Music or Lyrics?
By tentwo67
@tentwo67 (3382)
United States
May 7, 2007 8:44am CST
What gets you interested in a song - the music or the words? Or do you like both for different reasons? Why?
For me, it is usually all about the lyrics. I absolutely love the words of songs, it's like poetry and it can really touch my heart and evoke emotional responses. The music is also great, but it's the words that get me every time.
For this reason, I was really shocked to learn that the writer of some of the most touching songs I know (Billy Joel) thinks in music when he's writing songs and fills in the words later. It's astonishing to me that his beautiful words are ultimately kind of an afterthought. Then, later I found out that his daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, is exactly the same way, and I love what I've heard of her music too.
How is it for you guys and why?
5 responses
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
7 May 07
Both the music and the words interest me in a song. But there are a lot of times when I hear a song for the first time and I don't know the words, but the music will catch my attention. Its usually not until much later that I learn the words and appreciate them as well.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
7 May 07
It's always the music for me, first and foremost. The lyrics are secondary. The tune means so much more to me than the words.
@kevsgirlalways (5883)
• Malaysia
8 May 07
i do think it's both. firstly it's the rhythm and beat that gets me listening or hooked to a song, and of course songs by my favourite singers :D ..then i'll start to notice the lyrics, if i can relate to them somehow, then that's awesome, i'll love the song even more!
1 person likes this
@blackkatdreamer (1461)
• Canada
7 May 07
Both! without the music the lyrics are just poems... after all you can have a song that is absolutely beautiful but accompanied by awful music... or beautiful music accompanied but awful lyrics... so when I listen to a song I need a good beat and good lyrics
1 person likes this
@maemaemae (341)
• Philippines
8 May 07
its the music that gets my attention first...if i hear something nice, i will try to find the lyrics of the song...if the lyrics has badwords, i usually never listen to it again
@Redrum666 (56)
• Netherlands
7 May 07
It's completely different for me. I don't really care about the lyrics, but more about the music. Of course the lyrics are important too, but I play the guitar and most of the time I try to find out what they play and play along with the song. I listen to hard rock, metal and that kind of stuff. I guess it matters what music you listen to, pop music is probably more about the lyrics.
