lyrics are purely incidental, Dance/House/etc etc.

I suppose everyone differs in this, which is why we all have different tastes in music

BeardofPants · 10-26-2002, 03:23 PM

For me, it is usually the music. I'm not terribly good at discerning what they're singing anyway (ol' deafie!); but then again, maybe it's both. I don't know. The whole package does it for me....

Silverstripe · 10-26-2002, 04:08 PM

Music, definitely. Classic music, music without lyrics, is still music. But what are lyrics without music? Poetry, and yes, some poetry is so moving, with such an easy flow, that it seems to create its own music. Still, poetry is not usually considered a song unless it comes with music.

Jadera · 10-26-2002, 07:21 PM

I believe that the lyrics are definitely important. The words and poignancy of a song can make or break it, depending on how it affects people and their emotions. (So says the lyricist.

)

On the other hand, music alone can move a person to dance, sing, cry, or just think as much as music paired with lyrics. I suppose it depends on what you're looking for in ways of movement and feeling.

Dussander · 10-26-2002, 07:33 PM

About the comment 'no lyrics no music' (simplified), it's not true, classical for example its perfect without words, of course if you are some pansy-ass pop group your music sucks so you have to think of good lyrics, which too suck.
So REAL music is in the eye of the beer holder.

***azalea*** · 10-27-2002, 02:10 PM

I generally enjoy a song for the music rather than the lyrics, but I do love some songs even better because the lyrics are really good, too. But song lyrics do allow me to "participate" in a song by singing along, something I can't do with instrumental songs (with those I can only participate by dancing -- very hard to do when driving

).

Treebeard's apprentice · 10-27-2002, 11:22 PM

As I said in the 'favorite song' thread, some of my favorites are MetallicA's instrumentals. They're like an epic poem in purely musical form. The songs are made so much better because they doesn't focus on the words. Any attempts to add lyrics would taint the beautiful melodies. Of course, there are plenty of songs that would be boring or even annoying w/o lyrics. System of a Down would be nothing w/o Serj Tankian . . .
So I guess it all depends on what kind of music you listen to.

Starr Polish · 10-27-2002, 11:37 PM

Hmm, it's really hard to tell.

I despise music with bad lyrics, but often times I won't notice how bad the lyrics are if the music behind it is good (though this isn't often).

Actual musical chords can really hit me hard, and bring tears to my eyes, and when combined with the correct words I can all out bawl.

Kallasilya · 10-28-2002, 07:18 AM

The BEST songs are the ones that effectively combine the lyrics with the music.

I guess I kind of avoided the question there, but oh well

katya · 10-28-2002, 05:04 PM

I think music is more important. After all, i love a lot of instrumentals, and a ton of classical music, much or most of it (at least what I listen too) has no lyrics. But just lyrics is poetry. I love poetry, but it is not music. However, I think for me to really like an artist they should have good lyrics. As long as the lyrics aren't horrible I don't mind, though. Bad music I won't even touch. So altoghter, music is way more important.

Lizra · 10-28-2002, 05:30 PM

Music, music, music! I really don't care about lyrics, good ones are nice, but heck, half the time I can't even understand the lyrics. Now, the lyrics need to be sung in a beautiful, uplifting, melodic fashion. But as to the actual words, It doesn't matter! The melody and rhythm take me to the higher level.

Arathorn · 10-29-2002, 10:53 AM

I would say Music! A song with just the lyrics would be called something else:

Poetry...

It's the music that gets me to listen anyway. Sometimes, when I do try to memorize the lyrics so I can do more than just hum along when I hear good song, I'm a bit surprised (and amused) at what it says. However, it's the music that makes me tap a foot or a finger or sway unconsciously.

The lyrics may contain the message but the music is what makes the soul notice...

Sorry for rambling. I'm listening to a good song (read: good music) with weird lyrics. I'm listening to Suede's "She's in Fashion"

katya · 10-30-2002, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Arathorn
I would say Music! A song with just the lyrics would be called something else:

Poetry...

It's the music that gets me to listen anyway. Sometimes, when I do try to memorize the lyrics so I can do more than just hum along when I hear good song, I'm a bit surprised (and amused) at what it says. However, it's the music that makes me tap a foot or a finger or sway unconsciously.

The lyrics may contain the message but the music is what makes the soul notice...

Sorry for rambling. I'm listening to a good song (read: good music) with weird lyrics. I'm listening to Suede's "She's in Fashion"

I find it interesting that while you say this you quote Incubus lyrics in your signature. They must've made quite an impression on you for you to put them there. And without music too. However I agree that music is much more important.

**crickhollow** · 10-30-2002, 12:25 PM

the music makes the first experience with a song good. The lyrics are what keep me coming back.

