Lyrics or Melody/Beat

[SeanFL]

I've been in a relationship for a long time and all is great but we disagree on one thing: He listens to music for the melody or the beat, I like that but the lyrics mean more to me.

He likes instrumental music mostly, but also Maroon 5, K.T. Tunstall, Lily Allen, Justin Timberlake, et al but can't quote a single lyric from any song.

I like Rufus Wainwright, Leonard Cohen, Warren Zevon, Elton John (old stuff), Bob Dylan, et al ... but I like the music AND the lyrics that go along with the song. When I pointed out Lily Allen's great lyrics he was impressed, but he still liked the music more.

So my question is: What makes a great song for you, is it the words or the music?

Examples are welcome, I'm always looking to find great new songs

 

[inlovewithanton]

Music is more important to me upon first listen. If the beat sucks, it gets turned off and I could then care less what that person was saying. However, if the beat knocks, Ill listen for the lyrics. If those are subpar, the song gets played maybe 4 or 5 times more before being discarded for something of better quality.

 

[LatinoSTAR]

^ yea i know what inlovewithanton is saying, i really dont care for the lyrics, but if the beat is bangin' ill listen to it!!!

 

[gameboy 11]

I like both actually. They both can play a big part in why I like the song. However, if I had to pick, which I did, I'd say the lyrics.

 

[Marbas]

I primarily like metal/guitar-based music, so it's usually the riff that grabs me first. But I also listen to a lot of singer-songwriter music, and that's all about the lyrics and the voice.

 

[prettyboysing]

Both (all) are important, but push come to shove the lyric is the story you're telling...the music is the way you choose to tell the story.

 

[luminum]

Music needs to be there to hook you into listening. If there's no worthy music, then the lyrics, good as they may be, are just poetry. Lyrics are important, because who feels okay listening to a song with crappy, stupid lyrics? Not many.

But if we're talking about a song, I would rate music first.

My musician friend would probably argue that no matter what, lyrics matter first, because a song without lyrics is a tune, not a song.

 

[prettyboysing]

If there's no worthy music, then the lyrics, good as they may be, are just poetry.

Good point.

My musician friend would probably argue that no matter what, lyrics matter first, because a song without lyrics is a tune, not a song.

I know many instrumentalists who would disagree with this statment.

 

[luminum]

I don't know, the way she explained it to me is that song specifically needs to have lyrics to be a 'song'. Without, it's an instrumental or a tune or melody.

 

[prettyboysing]

I don't know, the way she explained it to me is that song specifically needs to have lyrics to be a 'song'. Without, it's an instrumental or a tune or melody.

Well, dictionary.com agrees with her:

song [sawng, song]
–noun
1. a short metrical composition intended or adapted for singing, esp. one in rhymed stanzas; a lyric; a ballad.
2. a musical piece adapted for singing or simulating a piece to be sung: Mendelssohn's “Songs without Words.”
3. poetical composition; poetry.
4. the art or act of singing; vocal music.
5. something that is sung.

I guess instrumentals are usually referred to as a "piece" or something similar. See the things you forget when you haven't been in school in eight years

 

[gazzax2]

to anyone who likes modern (ie. 2000-2007) dance or electronica music you can't possibly vote for Lyrics. Dance songs like Cascada - Everytime We Touch, discouting the slew of 80s and now 90s covers, have the most un-inventive, generic and pointless lyrics.

 

[luminum]

I find that extremes of either usually completely bore me. If it's completely instrumental, I very rarely stay focused on the music (unless I specifically know this piece, like St. Paul's Suite) and likewise with people like Ani DiFranco, the majority of her songs are less melodic, more lyrical and I end up falling asleep.