Do You Pay More Attention to Lyrics or to the Melody?
This is a discussion currently going on between me and another Listologist, so I thought I'd bring it up here and see where everyone else stands.
For instance, on David Bowie's Hours CD, there is a really cool song called "Seven." Some of these lyrics are just touching: "The gods forgot they made me, so I forgot them, too."
Sometimes I don't pay attention to lyrics in any type of music because I just get into the melody so much, but then whenever I do decide to finally pay attention, I find that the lyrics are just poetic!
Do you find that you ignore the lyrics, often? I know when I'm working it's difficult to listen to the words since I have to focus on work, and that might be why I'm more of a melodic person. Do you go more for lyrics or melody/music?
Well, I prefer French songs to English songs, and as lyrics are VERY important for French songs, I pay more attention to lyrics.
If you are lucky enough to understand the French words, that is. :) For me, I'd just have to use my imagination, I suppose! Since I've not had much experience with French music, what is it about the songs that makes the lyrics so important? Frankly, there are many English songs that sometimes I'd just prefer to cut the lyrics and listen to the music.
A good question, and difficult to answer. In French speaking countries nearly all the #1 songs were so successful because of their lyrics. Really good French songs (or at least those I like) often tell a story and are sometimes also quite serious.
For instance, 'Manhattan-Kaboul' by my favourite French singer Renaud is a song about the 11/09/01 and Afghanistan. It tells the story of a young man in the World Trade Center and a young girl in Afghanistan. The lyrics make this song so powerful.
That would definitely be a stumbling block in listening to foreign music. Had I listened to the song myself, I never would have guessed the story line or the meaning. I would have missed that. I could probably feel that the song had certain emotions attached to it, but the cause and effect of those emotions would surely be missed.
I think many of our music artists would do well to use stories in their songs. I can hardly stand to listen to the radio. Most of it is bland, no feelings attached. The songs on the radio are definitely missing something!
Most everyone that's posted has said what I wanted to: if the melody's not there, I won't stick around for the lyrics, even if they are good. Now there are those songs where the lyrics are bad or forgettable but the tune is great. And the songs where the tune is great as are the lyrics are wonderful (examples: Ask - The Smiths, Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division, pretty much any The Smiths or Bob Dylan song)
Looks like we've got a songwriter in the bunch, which is probably a good alternative view away from the song listening crowd speaking out above, myself included.
Hmm. It's usually the melody that hooks me in first. Like Macheath said, if I don't like the melody, the song could have brilliant lyrics and I would never give it a chance. Then, as I get to like the song, I pay more attention to the lyrics, sometimes looking at the lyrics as I listen so that I don't miss anything. Then after that, I get back to the music, and notice the nuances that I didn't really notice before.
So, what do you think that translates to on this poll? :-) Maybe I just won't vote...
It's the melody that sucks me in and gets me to hear the lyrics. If there's no melody, I have a hard time enjoying the song enough to want to hear the lyrics. However, sometimes there are exceptions, such as with Bob Dylan (who is a brilliant lyricist, but whose songs sometimes lack a clear melody, in my opinion).
I voted for melody/instrumentation. Not that I don't appreciate good lyric writing, since I'm a huge fan of great writers like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, and Pete Townshend. But if the music and arrangement isn't up to snuff, then even the best lyrics won't bring me into the song.
I'd say a good melody usually brings me in for a closer listen, but it depends on who it is and how attentive I am when it plays.
Definitely not a lyrics guy. Usually a key phrase or two will work its way into my head over time, but I can't ever come close to singing along on any song except maybe "Happy Birthday."