Music or Lyrics? What captivates you more when it comes to deciding whether or not you like a particular song and why?

[thegreenyogi]

[WhiteSteve]

Good question.

I guess the wish-washy-but-probably-true answer is “both.” But I think if you put a gun to my head, I’d choose the music.

I listen to all kinds of genres, but I predominantly listen to rap. Rap is actually where I focus most on lyrics, because I can actually make them out, haha. I’m always surprised when people say “I can’t even hear what they’re saying!” Like that’s rock music for me. I’ll get some of the words, something about the singing vs rapping can distort the sound of the vocals and I won’t pick up what they’re saying said. Rap, you kind of have to be fluent in the dialect and slang, which I am, and maybe that’s others’ problem rather than something audial. But if you have that, I can hear almost everything. Maybe less so with the “mumble rap” of today, because they’re trying to be fast, and some of them sort of half-sing/half-rap.

But rap of my era, that I always get, other than they sometimes make “if you know, you know” kind of references, like to people they know, areas around where they live, personal stories, etc, that aren’t necessarily meant for the average listener to understand without explanation or research.

Example: this rapper Westside Gunn will mention someone named “Kutter” sometimes. The first couple times I heard it, I think it was neutral and vague, just basically saying “I did such and such thing with Kutter.” Who’s Kutter? I guess I’m just meant to infer Kutter is a friend of Westside Gunn’s. But then he shows up elsewhere. “We buried Shay, and Kutter got locked the same day.” Upon reading an article about Westside Gunn and his group Griselda, I learned that Kutter is a member of their gang, who was arrested outside of the funeral of another member who had been killed. Then, in the last month or so, in some more recent songs, he says “Free Kutter, I just said I loved him on the JPay”, meaning he’s still in prison, and WSG still looks out for him, sending him money to spend in the prison commissary (via a prison money wiring service called JPay), and told him he loved him in the accompanying message. Additionally, co-member of the gang and rap group Conway The Machine says, “Kutter locked up, a million dollars cash for when he pop up”, basically saying he’s going to give his friend a million dollars to get back on his feet when he’s released.

So I guess you kind of have to be able to understand lingo and make inferences to understand some of it, but if you can…. rap can sometimes have pretty powerful lyrics. A few guys are REALLY skilled on a poetic level, others just have kind of a vibe about them that works.

And I’m so impressed by a great lyricist…but I think I’m even more impressed by the producers who create the instrumentals, or I guess “composers” in other genres. I don’t know, something about being able to start with silence, and transform it into a beat, and a rhythm, and a melody, all from nothing…. that is CRAZY to me, that someone’s brain can accomplish that. I could NEVER😂 I used to rap a little when I was in my early 20s, amateur, nothing special, but I remember being able to write, and I would kind of get into a flow. Come up with two words or phrases that rhymed well, and figure out a way to connect them and hopefully be clever in doing so, with a double-entendre or a metaphor or something. But even then…I’d write to a specific instrumental. The instrumental provided the mood for the lyrics, I’d try to match it.

I don’t want to make too much of a novel about this, haha, But I guess I’d just say that I think I could still love a song with a great instrumental but with mediocre lyrics, whereas outstanding lyrics over mediocre instrumentals, I still could really like it and appreciate the lyrics, but I think the overall sound would be too affected to “love” it. I guess if I think about it, there are probably a lot more songs that the instrumental is why I love the song, and the lyrics are an afterthought.

And a last point, with rap, in the 00s, mixtapes were a big thing, and they would often feature songs with already-famous instrumentals from other rappers’ songs, and instead, different rappers would go in on it, and it was a fresh spin on a known song. And usually the rappers would want to go over a really, really great instrumental. Sometimes I’d like a mixtape remix more than the original. But the common denominator was always the instrumental👍

[HawkPerception]

For some reason, my brain never picked up lyrics as much. I can hear a song and easily remember the melody after listening to it once, but if I listen to a song 100 times I still wouldn't remember the lyrics.

I tend to judge songs based on the melodies rather than lyrics. I'm the kind of guy that will be like "This song sounds amazing!" and show it to someone. And then the lyrics could be the exact opposite of what I'm feeling and people would look at me like "Why does he get happy listening to these sad lyrics?"

It's all about the vibe for me.

[Nikki1989]

The music always comes first. It has to be interesting or at least exciting in some way and above all else, musical. 95% of modern music can be made on a laptop within minutes. I constantly look for something more substantial.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

When the beat positively gets my attention, I'll be listening to the lyrics soon after to find out if the song is good or acceptable overall.

