Poll: Lyrics vs Music

[Dys]

To me, it depends on the genre of music. I listen to a jazz, and lyrics really don't mean much (in fact, most of the time there are none). I also listen to rap, where lyrics really make up the song. In that if a rapper cannot come up with decent lyrics, it does not matter how good people claim his beat is, he is a failure.

(there are some songs that get radio airtime that make very little sense, much less inspire thinking or raise a point)

You mean almost all of them?

..well yes, I guess I do.

 

[Berethond]

To me, it depends on the genre of music. I listen to a jazz, and lyrics really don't mean much (in fact, most of the time there are none). I also listen to rap, where lyrics really make up the song. In that if a rapper cannot come up with decent lyrics, it does not matter how good people claim his beat is, he is a failure.

(there are some songs that get radio airtime that make very little sense, much less inspire thinking or raise a point)

You mean almost all of them?

..well yes, I guess I do.

Yeah, I hate them too.

 

[Spleenbag]

Bob Dylan is potentially God in terms of sheer lyric-driven stuff, with sounds to MATCH the words. Frank Sinatra is a top contender for this as well. Both of them kick ass.

In my opinion, music is great, but it's all just sounds if it's got words I can't understand, or hasn't got them at all. Exception, exception, exception: orchestra-performed videogame music from stuff like Legend of Zelda, Chrono Trigger, etc.

 

[zoozilla]

I agree that there are definitely instances where the lyrics are the focus, as with Elvis Costello.

"I Want You" without any lyrics would be 6-minutes of repetitive, dull music.

With lyrics, it's a moody, emotional song.

I really love lyrics that are witty, clever, and actually worth listening to; I won't hate a song for its lyrics, though.

 

[dontworryaboutit]

Morrissey.

 

[socialtangent]

I find myself listening to the music much more often than the lyrics. Most of the intensity of a song comes from the instruments. Nice vocals don't hurt, but I like the music more.

 

[Skeleon]

The music.
I still don't fully understand the lyrics of all the songs I listen to and love.

 

[Arcticflame]

Music.

I listen to a lot of instrumental music. And a lot of music where I don't care about the words.

 

[TaborMallory]

They're both important. Good music is definitely required, but bad lyrics can ruin a perfectly good song. There's lots of music I don't like simply because of the simplistic immature lyrics. Take any song from Dope for example.
FUCK THA POLICE (x4)

Fuck tha police and I said it with authority
Cause my people on the streets are the majority
Lights are flashin' behind me
But you're a scared little ****** so you mace me to blind me
But that shit don't work I just laugh

Yeah, that's not Dope, that's N.W.A

Oops. Well, I heard Dope's version on the CD my sister bought.

 

[Eatbrainz]

without music lyrics are nothing, but without lyrics music is still music.

 

[Lord George]

I like singing along so good lyrics are a must.

 

[Zombie_Fish]

Every song (excluding instrumentals)

You don't need to exclude instrumentals, as a song (technically) needs to have lyrics, so instrumentals don't count as songs.

Anyway, I'd go with music, because although the lyrics are what everyone hears, the backing music needs to lay down the beat so that the lyrics can take the front line and be what everyone hears.

 

[wordsmith]

Good lyrics can lead a bad beat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7TPcGksW5M

A decent beat can lead bad lyrics, as seen with How We Do or Hate It Or Love It. 50 Cent is crap, but the beats are nice. This is why I like rap- if you get a decent beat and a crap original spit, someone WILL have freestyled better.

The original- Stronger by Kanye West. (up til 1:12)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8dCHgQYVfw

The Freestyle- Stronger Remix by V Double O
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UF5F5QmMZE

 

[Enigma Syndrome]

As a musician and lyracist I can safely say Lyrics are far more important.

all the feeling is in the lyrics, since they hold the true meaning of the song (in which a band is at least trying to get a point of view across) and not just a beat you can bob your head to because it's "catchy." Now, I speak primarily for the Rock/alternative/metal scene. They can sound like a riff from Satan himself and have lyrics of a love song. The way I see it is that the music itself is just the superficial guise, and the lyrics are the muscle and bones that hold it all together.

 

[Fairee]

Both are extremely important, as much as each other. However, if I have to choose, then I'd say music. Sorry, Drew Barrymore...

I genuinely hate this kinda stereotyping, so sorry about this, but....... O_O You are a guy, and you have heard of/seen that film?????

On topic, I'd say lyrics. Partly because I love singing, partly because I'm mildly awkward, and partly because I could never side with Hugh Grant.....

 

[Duh]

i like the music part alot more than the lirycs but sometimes great lyrics are just what gives the music something more

my favorite lyrics of all time is from the Lazarus by Peggy Sue Plus the music is awesome

http://www.myspace.com/peggysueandthepirates

Build him a cofin with the door in two sides
build him a cofin with two doors when he dies
build him a cofin wich could open two ways
cuz the world is round and he might come back again

 

[JanatUrlich]

Music. Overwhelmingly, since more than half my collection is stuff I can't understand, either foreign language or accented/gutteral English.

saaaaaame

 

[messy]

Have to go with Lyrics on this, since enjoy singing along (not particularly well to songs) I try to learn the words as quickly as possible and if there not particularly good I'll stop listening to said song. I'm a huge Dylan fan and I can't stand dance music which is just pretty much a beat with the same words repeated over and over again.