Do you care about song lyrics?

[lunarpollen]

I'm kind of in between. I only care about lyrics if they're either exceptionally good or exceptionally bad.

What matters most to me is the "vibe" of a song.

If I like the singers voice what they're saying is of little importance.

I'm very similar... If lyrics are terrible, it can negatively impact my view of the song. And I will definitely appreciate excellent lyrics. But generally for me, lyrics are secondary to the sound of the song. I love tons of instrumental stuff, and tons of music sung in other languages where I have no idea what they are singing about. Of course I always hope that lyrics will be somewhat decent and well crafted at the very least.

 

[2cooltoolz]

Lyrics are good for "musicians" who can't count.

 

[dreamadream99]

Lyrics are very important, but not to me.

I am aware that most people consider the lyrics to be very important. They are, after all, half the winning combination that makes a hit song (music + lyrics).

When I write a new song, the music always comes first. I populate it with nonsense lyrics as placeholders. Once the music is finalized, then comes lyrics.

 

[Micha84]

When lyrics are part of the music, they matter as much as every other instrument, maybe even more (because the singing is what people pay most attention to). If I am on stage with other people, I am part of a group, I am presenting and representing not just my own bass playing, but the whole thing. That means:
- abusive lyrics are a no-go.
- You can get by with mediocre lyrics once in a while, but if that is all you have, that is what your music will ultimately be. It is like a lead guitarist only using pentatonics.
- If the lyrics are great, give them space and accompany them accordingly.

 

[Peteyboy]

The sole reason I have any Dylan records is for the lyrics. I don't care for how he manages anything else. Smokey Robinson is a good songwriter AND a great lyricist.

 

[zontar]

It depends on the context.
If a song has a cool riff, great melody and/harmony, etc I can put up wit poor lyrics, as long as they’re not needlessly offensive.
If a song has great lyrics it can elevate the music, especially if they are inspiring, encouraging, and/or hilarious.
Much of my bass playing is in church, and there the lyrics are very important

 

[A Bass And Its Boy]

In my singer/songwriter mode, lyrics are suuuuper important to me. But I’m not the songwriter in my main band, and weirdly i confess that I do not know most of the words that are coming out of our singer’s mouth. Sometimes I’ll catch something I’ve never heard her sing and wonder “whoa, what is this song about?”

 

[Geddaric]

I wish I had an old recording of a former frontman we had that used to sing the 1st verse of Johnny B. Goode over & over. He never took the time to learn the rest.
Listen to that one time and you will appreciate someone who takes the time to learn them. I likely wouldn`t have cared if he improvised the other verses but that was truly embarrassing.

 

[bassdude51]

Do you care about song lyrics?​

Answer.........yes.

Overall, I am an intrumental freak. No vocals. But, there are many songs where the vocals/lyrics are very necessary for me.

Perhaps, I'm 50/50. Instrumentals/vocals.

FWIIW

 

[Gervais Cote]

Lyrics IS our band.

Although I give all I have on my bass and both the guitar and drum are doing the same, our shining star is our singer. Without her, no band !

She translates emotions, passion and finesse with her voice so words and intonations are everything in our songs.

Did I mention she’s super cute at that ?

(I just hope my buddy drummer and our guitar player won’t read those lines……………….)

 

[SpiderBass1965]

I am 59 years young and there are still songs I have heard for many years and I don't know what they are. The melody of the vocals is what draws me to them but what the words are? Usually doesn't matter to me unless I am singing lead or backups. And for backups, that is usually all I know from the song for words.

 

[Cerio]

Not at all.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I am 59 years young and there are still songs I have heard for many years and I don't know what they are. The melody of the vocals is what draws me to them but what the words are? Usually doesn't matter to me unless I am singing lead or backups. And for backups, that is usually all I know from the song for words.

I used to be like this as well until we played Creep from Radio Head with my band and female singer.

We almost all had a tear in our eyes at the end of the song first time we played it.

 

[SpiderBass1965]

I used to be like this as well until we played Creep from Radio Head with my band and female singer.

We almost all had a tear in our eyes at the end of the song first time we played it.

Don't get me wrong, some songs move me with the lyrics, but in general, the ones I don't know the lyrics too, are just rambling on about something with a repeated catchy hook. Creep is a great song lyric wise, I also play it in a band right now with a female singer too.

 

[brianrost]

Really bad lyrics can sink a song for me.

Here’s my favorite example of a great performance with braindead lyrics.



Here’s one where the lyrics bring me to tears

 

[SLO Surfer]

The lyrics are usually the last thing I notice in any song. But I wouldn’t base their “importance” on what my individual brain pays attention to.

 

[Jazzdogg]

I can't even hear song lyrics unless I make a focused effort. I can hear the voice, the melody, the rhythm, but not the words without close listening.

So I don't care about lyrics unless they're offensive.

The worse my hearing gets, the truer this is for me. Many lyrics and singers are so awful that the effort required to truly listen to them doesn't have a payoff for me. I find that with a great song and singer, it isn't nearly as much of an effort, and I find myself smiling.

 

[markjazzbassist]

i can't hear/don't care about lyrics. my mind is only interested in the music.

 

[Vociferous]

If I like the singers voice what they're saying is of little importance.

The story being told by the singer is what most people pay attention to the most, either live or in a recording. There are two types of musicians; those with nothing to say and those with something to say. Some musicians are unable to write decent lyrics. Those are the ones focused solely on the technical aspects of instrumental music.
It doesn't matter how technical you are on your instrument. People are going to tire of it quickly unless you have a singer and writer who can tell a good story. In pop music, the instruments in the ensemble are supplements and supports for the story being told. I will not write a bass line until I read the lyrics, see the changes and know which mood the singer wants to convey.

 

[Swerve]

One of the more modern bands where I do love their lyrics is the Arctic Monkeys. Alex Turner is so witty and his thick Sheffield accent makes it even better.



Another genre where lyrics are paramount is Country. I couldn't enjoy Hank Jr. or Jerry Reed as much without their often humorous takes on life.