[AI Opinion]

When it comes to music, I'm captivated by the overall vibe and energy of a song! 🎶 The melody can pull me in, but well-crafted lyrics add depth and meaning that keep me returning. Much like in gaming, where a compelling soundtrack enhances the experience, in music, both tunes and words create an emotional connection that I find hard to resist. It's the perfect blend that makes a song memorable for me!

[fish5505_87]

@gamer Wow for the first time, I feel you AI Gal!

[Lliam]

For me, it's almost always the music - the arrangement and instrumentation - that fires my emotions.

Of course vocals, not necessarily the lyrics, are part of the music. Vocals and vocal harmonies are fantastic instruments in an arrangement, but I find that I only pick up on certain lyrical lines. I attach meaning to those lines and think "Wow, that's heavy!" or "That is so fun!"
But, more often than not when I look up the entire lyrics, I'm surprised to find that the song isn't what I though it was about, or the lyrics are lame.
It's like when you think you know a song and try to sing it, only realize that all you know is the chorus or a couple of the hooks.

But for sure there are some songs that I love for the lyrics. The music is almost secondary.

[Shiprex]

It's the melody that get's me as most often the lyrics are a bit naff but some lyrics can be delightful. One such "song" is the theme tune to Gladiator called Now We are Free by Ladd Mcintosh, Lisa Gerrard and Gavin Greenaway. The lyrics aren't even a language but just sound so good with the music.

But to give a funny example of a song I really liked that I got the Lyrics wrong for ages was the song Jellybear (to me that was the lyric) by OMI (YES CHEERLEADER but for ages I was certain it was a Jelly Bear that he Found himself that moves like a model and was like a Genie in a bottle.

[NathanDavis]

both, and more... could be the lyrics, the music itself, the melodies... even the beat

or the interpretation itself by certain singers

but, more often than not... it is the music that will resonate with me and hit me in places I am not even sure what it is about every time... lmao, yep

[IslaTheWitch]

it isn't conscious... and for me... it's mostly 2 in 1...

but I still like pieces without words... just music...

[AviatorTom]

The music, in particular what instruments are used in the music, is more important than lyrics. Some of the best musical pieces of all time (Beethoven's Fifth, Ravel's Bolero, John Williams' Star Wars theme) have no lyrics.

[ZephyrFluer]

in my opinion, it comes first with the intro melody. The lyrics that comes next should accentuate or even inspire the music.

And its ability to be repeated. Some songs are great to hear. But the best songs for me are repeated everyday and still not get tired of it.

[exitseven]

The music is what makes me notice it but it is the lyrics that make it a great song. Sometimes I hear a song that I have heard many times before and I will really pay attention to the lyrics and suddenly the song will take on a new meaning.

[Zack-Bann]

Where there’s harmony there’s harmony
Even when there isn’t…


But lyrics can truly make or break a song


Which is why sometimes old tunes with new lyrics become massive hits

[Sevenpointfive]

i think when i was younger it was the beat. i think around puberty i was introduced to country and learned that words and the beat can both be meaningful without being so pedestrian.

[sawno]

The melody. In the genres I like the lyrics are usually meaningless and basic. But the music is really catchy or melodic.

[FunkyMonkee]

Music.
i used to love, "Brown-Eyed Girl" until I paid attention to the lyrics 20 years later, now, I hate it!!

[Dargil]

The musical form. Unless the lyrics are coarse, I don't concern myself with them unless I am singing Karaoke.

[leahzrc]

I prefer music but I do change songs when I dont like the lyrics

[BigYin]

The singing voice and the beat, the intro to any song is what sets the tone but you need a hook and a beat to carry the lyrics, don't get me wrong they ARE important but they are not usually the first thing you hear.

[LiamJHayden]

I love thought-provoking lyrics, but if the music is mediocre I probably won't listen long enough to focus upon the words.

[fish5505_87]

I think the music and sound pull me in first, then the lyrics, not always, but a lot of the time. For once, I liked the AI Gal/Guys response!

[msg321]

Lyrics is important ofc but when it comes to a song the music captivates me more. Everybody listen songs for music first, if they were into lyrics that much they can easily read or listen poems

[Circushowcowboy]

Music. The rhythm is what really brings me in

[Grond21]

Music. Sometimes the lyrics are amazing but it is the music that speaks the language of the heart

[DrPepper12]

Lyrics but instrumental can reach a place that lyrics can't.

[Anonymous]

I prefer melody, lyrics aren't that important to me.

[Valdemort]

Lyrics. Always lyrics.

[Nik1hil]

Lyrics are vital to me!..

[Becky93]

I like both depending on my mood.

[Athena7]

The lyric some tends to talk to me.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Instruments

[AntisocialCeleb]

The beat!