DarcX Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) I saw a discussion on this elsewhere, and I thought I'd see how it plays out here. When it comes to how much I enjoy an album/song/release/whatever, I really only take it all in musically, only paying attention to the lyrics if I want to sing/scream/rap along. How much do lyrics affect your music experience? What are y'all's thoughts/standpoints? Edited June 10, 2015 by DarcX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abovetheearth Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 screamo is impossible post rock is impossibler nancy_raygun 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satan Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 The fuck is /mu/? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarcX Posted June 10, 2015 Author Share Posted June 10, 2015 The music discussion board on 4chan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Hundred Fifty-Two Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 I'd probably just leave the 4chan /mu/ part out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarcX Posted June 10, 2015 Author Share Posted June 10, 2015 I'd probably just leave the 4chan /mu/ part out Done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abovetheearth Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 but srsly. genre determines it all. I pay attention to folk/singer songwriter but just need the aggression in black metal and screaming shit. I've steered away from Cookie Monster rock. no one can translate that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6heart6breaker6 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 If your lyrics rhyme, then write a children's book or a poem, just please stop making music boring. Actually I'm not that arrogant, but I usually am a bit bothered by excessive (end of line) rhyming. Seems cheatful and uncreative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarcX Posted June 10, 2015 Author Share Posted June 10, 2015 Yeah, I guess my one slight exception is hip-hop/rap. There are a few MCs whose lyrics I don't care for that I listen to, but if the lyrics are really well-written I'll give it more listens. I somewhat agree with heartbreaker, unless it's a folk-y sounding song, it kinda makes sense there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronniegwilliams Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Awful lyrics can make me instantly hate a song, especially if the music sounds passionate and the singer has the writing skills of a third grader. Also, complete abstraction in lyrics tends to bother me, just as it does in poetry. Like others have said, when it comes to metal it isn't that important at all; though incredible lyrics will turn a great metal/hardcore band into my favorite band. For example, I've loved American Nightmare since the first time I heard them, and after looking into Eisold's lyrics, I was blown away. In regards to rhyming in lyrical structure, I don't think it's uncreative by default, though I think it can be. I could be a bit biased on this, as my lyrics tend to rhyme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daegor Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Lyrics used to be the most important thing to me, now with getting older (read, more busy) I have less time to actually sit and focus on music. It's almost always on while I'm driving, or doing something around the house, etc. And it is reflected in my tastes, when I was younger I'd be able to get into an album that wasn't the greatest musically if the lyrics were good. I don't have as much tolerance for that anymore. Regardless, lyrics are still very important to me. I listen to and enjoy every genre of music to some extent. There are certain lyrical styles that fit better with certain genres. For instance, I don't mind rhyming as long as it's not used as a lyrical crutch, but when it comes to Rap/Hip-Hop/Urban/etc I definitely do have more tolerance for rhyming than I would in Rock or Metal. I disagree with the sentiment that lyrics matter less in Metal genres... for me music is cathartic. I need to be able to relate at some level in order for me to enjoy it. That's not to say I need to have experienced the same thing, just that I can connect with the emotions that are being conveyed. In something like Metal where the emotions are more intense most of the time, shitty lyrics can entirely kill the vibe. Even at a more intellectual level... I used to be a causal fan of Emmure (let's keep this discussion lyrics based, not taste based ). It was always apparent that their vocalist/lyricist was a bit of a shithead, but we're all a bit of a shithead sometimes so whatever, there is a time and a place kind of thing. However, their most recent album was very pro-violence in very literal way. (for those curious, they had a song called "Bring A Gun to School" that was changed to "Untitled" right before it was released: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/emmure/bringaguntoschool.html). After hearing the lyrics I couldn't listen to them anymore at all. ronniegwilliams meantioned disliking 'complete abstraction" in lyrics. I actually dig abstraction a lot (though I'm not sure what you mean by "complete" abstraction...). Like I said, music is cathartic to me. If executed well, abstraction can make it easier for me to relate at an emotional level with the music and lyrics. To me, the kings of this are Chevelle. The vast majority of the lyrics are uninterpretable. But, there is a very clear emotional presentation... On the flip side, I often can't get into a song if the lyrics are too specific. It usually means I can't relate and it kills it for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladew1ll1s1sdead Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Lyrics are THE most important thing to me in music, vocals are second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladewillisisdead Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Lyrics are p cool. I love Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights, so I don't necessarily need lyrics to make any sense though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancy_raygun Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 Lyrics are p cool. I love Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights, so I don't necessarily need lyrics to make any sense though. Haha. Interpol drives me nuts with their lyrics. It's all such gibberish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladewillisisdead Posted June 11, 2015 Share Posted June 11, 2015 The subway is a porno tho funtitled 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steventangent Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 I love a song with great lyrics, and will overlook the occasional terrible lyric from a band I otherwise like. I would say that the overwhelming majority of bands have lyrics that are more "not bad" than "actually good." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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