[BundEnhamma]

So what I want to know is what is more important to you when listening to a song? The poetry and artistry of great lyrics, or a chord progression that blows you away every time. Music or Lyrics.

You could go both ways on this:
What makes a song "music" instead of poetry? The notes of course! When you're listening to a song do you jump out if your seat when that favorite guitar riff starts? Do you pee yourself when Freddy hits those high notes in Bohemian? Do you love analyzing the musical structure of a piece?

Or maybe your a lyrics person? Because after all, what's a song without a purpose? Lyrics give a song a direction. They can make a statement. Make you cry, or scream with anger. They can make you laugh out loud. Do you find yourself looking up what the hell Bohemian means? Does I am the Walrus make you scream in frusteration? Do you correct people who say coo coo cachoo instead of goo goo gajoob?

There's a fine line between music, and instruments playing all at thecsane yine for no rhyme or reason. Music should elicit emotions. Guitar riffs may be great, but they need to take the song somewhere. And there IS a point when the lyrics of a song can be so convoluted that it's just stupid. Where's that line? What songs cross it?

I'm mainly talking about music within the last 50 years here, but Mr. Mozart knew what he was doing too haha.

I just want to know what you guys think. And don't be an ssshole and say both. Because obviously they are both important. I want to know which do you relish MORE and why? Give examples

I personally am a Lyrics guy, but that's me.

GO!!!

[hrotedk]

O.K. then, Richard Strauss broached this subject in the opera Capriccio long before Hollywood gave us 'Eddie & the Cruisers' and a certain infamous "romantic comedy." How about this for a general rule-of-thumb:

The more informal the style, the greater the importance of words.

Let's walk through some examples- take the Papageno-Papagena duet near the end of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. If spoken, it can sound absolutely banal. Add Mozart's music to it, however, and it turns into something approaching sublime. It's nearly magical how this happens.

Take something not quite as "artsy," but still semi-formal art... Lloyd-Weber's Phantom of the Opera- when you leave the theatre, reflecting on 'The Music of the Night,' are you more likely to think back on the lyrics... or the music- and that Big Tune!?

All right, a little less 'formal' now- Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. Here is where I'd say the balance starts to tip. Those of us Savoyard wanna-bes are pleased with Sullivan's music- but in our honest moments, we know they need the symbiosis of Gilbert's words in order to achieve their full impact. G&S's personal experience, too, supports this conclusion. Sullivan is a virtually fogotten figure in music, absent his collaboration with Gilbert. Further support for this conclusion can be found in the fact that when Gilbert and Sullivan split for a time, it was Gilbert who proved the more successful of the two, in the realm of Musical Theatre & Operetta.

From here, we move to the popular genres, e.g.: Jazz vocals, Folk, Rock & Pop. Woody Guthrie's 'agit-Folk' would be a near nullity, were it not for his lyrics. Commentators occasionally speak of 'anthemic' Rock... well, it's impossible for a Rock hit to be 'anthemic' without lyrics that broadly resonate with the target audience. So, in this genre, a good case can be made for the primacy of lyrics.

Disclaimer- I said that my conjectural rule was a 'rule-of-thumb,' and don't discount that occasional exceptions to the general run can be found. I'm still inclined to believe that the overarching hypothesis can withstand scrutiny, generally speaking.

[elalmhicabalp]

Cool thanks! That's a good rule to live by I think!

[adsexpist]

I think music and lyrics are both the same. Because music cannot be a song if there are no lyrics? And the lyrics cannot be known if there would be no music. That is ny opinion!

[Paiblyelaxy]

Depends what makes the song a good song. If it has mediocre words but a great tune/chord progression, then the music. However, if it has stirring words but a very average tune, then the lyrics are more important.

[RealCHEAPsoftDOWNLOAD]

I would have to say the music whether it be the melodic line(themes) or a rthymic pattern. I am opera fan and organist as well as alot of voice work so either of the two above mentioned thoughts play into my overall enjoyment of musical forms. To some extend I agree with Strauss's explainatin that Chi-townphilly mentioned.

[elects]

My favorite type of music is instrumental, so that makes my answer ;P

Have a great time!

[iodillalm]

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