The PokéCommunity Forums

The PokéCommunity Forums (https://www.pokecommunity.com/index.php)
-   Off-Topic (https://www.pokecommunity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=23)
-   -   Lyrics or sound - which is more important to you in music? (https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=338687)

Pendraflare November 15th, 2014 4:17 PM

Lyrics or sound - which is more important to you in music?
 
As the title says, i'm curious as to what some people prefer in music. Some may just like a nice beat or instrumental flow to music and not care about what the singers are saying (some may even just like the vocals), but others will tune out if they're faced with inane lines in the song, or other aspects such as identical (or no) rhymes, or ones that make no sense at all.

I prefer sound over lyrics, because if a nice beat backs the song then I usually don't get too bothered by the words in it, unless they're extremely unpleasant. But that doesn't mean there are songs that have turned me off because of their lyrics, though.

Which one makes or breaks a song for you? Discuss.

ShinyUmbreon189 November 15th, 2014 4:23 PM

I like it when they involve both but I'd prefer well written lyrics with a message over sound. I hate artists (especially hip-hop artists) that has a hot beat but no lyrics or meaning. Rapping about cars, hoes, drugs, the club, and fashion is not music, it's ignorance. The "Where they at Doe" song states my case.

I as well hate artists that has a good message but a beat or sound that turns me away. Their lyrics may be great but their instrumental selection was horrible.

When listening to music. I listen for real talent, musicians with a good voice, good message, and a good instrumental. If you got it all then I'll **** wit you. If you don't, then I wont.

Palkia November 15th, 2014 4:54 PM

Lyrics are more important when they are in genres where they mean more such as Rap and Hip Hop. A lot of good rap songs have minimal beats but the poems they tell make the songs.


Electronic and dance music are not as important; the beat and instrumentation is the main focus. It's mainly where each element needs to be placed in the mix with the right amount of focus and having a ongoing cadence. (Which I why I have issues with most big room EDM)


I'm usually more of a electronic person, so the beat is more important to me. Daft Punk's "Around the World" is literally the title repeated throughout the song, but the progressive beat with the different instruments used are the main focus.

pkmin3033 November 15th, 2014 11:17 PM

Sound. But then, I listen to a lot of classical music, or video game/anime soundtrack. I prefer it when vocals are used as just another instrument, rather than the focus of the track in question through lyrics. Sure, in songs with lyrics it is important that those lyrics be well-written, but I think a well-composd track is far more important, as that is what I really listen for.

Lyrics can convey a lot of meaning, but I just think the meaning is so much deeper and more...pure, when it's just sound. It allows you, the listener, to attach the emotions to the track yourself, rather than have them constricted by lyrics which, whilst they can also convey volumes of meaning, aren't necessarily YOUR meaning. It's just not as personal, at least not to me.

Hikamaru November 15th, 2014 11:24 PM

It mainly has to be both that can make or break a song for me. Other factors I consider when it comes to finding a song I like is vocal work (if there's annoying vocals, that song is knocked down a peg for me) and also I don't like it if there's a collaboration involving someone who I think doesn't fit with the song, mostly rappers which is why I kinda hate how most big-name pop stars have rappers involved in some of their songs.

maccrash November 16th, 2014 8:43 AM

sound, but if I'm listening to Bob Dylan or Public Enemy it's a different story. so, usually sound, but lyrics are often very important, vital and emotionally incredibly important.

Alfieri November 16th, 2014 8:52 AM

Both. They are both equally important to me.

SapphireMillennium November 16th, 2014 3:20 PM

Sound for me. To be completely honest, a song could have horrible lyrics, but as long as the background music/beat is good, I don't care. xD

Banz November 17th, 2014 12:11 PM

Sound. Some of my favourite songs have very few or no words at all.


Ice November 18th, 2014 12:10 PM

Sound. I really like Dance Gavin Dance, on most of those lyrics are pure bullocks, but they sound good, they have a poetry in the sounds and the way they're sung. I rather have a song with great sound and terribad lyrics than a terror-remix poetry piece.

