To ask whether you’re a lyrics person?

[Forwardthinkingcrayfish]

Having heard various people say many times this year that Taylor Swift “is a lyrical genius”, it suddenly dawned on me that when I’m listening to any vocal music (even my favourite artists/bands) I don’t pay attention to the meaning of the lyrics!

Disclaimer: I’m a classically trained pianist (without wanting to come across as snobby… believe me I listen to cheesy pop too!). I believe my mind has been trained to focus on rhythm, chords, melody and some other aspects that, when put together, make the general “feeling” of a song for me… but lyrics really don’t fall into this list.

I genuinely think that a song could be about monkeys in a zoo or the treatment of sewage and if it’s sung with feeling, then I’ll enjoy it and wouldn’t probably pay any attention. I enjoy rap music because of the rhythmic and rhyming nature of the lyrics, but don’t especially care about the content of the lyrics themselves.

Of course, there is no right or wrong answer to this poll but I’m intrigued:

YABU - Lyrics are really important to me and I pay great attention to them when listening to a song
YANBU - I don’t/rarely pay attention to lyrics

I give you Cary Radiz, the mean old daddy

https://www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/kate-mossman-interview/2023/11/joni-mitchell-carey-california-blue-cary-raditz-interview

Sorry I meant Sabrina Carpenter - I just used “she” generally!

This absolutely. I get so frustrated if I don't know the lyrics, and besides this how on earth can you properly belt along to a power ballad if you don't know the lyrics!

Sabrina Carpenter Espresso?

"I work late cos I'm a singer"

Funnily enough, I was thinking about this recently, when I realised I don’t really take notice of the lyrics, as I just like the music. I thought I was in the minority for not paying much attention to the lyrics, but it appears not, thankfully 😁.

This means, however, I struggle in music quizzes, when you are asked to recognise a song by the lyrics 😬!

I have just discovered that if you're listening on Spotify, there's a little icon you can click that brings up the lyrics. A bit of a revelation with some of the songs I've been listening to recently!

I love lyrics and looking for the meaning behind the song.
Dh is just like you though, prefers the tune and tube. He rarely understands the lyrics and meaning of the song which has sometimes got him into hot water (like when he posted the song "bodyshop" by Sam smith on a social media post wishing me a happy Mother's Day because he "liked the song" 🤦‍♀️ - for those that don't see lyrics, it's about a guy who leaves his wife at home with the kids whilst he goes and fucks someone else. Just the Mother's Day love I wanted)

I do appreciate a really great lyric.

For example. If I were to tell you that I wrote a song about two surveyors, one the son of a Baker, who teamed up to map out the line between two states in North America, you would probably assume that it was a really rubbish song. But then you might listen to Sailing to Philadelphia by Mark Knopfler and change your mind.

The arrangement is also crucial. Listen to Soft Cell singing Say Hello Wave Goodbye, then listen to David Grey singing his version, same lyrics, two completely different songs.

I can't listen to Lady Marrion by Clannad, without crying. It's such a "deep" melody, but instrumental and because of this, has more feeling.

And don't even get me started on The Lonesome Boatman by the Fureys.

At least now we know who the people who have break up songs/songs about cheating as the first dance at their wedding are.

I've never cared about lyrics. I listen to a lot of world music in other languages (currently really into Polish synth pop and I don't speak a lick of Polish!) For me, the vocals are very much just another instrument, of which I appreciate the melody and tone rather than the content of the words.

I just don't process lyrics. There are songs in English I've listened to hundreds of times that I still couldn't sing along to because I don't know the words.

Your post is amazing - it reassures me that I'm not a complete weirdo and even provides an explanation (classical music training here too!). I haven't got the faintest idea what the lyrics are for pretty much all songs, and someone singing a shopping list to some sad music would make me cry as much as if the lyrics were about something sad.

I've always thought I was just weird, as people talk about songs they can 'relate' to and know all the lyrics. I literally have no idea what the lyrics are for most songs and it doesn't spoil my enjoyment at all. I love music, and feel the whole range of emotions from the actual music, not the words. This even applies to Bob Dylan whose words are poetry when written on the page, yet I have no idea what he is singing about generally and still love his music.

I am also terrible at working out the lyrics by just listening - they really are irrelevant! it's great to know there are others out there too.

If I think the music is shit I'll switch off or over anyway. If I like the tune I'll listen to the lyrics, assuming they're sung clearly, or look the lyrics up if there's the odd word I didn't catch. But I have a very limited selection of artists that I choose to listen to, although I do listen to radio.

Same OP I used to be a dancer. Never worried about the lyrics. I learn them easily but don't actually pay attention to what they mean.

I’m a bit of both, I was much more of a lyrics person when I was younger and I still do love lyrics and try to pick them apart but I also love the actual music too.

I can't even imagine not listening to the lyrics! It's the story that helps you empathise or sympathise or not like the song at all. I do also sometimes get annoyed when lyrics are crap but the melody is lovely - feels like a waste.

I can't believe some of you haven't scoured for break up songs that perfectly encapsulate how you feel, for example? !

Exactly what I was thinking - now I understand why people have “every breath you take” or “My Happy Ending” playing at their weddings…

Or think You Are My Sunshine is a happy song to sing to kids!

I love a song with good lyrics, Taylor swifts last 4 albums have demonstrated her abilities really well and I enjoy her music.

I definitely don't need a song to have good lyrics to enjoy it though but some of Taylor's I just "get" on another level. Love "the prophecy" and "how did it end" at the moment

Also love an early noughties clubland cd 😂

And like @fiddleleaffig I am cringing myself inside out at that choice of song 😱 Did anyone mention it? 🤣

Both for me. I can't help but listen to both, though sometimes I have trouble understanding all the lyrics, especially if they're mumbled.

I'm not sure which is more important to me. Probably the music, but bad lyrics can taint even a good melody. If I don't like the melody/music, the lyrics alone will never be enough to make me want to listen to something, but also if I dislike the lyrics, I find myself turned off to the whole song, even if the music is nice on its own.

"I can't believe some of you haven't scoured for break up songs that perfectly encapsulate how you feel, for example? !"

Apart from a couple of two month wonders, which I later realised was me being used by them, I've been in a relationship for 29 years, so if I hear a break up song I might think, umm, sad...but again, if the song is rubbish - and tbh many break up songs are maudlin, self indulgent twaddle IMO, then I switch off.

I'm the same, also classically trained and spent my entire childhood analysing the construction of music. Now I can't listen for pleasure or 'hear' lyrics unless I can see them written down and even then my mind wanders.

I’m more of a lyrics person. The genre and production is obviously still important, but I can fall in love with a song that has amazing lyrics but slightly ‘meh’ production. Whereas I struggle to feel a connection with a song that has amazing production but unappealing/boring lyrics.

And I can’t properly enjoy music sung in a foreign language. Unless I find an English translation and can remember roughly what the artist is singing about on each part of the song.

I can't believe some of you haven't scoured for break up songs that perfectly encapsulate how you feel, for example? !

@mathsAIoptions In these situations I'll listen to songs in which the melody resonates with how I'm feeling, and I'll connect with the emotion in the vocals rather than the lyrical content.

I'm not a huge TS fan, but I am nodding in agreement with the rest of your post. Yes to books and poetry, but I barely notice lyrics.

In fact, I'm regularly astonished at the lyrics I've been getting wrong since my teens.