Do you focus more on the lyrics or the music (instrumental) of a song?

Question

Any story behind your decision? :)

TurboKid · Accepted Answer

I'm very much an instrumental type. The lyrics could be completely gibberish and I would rarely mind. I'm not sure why. It's not a conscious decision but just what appeals to me.

It might be my childhood. I got all into video game music at first playing Famicom (the Japanese equivalent of NES) as a 4-year old boy. That's all instrumental. Then I also got into lots of film soundtracks during the 80s which are also instrumental.

I do love to sing Karaoke but I think of the vocals as just another instrument to provide melody or harmony and don't really care so much about what the words are as long as they're fun to sing.

The_Maphio · Accepted Answer

Instrumental. That's where the music is at. Voice should be used as another accompanyment instrument more often, too.
If they really want to convey a message through words, poetry is a thing. Leave music alone.

meggykentums · Accepted Answer

In my experience, women focus more on lyrics and men focus more on music. And I do love me some lyrics but they to be love or breakup songs so there's not much room for cleverness anymore.

Gwenhwyfar · Accepted Answer

Lyrics. I like the music too though.

WhiteSteve · Answer

Probably the instrumental. I’d say rap is my favorite music, and I need there to be a good instrumental backing it up. I can appreciate good lyrics on a substandard beat, but it likely won’t be in my regular rotation of favorites unless the lyrics are absolutely phenomenal.

Rap is usually the only music where I even understand what the artist is saying, lmao. Not the newer “mumble rap”, but the older rap I came up with. Rock music, I usually just hear someone screaming unintelligibly. I might get the hook, but the lyrics of the verses are too contorted by the singing for me to understand, it may as well not be in English, haha. Rap is at least straightforward and I’m more likely to understand every word of it, and some of it is really deep. Rock lyrics are like... I don’t know... overly poetic? Like to a point where I’m not sure what they’re getting at. I can read the lyrics and still not know what the song is about sometimes.

In all cases, I like a good melody, or a hard beat or guitar riff, etc. A good instrumental will win me over every time, regardless of lyrics. Good lyrics need to be accompanied by a good instrumental, unless the lyrics are exceptional.

Andres77 · Answer

As a little kid I only used to listen for the sound. Just the music. I didn't care what was said until my brother bought a bluegrass album and I was enjoying listening to the banjo and my sister barged in and asked me what I was listening to.
She said "listen to the lyrics... those words are going in your head and memory and subconscious and you're not even aware of it... always pay attention to the lyrics."
So I replayed the song.
😳
WITAF?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZwXa1owy58o

How was this ever acceptable?
Anyway... I always listen to the lyrics now.
Once I'm okay with the lyrics then I'll just enjoy the music.

White_Widow · Answer

For me it depends on my mood. Melody is just as important as the lyrics tho and both need to fit my mood.

WesBrewer · Answer

I listen mainly to the instruments, but if the lyrics are completely disgusting sexual (like wap) then I can’t listen to them.

FriendlyDrugDealer · Answer

I’ve always been involved with music as a fan then recently been into music production but my ears have definitely shifted with time.

I appreciate lyrics especially when I’m home or relaxing because I want to understand why the song is being played to begin with. The production ( instrumental) is important but it’s one side of the song in my opinion.

They’re both important but the lyrics are my favorite

DJB72 · Answer

It depends on the song. I like Train's song "Play That Song" but because I've loved the tune for 40 years, not for the lyrics. I love Bon Jovi's "Thank You For Loving Me" and Queen's "Is This The World We Created" for the lyrics (although they both have great tunes).

Sometimes the words catch me, sometimes the tune does.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

If the sounds aren't to my liking, then I'll not be interested in the lyrics either.
When I like the song, for sure I want to know what the lyrics are about.
There are songs that I 'rejected' because of the lyrics, although they sound right.

HHHHIHHHHHIHHHH · Answer

Music, I don't want t feel disillusioned as lyrics often are really low level although song sounds good

bowenw · Answer

It's usually both, but not always. A song can have a good beat that makes it perfect for dancing where the lyrics don't particularly matter. On the other hand, the lyrics of a ballad can be the primary focus.

exitseven · Answer

I mostly listen to classic rock or folk rock and appreciate good lyrics.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

I'm all about the music. Lyrics are always secondary for me.

For me, it all comes down to what music is. Music is music. Poetry is poetry. Music without words is still music. But words without music are just words.

7771999 · Answer

The music 100% Some genres (like Country) is a nice balance. Where I can actually listen to the lyrics, and they're not boring

Leavesbound · Answer

Most of the music I listen to doesn't have lyrics.

StrikeJam · Answer

Definitely music.  Actually this is opposition of form and content. As for me, music is about feelings, and lyrics are more about thoughts. And music in general for me is a emotional thing.

_Clara_ · Answer

Both of these.

ItsMeItsMe1989 · Answer

Music

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Instrumental.

OnTheLevel · Answer

Definitely lyrics.

Do you focus more on the lyrics or the music (instrumental) of a song?

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When listening to music - do you pay more attention to the lyrics or the melody?

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When listening to music - do you pay more attention to the lyrics or the melody?

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