Is the meaning of a song important to you ?

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grimtraveller

grimtraveller

If only for a moment.....
Are there any songs that contain subjects that you are so opposed to that you won't listen to that song ?
 
TONS of songs that I would never play simply because of the lyrics. Doesn't matter if it's Lil Wayne, Eminem, Johnny Rebel or David Allen Coe. Tasteless and crude just doesn't cut it. It's like comparing bad porn to a good romance movie.
 
TONS of songs that I would never play simply because of the lyrics. Doesn't matter if it's Lil Wayne, Eminem, Johnny Rebel or David Allen Coe. Tasteless and crude just doesn't cut it. It's like comparing bad porn to a good romance movie.
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Having hung out on the forum for a bit without being a member, I joined today to +1 ^^^^^^

Very important to me!!
 
There are songs that have lyrics that I don't care for and then there are songs with lyrics that are offensive. In the first case I will listen if the music is good. In the second case I will not listen even if the music is good.
 
Lyrics do nothing for me - just tunes, but if I hear lyrics that contain language or words I don't like, then the whole song is gone for me. It applied to punk too for me (being old) I just cannot take that shouty - loud stuff. I can't do rap under any circumstances, even though I'll happily admit the better stuff is very clever and complex, but it also means the weird voice metal stuff is out too. Just not what I like.
 
Of course. I expect the same from anyone listening (or not listening) to the songs I write as well.
 
On the flip side of the songs I would never play (or listen to), there are songs that I love to hear, or play. I like songs that tell stories, like Harry Chapin's songs, CSN Wooden Ships, things of that nature. Just this past week, I was listening to Harry Chapin's Sniper and Other Love Songs. What a wonderful album, but the stories he tells are so great.

The other day I ran across this fellow. He's spot on with the way today's culture is headed.

 
I tend not to worry about the words, so long as what I'm hearing in the way of vocal sounds and syllables is consistent with the nature of the music. Sometimes the words will intrude. That's usually because (a) they are so bana they make me cringe, (b) they do not fit with the song, or (c) I have no resonance with the content.
 
I don't care what the song is about as long as it sounds good and makes me feel good. Unless the lyrics are forward and very clear (e.g., John Denver, Eagles, Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka, Frank Sinatra, etc.), I don't pay much attention to them, I focus on the music and melody.
 
Another one here who, on average, doesn't pay much attention to lyrical content or meaning with most material - with some exceptions. I do pay attention to phrasing and how the lyrics or singing fits in the big picture. But mostly... my brain focuses on rhythm and melody without even thinking about it.

I admit... there's a lot of music that I've listened to for years, decades even... that I can sing the lyrics to.... but may have never given any thought to what was being said. Although, I'm probably more aware these days - than in the past.

My wife (who is not musically inclined) is the polar opposite. She's always saying something like: "I love the message of this song" or "I can relate to this", etc.
 
Sometimes the meaning is important, sometimes not.
I don't care for vulgar language.
Gibberish nonsense for words can be good.
 
What about instrumentals?

I've made the argument both ways:

One of my coworkers (who is a rap guy) held that instrumentals are totally meaningless until you give them a (equally meaningless) title. But the instrumental which was in question (Rapids/Leviathan) to me embodies the term "Leviathan" and the image of raging rapids on a river. I admit, this isn't as Leviathan-esque as a Steve Vai instrumental, but then, there is (to me) little beauty (apart from form and sheer virtuosity) in Vai's music.

Slouching Raymond said:
Gibberish nonsense for words can be good.
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If you're going to bother putting lyrics on your music, they had better be worth my time, and all the great, respected musicians out there acknowledge that. Someone may not like country music, but they probably respect Garth Brooks as a musician and a lyricist, right? haha.

And if someone aren't a good lyricist and they can't write/play a worthwhile instrumental, well they ain't a musician [Does not apply to studio staff; you guys count as musicians] and are just clogging my car radio when I scan stations.

Sorry for going on a tangent! Hopefully the OP can forgive me / provide his thoughts on the matter?

?
 
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Serendipity, How can you say there's no beauty in music if there aren't lyrics. Just about any of the classical composers would disagree with you. You say you don't see beauty in Vai's music? To me, this is nothing BUT beauty:



I would say Jeff Beck's instrumental version of Since We've Ended As Lovers is every bit as intense than Syreeta's version with the lyrics, maybe more so.
 
Woohoo! I've succeeded in frustrating someone!

Maybe you misread my post? Quite the contrary, I wrote of the opinion that instrumental music is full of meaning.
Serendipity Records said:
But the instrumental in question (Rapids/Leviathan) to me embodies the term "Leviathan" and the image of raging rapids on a river.
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My Vai comment is just a question of taste; I said that his music is probably closer to expressing the literal definition of "Leviathan", the title of the piece in question, but I just dislike the near brutality of his music. As I infered, I respect [the beauty of]
Serendipity Records said:
form and sheer virtuosity
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in Vai's music.

In case you need a recap of my post, I've argued for both instrumental and lyrical music. I find it admirable what images musicians are capable to convey in even instrumental music!

And Vai may be the ultimate rock instrumentalist, but there's plenty more out there for the choosing. If you didn't check it out yet, give this a listen:
(Rapids/Leviathan)
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Donnell Leahy is the Vai of fiddle! (crank it from the start for it to actually be worth it, your cellphone tweeters won't cut it)


BTW, I'm primarily a classical musician and composer myself haha. Maybe you would like to read my intro post HERE

Cheers :drunk:
 
You don't need words. Let the music do the talking.
My favourite Camel album is 'The Snow Goose' - instrumental.
 
One very unusual hit song from 1971 is Bloodrock's D.O.A. The meaning was unimportant to me at the time, it was more of a special effects kind of novelty thing.

Considering what material was populating the charts in those days this was pretty gruesome yet made the charts. I think the song's subject matter was 50 years ahead of it's time.

 
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