Is it the music or the lyrics that move you?

[brandon]

First, my apologies if this topic has already been covered.

What usually causes you to love a song? For me, a lot of the time it is the singer's voice. From Billie Holiday to Paul McCartney to Leonard Cohen to Amy Winehouse, there are singers with unique, captivating voices. But those singers are rare, so for me, most often it is the music. The song that got me thinking about this question is Full Circle by Half Moon Run.


I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it. The lyrics may be profound, but they're too deep for me. Maybe they'll make sense to me eventually. What hooked me was the music. Someone else could sing the song. It could be sung in a foreign language. I would still love it. (I think in particular that it is the rising harmonies, e.g. at around 2:00 in the video.)

I'm not saying it's never the lyrics. The poetic lyrics are an essential element of Leonard Cohen or Nirvana's most powerful songs.

What are your thoughts. Feel free to cite examples.

[Naturalguy87]

For me, it's generally about the way the song is presented.  The whole package, so to speak.  I realize that's kind of vague so I'll try to shed a little more light on it.

I primarily listen to country.  I enjoy a wide genres of music, but country is my number one.  I am not a huge fan of rap, hip hop or metal.   Yet I enjoy Linkin Park because of how they present their lyrics in the music.  For me, I will generally listen to any song, if I happen to like that song, regardless of the singer or the genre.  Back to the country genre, there are even country singers I don't like, and specific songs that I don't like by singers that I DO like.  It's probably like that for many people.

[chrisw91]

It depends on the song for me.

[horatio]

Some of the songs which inspired me a lot:

[Dan]

You poll doesn't let me select everything. :)

It really depends on the song.

Sometimes, I'll like a song more after I understand the lyrics or at least know what the song is about.

[Bobbert]

A good melody sucks me right in, and I have a weakness for songs "in 3".  I also voted for the singer's voice.  I just pay way more attention to the tone than the lyrics.  Here are two examples of songs in 3 and one more that just has a really neat tone:

[ToneBender]

Depends like "The Times They are A-Changin'" vs.  "Duelling Drummers"





Bonne Chance sorting that one out!

[ToneBender]

Or The Tossers - Ballad of N.A.T.O. vs Phil Collins Farewell Tour @ Bercy

[Nude_not_rude]

The music does it for me. If there are vocals, the last thing I focus on is the lyrics if at all.

[nackerpatzi]

 For normal I prefer a strong voice and a good music

But sometimes it's just an absolute stupid lyric or video that makes me like a song.

[skifan08]

I focus on the music much more than the lyrics - I often don't even know the lyrics to songs I like! I know that probably sounds kind of crazy...

[Nudielad]

It's always the tune of the song that catches me at first, then i start to focus more on the singer and then what the lyrics actually are.

[nudetrail]

the music cant beat a good riff.

[NudeNathan]

It depends on the song. Some songs can easily do without lyrics and still be just as good, while some songs are nothing without the lyrics holding it together.

[Rockingnature]

 yes, it depends on the song. For example, my favorite song of all time is "Fade to Black", by Metallica. I think its a very underrated song from outside the rock and metal community. I think the music expresses very well what the lyrics say. Its so moving and it was written with a real feel for what the lyrics say.. The vibe of the song, really sets well from what the lyrics say. Its such a work of art that should be hanged at a museum, or maybe played at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (maybe it does on the Metallica section but never been there so who knows). This was Metallica's "Stairway to heaven". So yeah. it depends on the song.