Music Ward > Music Discussion

Lyrics- Do You Care?

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James Edward:
I don’t. I am completely driven by the music. With a few exceptions, what I like would appeal to me without lyrics involved at all. My wife says I’m missing 50% of the music. I don’t doubt that, and I can’t even rationalize it (except for the whole classical music thing, and jazz...) If the music in the song doesn’t move me, I just don’t care.

I can’t think of ‘messages’ in songs that I look for; Cat Stevens, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, etc., ad nauseum- I know they’re all deep and message laden, but it bounces off my brain. The music is what I hear.

I read books, so I’m not averse to the thoughts of others, and do enjoy the written word.

A post I made to the ‘What Are You Listening To Now’ thread last week, and Nick B’s response that the song I mentioned was a ballad was what prompted this topic. He was right, but again, I liked the music, and paid no heed to the lyrics. Me ballad? No way! But there it is...

Where do you stand on this admittedly unimportant topic?

Nick B:
Actually, it’s a great topic. I could care less how great the lyrics are, if there isn’t at least a decent melody attached, I’m not listening. I am 100% melody driven  :thumb:

S Clark:
There are songs that the lyrics stay with me, and even some that come to be more important that the melody, but not initially.  If the melody doesn't appeal to me, I don't get far enough with a song to really digest the lyrics.

But the Beatles' "Backbird" is still important 50 years later, and the lyrics are part of why. 
Billy Holiday "Strange Fruit" is lyric driven.
B.W. Stevenson  "5 o'clock in a Texas Morning" has a great final lyric, somewhat separate from the song, driven by the wail of a harmonica and winds sounds. "Outside, The sun is up... And the wind, blows me like a paper cup...Down the Highway."

James Edward:
Mr Clark mentions the song ‘Strange Fruit’ and I’m blindsided. The BBC ran an essay a few years ago asking if it was the most shocking song of all time. If not, it’s right up there.
For me, that song could be the exception that proves the rule. I’m sure there are others that fall into that rarefied category, and I certainly don’t mean to denigrate them. Of course there are song lyrics that appeal to me, but as a hook, melody reigns.
Thanks.

dflee:
I guess I'm in worse shape than you three.
I'm into melody but with the right instrument.
Example is my wife loves piano pieces and while there are some really great
melody pieces, I'm just not into it. The piano for some reason doesn't appeal to me
as much as other instruments. And if the message is deep but the melody sucks
than I would rather read the lyrics as a poem without instrumentation (or hear
them with a bongo). Could be why I just can't handle Rap (but do enjoy Scat).

Don

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