Arathorn · 10-30-2002, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by katya
I find it interesting that while you say this you quote Incubus lyrics in your signature. They must've made quite an impression on you for you to put them there. And without music too. However I agree that music is much more important.

Well, I'll probably quote the lyrics until they find a way for me to post mp3 clips into the sig.

Having said that, as well as what I posted earlier, I'd have probably posted another line or poem from someone else who'd have written a similar statement to their lyrics.

Say, Invictus, by William Earnest Henley:

Quote:

Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole. I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears, looms but the horror of the shade, and yet the menace of the years finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.

I remembered (and enjoyed) the Incubus lyrics because of the music. But then that's just me.

*closes his eyes while listening and singing along to Oasis:
Some day you will find me
Caught beneath the landslide
In a champagne supernova in the sky...*

*sighs and falls asleep at 03:12...*

cassiopeia · 10-30-2002, 09:08 PM

I think for me it is the music, but it really depends on the song. I could like a song with lousy lyrics, but really good chords, but not vice versa. Some of the chords in Beatles songs just blow me away. Lyrics can touch you, I often put them in my signatures and its fun to sing along to them. But the music is definitely number one.

katya · 11-03-2002, 06:57 PM

I do the same thing, Arathorn. I think music is more important but I quote lyrics sometimes actually. Yeah...I guess that's all I was going to say. Incubus rocks.

Ma Uai: Ua Nemti · 11-03-2002, 09:29 PM

It depends on the type of music. Acapella (only lyrics) music can be quiet wonderful and moving and so can symphony (no lyrics).

Incubus does rock, though. A perfect blend of strangely mystifying lyrics and awesome music makes for a great sound.

10-26-2002, 02:21 PM	#1
Comic Book Guy Best Ex-Administrator ever Join Date: May 2001 Location: Ireland Posts: 60,547	Lyrics or Music? What does everybody believe, in regards to songs is more important, music or lyrics? I would say music is more important as music is a lot more memorable while it can still touch emotions. However, it depends on the artist or group, Jimi Hendrix isn't a great lyricist but a great guitarist and the opposite can be said for Dylan and to some people The Beatles to an extent.

10-26-2002, 02:25 PM	#2
Fred Baggins Belladona Gamgee of the night sky Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: second star to the right and straight on till morning. Posts: 1,783	Well that is an easy one. you can't have lyrics with out the music, and though people may disagree, you can't have music without the lyrics. The opinion of a singer. __________________ Emperor Cusco: Lemme guess. We're about to go down a huge water-fall. Pacha:Yep. Cusco: Sharp rocks at the bottum? Pacha:Most likely. Cusco:Bring it on. ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` Yes, I'm female. Fred Baggins is my NICKNAME! ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` "The reason of the unreasonable treatment of my reason so enfeebles my reason, that with reason I complain of your beauty."~Don Quixote ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` "Once upon a time there was a magical land where it never rained. The End."~from the movie 'Holes' ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ()_))_Crayola_))_>

10-26-2002, 02:51 PM	#3
Coney The Buddy Rabbit Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Trapped in the headlights.. Posts: 3,372	Hmmm, depend on what message the song is trying to convey.. As CBG said Dylan was a great lyricist and his words can be delivered without music and stand alone as poetry. So IMO the music is secondary to the lyrics in his works. Then of course there is a lot of music where the lyrics are purely incidental, Dance/House/etc etc. I suppose everyone differs in this, which is why we all have different tastes in music __________________ Blessed are the cracked, they let the light in Beatallica

10-26-2002, 03:23 PM	#4
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	For me, it is usually the music. I'm not terribly good at discerning what they're singing anyway (ol' deafie!); but then again, maybe it's both. I don't know. The whole package does it for me.... __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

10-26-2002, 07:21 PM	#6
Jadera Elven Warrior Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Somewhere out there Posts: 205	I believe that the lyrics are definitely important. The words and poignancy of a song can make or break it, depending on how it affects people and their emotions. (So says the lyricist. ) On the other hand, music alone can move a person to dance, sing, cry, or just think as much as music paired with lyrics. I suppose it depends on what you're looking for in ways of movement and feeling. __________________ Whaaaaaaaaaat?? ~Chivalry isn't dead, it just transferred to women~

10-26-2002, 04:08 PM	#5
Silverstripe Empress of the Writewraiths Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Running around somewhere inside my head. So what are YOU doing here?! Posts: 1,546	Music, definitely. Classic music, music without lyrics, is still music. But what are lyrics without music? Poetry, and yes, some poetry is so moving, with such an easy flow, that it seems to create its own music. Still, poetry is not usually considered a song unless it comes with music.