Dreg November 18th, 2014 2:32 PM

Sound is all important here - Even if the vocals were bad, I'd still like the music, and hell, if possible, I could try and get an instrumental version of the song.

moon November 20th, 2014 5:57 AM

Definitely sound. I normally don't care much about lyrics actually, haha.

Centipede Chan November 20th, 2014 6:06 AM

Most of the music I listen to is sound, which I think is 1000 times more important the lyrics. Especially those heavy metal songs with all that roaring and screaming is just NO. I like my ear to not bleed and to hear audible words.

Ivysaur November 21st, 2014 8:31 AM

I love to sing, but a strong instrumental base is a must-have. I also listen to lyricless music A LOT so I think it's pretty clear what sells a song to me.

Crunch Punch November 21st, 2014 8:43 AM

Most of the time as long it sounds nice to my ears, I normally don't really care about what they are actually saying. It made me one of the rare people who still liked Blurred Lines even after all of it's controversy aha.

DRCM November 23rd, 2014 9:55 PM

Sound, definitely. I think the main indicator of this is that I can listen to instrumentals (and i do, a lot of the time), but no way am i listening to a dry acapella. no one likes listening to dry acapellas.

Also, i'd listen to a guy screaming over a well produced track.
I would not, however, listen to a beautiful singer sing over the sound of taking a dump on a fire on loop.

Instrument>Lyrics.

curiousnathan November 26th, 2014 4:08 AM

Sound.

I'm not going to listen to the lyrics of a song if it doesn't sound good.

Her November 26th, 2014 5:02 AM

sound
though in cases like björk, both are equally important

Neo Emolga November 26th, 2014 6:42 PM

SOUND. I don't even care if there are no lyrics or the lyrics are hard to hear, if a song sounds catchy, has a great beat, and is memorable, it's a winner in my book. On the flip side, great lyrics can't save a song that just sounds out of whack or is just plain irritating to listen to.

starseed galaxy auticorn December 7th, 2014 1:23 PM

It's a little bit of both, but I think what gets me the most is the lyrics. I like songs that I can relate to and speak things I can't express myself. Examples of this would be anything from Simple Plan.

Warspirit December 7th, 2014 5:46 PM

I want to say lyrics but the good lyrics need to be backed up by a good sound for me to even considering listening to a song twice. So it has to be both with lyrics on a slightly higher pedestal.

Juno December 7th, 2014 7:48 PM

Not that I don't appreciate a well written song, but I'm actually perfectly okay with listening to a song that has crappy lyrics if the tune is catchy, so if I have to pick one, my vote goes to sound.

Sonata December 7th, 2014 8:40 PM

I prefer lyrics, if I just want to listen to sound I'll turn on some dubstep.

derozio December 10th, 2014 8:33 AM

as long as it sounds good, I'm all up for it. good lyrics are like a bonus for me. but this only makes sense since most of the stuff I listen to these days is mostly anime osts and openings/endings. or video game osts. ;p

I use music to relax - and I find that a nice beat can go a long way towards the accomplishment of that goal. a soothing instrumental track can do as much as a calm and atmospheric song with amazing lyrics as long as it is good. for me, at least.

«Chuckles» December 10th, 2014 4:50 PM

depends on the genre, if I'm at a party and they're playing rave music I don't really care what they have to say as long as the beat is phat and it sounds good. If I'm alone than yes I do care about the lyrics cause I got nothing to listen to


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 5:03 PM.


Like our Facebook Page Follow us on Twitter © 2002 - 2018 The PokéCommunity™, pokecommunity.com.
Pokémon characters and images belong to The Pokémon Company International and Nintendo. This website is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK, The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International. We just love Pokémon.
All forum styles, their images (unless noted otherwise) and site designs are © 2002 - 2016 The PokéCommunity / PokéCommunity.com.
PokéCommunity™ is a trademark of The PokéCommunity. All rights reserved. Sponsor advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service. User generated content remains the property of its creator.

Acknowledgements
Use of PokéCommunity Assets
vB Optimise by DragonByte Technologies Ltd © 2023.