Do good lyrics or good beats do more to make a song better in your opinion?

[AngelOfLight258]

For me it depends on what kind of music it is. For example, bad lyrics are going to ruin a country song no matter how good the guitar tones are. But when it comes to EDM, I could care less about the lyrics (they might as well be spitting out random words). When it comes to rap songs, the lyrics make a bigger difference but it even if the lyrics are mediocre, if the song has a good beat I think it's still listening to (but the opposite is true for pop music). When it comes to rock and metal songs, I'd say it's an even mix of both.

[abc3643]

I think this question is answered by the song "Carouselambra" by Led Zeppelin.
Practically, no one knows what Robert Plant is singing because it is so muffled, yet the song is so majestic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhe4UOXIQjQ

Then, again, in "The Immigrant Song", the lyrics are clear and, despite their harmless fun, the key to the popularity of the "The Immigrant Song" is the hard-driving beat.

I will let the Viking Kittens and Harp Twins illustrate...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9jTonnpRo0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lih7A9OS2Us

[jshm2]

You sound like a janky, wanabee music aficionado

A good track is one that matches the genre, hits the right notes and images, and is widely accepted by fans. The lyrics and beats are meaningless if there is no meaning and mental images in the song.

But that can be flipped on it's head by songs being popular, but cringy in some cases.

https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/~dtompkin/music/list/Best6.html

[Apulu_Imback]

As a lyricist, I listen the lyrics carefully while listening songs to connect with it emotionally. However the music and beat also play equal importance according to me but I'm more on lyrical side.

[menina]

It depends on the song. Some songs that I listen to have crappy lyrics, but I love the beat, so I still listen to them.
While others don't have a beat that I like but the lyrics are awesome!

[loveslongnails]

The feel of a song is more important to me than the lyrics, UNLESS the lyrics are so damn awful that I can't "un-listen" to them when the song is playing. I can enjoy a song with juvenile lyrics, to a point, if I like the music. Today's rap, for the most part, sounds like shit to me. I like the old school stuff a lot better. Metal or rock is like you say, a combination of words and music, while pop is more about the beat.

I totally agree with you on country songs. The more they whine, or talk about their truck, or momma, the less I can stand them. It seems the best country music was created between the 1950's and 2000. These new artists, for the most part not all, are just sex and sizzle with added twang.

[xColinx]

A good song/tune/beat/whatever (musical writing) can carry a song much more than good lyrics, which is why it's harder to do the first part. But obviously both are important to take it to the next level.

[dustybiker]

Both. Either or. It works as a good mix or doesn’t. But what is good (or not) is also personal to each of us.

[Astarlessnightsky]

Good beats.

If the rythm is on point you can sing random words over it and it still sounds good.

[Batsy01010101]

Songs need both good lyrics and good beats which is what i do BOTH beats and lyrics i just can't sing because i don't have the vocals to my voice is to deep and i don't annunciate my words clearly enough

[Batsy01010101]

I asked her years ago if she wanted my help writing her music but she never gave me an answer and i asked her if she wanted help with making beats never got an answer even though she loved my work but she gets some kid to help her who's barely old enough to vote

[BCRanger10]

Better? Maybe. Bad lyrics though can ruin a song.

[Msputiton]

I don't think you can have a good song with out both.

So they are equally important

[genericname85]

I don't listen to lyrics. I only care for the sound.

[Nsync]

It depends on the type of song. If it is a slower tempo, the lyrics become more to me

[Nsync]

... more important to me

[melanieeeB]

Both is important, lyrics little more for me

[AviatorTom]

I prefer good lyrics over the beat.

[WhitneySnow]

Lyrics but the music is important too

[MrTaboo]

Depends on your intelligence levels.

[TroyDT2]

Many times yes.

[Blackcupcake]

both are needed

[Brando10222]

Beats

[Debbie14217]

good beats