10-26-2002, 07:33 PM	#7
Dussander Enting Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 96	About the comment 'no lyrics no music' (simplified), it's not true, classical for example its perfect without words, of course if you are some pansy-ass pop group your music sucks so you have to think of good lyrics, which too suck. So REAL music is in the eye of the beer holder.

10-27-2002, 02:10 PM	#8
*azalea* Long lost mooter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 3,342	I generally enjoy a song for the music rather than the lyrics, but I do love some songs even better because the lyrics are really good, too. But song lyrics do allow me to "participate" in a song by singing along, something I can't do with instrumental songs (with those I can only participate by dancing -- very hard to do when driving ).

10-27-2002, 11:22 PM	#9
Treebeard's apprentice Elven Warrior Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Wherever I may roam Posts: 207	As I said in the 'favorite song' thread, some of my favorites are MetallicA's instrumentals. They're like an epic poem in purely musical form. The songs are made so much better because they doesn't focus on the words. Any attempts to add lyrics would taint the beautiful melodies. Of course, there are plenty of songs that would be boring or even annoying w/o lyrics. System of a Down would be nothing w/o Serj Tankian . . . So I guess it all depends on what kind of music you listen to.

10-27-2002, 11:37 PM	#10
Starr Polish Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Slow down and I sail on the river, slow down and I walk to the hill Posts: 2,389	Hmm, it's really hard to tell. I despise music with bad lyrics, but often times I won't notice how bad the lyrics are if the music behind it is good (though this isn't often). Actual musical chords can really hit me hard, and bring tears to my eyes, and when combined with the correct words I can all out bawl. __________________ “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.” –Bertrand Russell

10-28-2002, 07:18 AM	#11
Kallasilya Hobbit Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 20	The BEST songs are the ones that effectively combine the lyrics with the music. I guess I kind of avoided the question there, but oh well __________________ Nai hotuluvalve i meneltannar tirien...

10-28-2002, 05:04 PM	#12
katya Elven Maiden Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,309	I think music is more important. After all, i love a lot of instrumentals, and a ton of classical music, much or most of it (at least what I listen too) has no lyrics. But just lyrics is poetry. I love poetry, but it is not music. However, I think for me to really like an artist they should have good lyrics. As long as the lyrics aren't horrible I don't mind, though. Bad music I won't even touch. So altoghter, music is way more important.

10-28-2002, 05:30 PM	#13
Lizra Domesticated Swing Babe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Reality Posts: 5,340	Music, music, music! I really don't care about lyrics, good ones are nice, but heck, half the time I can't even understand the lyrics. Now, the lyrics need to be sung in a beautiful, uplifting, melodic fashion. But as to the actual words, It doesn't matter! The melody and rhythm take me to the higher level. __________________ Happy Atheist Go Democrats!

10-29-2002, 10:53 AM	#14
Arathorn Bard of Mangled Songs Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila Posts: 2,679	I would say Music! A song with just the lyrics would be called something else: Poetry... It's the music that gets me to listen anyway. Sometimes, when I do try to memorize the lyrics so I can do more than just hum along when I hear good song, I'm a bit surprised (and amused) at what it says. However, it's the music that makes me tap a foot or a finger or sway unconsciously. The lyrics may contain the message but the music is what makes the soul notice... Sorry for rambling. I'm listening to a good song (read: good music) with weird lyrics. I'm listening to Suede's "She's in Fashion" __________________ Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert *Accio, Ash Nazg!* Elennuru s?la lúmenn' omentielvo* (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures...

10-30-2002, 12:25 PM	#16
crickhollow The Buckleberry Fairy/Captain Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Washington State again (I miss Texas). Posts: 1,345	the music makes the first experience with a song good. The lyrics are what keep me coming back. __________________ A day will come at last when I Shall take the hidden paths that run West of the Moon, East of the Sun.

10-30-2002, 09:08 PM	#18
cassiopeia Viggoholic Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 1,749	I think for me it is the music, but it really depends on the song. I could like a song with lousy lyrics, but really good chords, but not vice versa. Some of the chords in Beatles songs just blow me away. Lyrics can touch you, I often put them in my signatures and its fun to sing along to them. But the music is definitely number one. __________________ Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.

11-03-2002, 06:57 PM	#19
katya Elven Maiden Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,309	I do the same thing, Arathorn. I think music is more important but I quote lyrics sometimes actually. Yeah...I guess that's all I was going to say. Incubus rocks.

11-03-2002, 09:29 PM	#20
Ma Uai: Ua Nemti Elven Warrior Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: We'd tell you but you're all out to get us. Posts: 215	It depends on the type of music. Acapella (only lyrics) music can be quiet wonderful and moving and so can symphony (no lyrics). Incubus does rock, though. A perfect blend of strangely mystifying lyrics and awesome music makes for a great sound. __________________ Pharoah "Vires decusque."

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