Lyrics?

[MehGuy]

Curious about how many people care to pay attention to the lyrics when they're listening to a particular song. Concerning me the most part I do not. Besides a few groups like Depeche Mode, the lyrics usually do not speak to me. Also, I like putting my own thoughts into whatever song I listen too. Although considering the vast majority of my playlist consists of black metal, I can hardly understand what they're saying even if I wanted to know.. lol.

 

[Sketcher]

I pay attention to the lyrics and depending on the song, put a twist on them.

 

[ImAllLikeOkWaitWat]

I have no ability to remember song lyrics.

 

[Niels]

I pay attention to lyrics, but I interpret them however I like. The way I see it, the best artists and musicians want the listener to apply their own meaning. That makes their works more personal, and gives them a broader appeal.

When I listen to music, I exercise my imagination. Overly political or preachy music doesn't give me as much freedom to do that, and can detract from the experience. On the flip-side, if I happen to be feeling political or spiritual, I may read those meanings into otherwise ambiguous songs. I'll interpret the same songs different ways, depending on what's going on in my life and how I happen to be feeling at the time.

 

[S.O.J.I.A.]

I used to be able to recite the lyric's to Raekwon's "only built for Cuban linx" album in it's entirety by heart.

 

[Citanul]

Initially, the lyrics of a song aren't that important for me. It's first got to appeal to me on a musical basis, and if it doesn't then it's not really going to matter what the lyrics are like.

If a song has poor lyrics then it doesn't matter how much I might like the music, I'm probably going to be turned off that song. And good lyrics can definitely enhance a song, although I've not no definite criteria as to what constitutes "good" lyrics.

 

[blackribbon]

A song is a story or a poem put to music. Lyrics are what makes a song. Otherwise, it should just be an instrumental. Instrumentals are just about the music tells.

 

[MehGuy]

Yeah.. although while I don't usually pay attention to the lyrics, I still prefer vocals in a song.

 

[Bass4Jesus]

Curious about how many people care to pay attention to the lyrics when they're listening to a particular song. Concerning me the most part I do not. Besides a few groups like Depeche Mode, the lyrics usually do not speak to me. Also, I like putting my own thoughts into whatever song I listen too. Although considering the vast majority of my playlist consists of black metal, I can hardly understand what they're saying even if I wanted to know.. lol.

For me, it depends on the song. One of my favorite bands is Dream Theater. The lyrics are typically nonsense. But since I know that's the case from experience, I can listen to the songs and not care all that much.

I like Depeche Mode as well. I've always liked dark bands.

Been listening to Pvris for a while. I like their style, and I like their songwriting. Their lyrics can often be tough to decipher. The ones you can can be mysterious and foreboding. They force you to create a temporary personal reality from nothing more than incomplete images.

Ultravox was another favorite of mine, and they sometimes used the same trick. Have a listen to "Dislocation." Brilliant lyrics, imo.

Lyrics are in the uploader's comments.

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[ImAllLikeOkWaitWat]

Yeah.. although while I don't usually pay attention to the lyrics, I still prefer vocals in a song.

I'm assuming vocals aren't as important in black metal as some other genres tho eh eh?

 

[MehGuy]

I'm assuming vocals aren't as important in black metal as some other genres tho eh eh?

No, they're pretty important. One reason I cannot stand a lot of Death metal is because I find many of their vocals stupid or cheesy.

 

[Toro]

Depends on the song.

Some songs have a good sound but lyrically are garbage. Either in their meaning or they speak something that doesnt sit well with my theology.

APC's Judith for example.

 

[kittysbecute]

I like the lyrics to be good. But sometimes I don’t understand the lyrics until later. There were a number of songs I would listen to as a kid that I misheard the lyrics or didn’t pay attention. Then when I listened as I was older... knowing what the lyrics are I just can’t listen anymore.

In a good song every part of the song works together to make it a good song. Sometimes that means more or less lyrics.
If there is a metal song and they decide to add some screaming lyrics it needs to enhance the song and add meaning to it for it to be good. I can appreciate that in songs.

Sometimes good lyrics are plain and clear and sometimes they are more poetic or written in such a way that someone listening can apply their own meaning to the song. I like both.

Some songs I don’t really listen to the lyrics though.

I listen to a lot of instumental music and sometimes music with lyrics that are in another language that I don’t know anyway. One song that I like, I've heard it in Japanese and in English by the same singer. But I like the Japanese version better because based on the sound it really sounds as it was written to flow better with the lyrics in Japanese. Both are beautiful though.

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

I think I go back and forth between singing the original lyrics the artists have made and making my own up as the song goes on. I think I do the latter in church services mostly.

 

[Sir Robbins]

most lyrically brilliant band is Iron Maiden. Much of their songs have religious meanings to them..

songs like:
Infinite Dreams (song about battling or desiring to conform to religion)
The Man of Sorrows (song about Jesus)
The entire Somewhere in Time album is amazing lyrically and musically (sad meanings)

 

[JustSomeBloke]

Curious about how many people care to pay attention to the lyrics when they're listening to a particular song.

Lyrics are not really important to me, not least because if I don't like how the music sounds then I'm not going to listen, regardless of how good the lyrics/message might be.

And as I dance salsa from time to time, and can neither speak nor understand Spanish, there are always going to be tracks I like but I have no chance of getting the meaning.

Although considering the vast majority of my playlist consists of black metal, I can hardly understand what they're saying even if I wanted to know.. lol.

Isn't that what the sleeve notes are for?