Do lyrics matter? - TranceAddict Forums

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Music Discussion
-- Do lyrics matter?

Posted by RenderedDream on Aug-09-2004 15:34:

Do lyrics matter?

I mean, do the words matter? when i listen to any kind of music i don't care about what they say, i only care if the tones fit with the music

Posted by Mr.Mystery on Aug-09-2004 15:36:

Re: Do lyrics matter?

quote:
Originally posted by RenderedDream
I mean, do the words matter? when i listen to any kind of music i don't care about what they say, i only care if the tones fit with the music

Yes and no.

Really well thought out lyrics can bring the tune to a whole another level. Then, of course, on the flipside really cheesy and naff lyrics have destroyed the greatest of tunes.

Generally the lyrical content doesn't matter _that_ much to me as long as it steers clear of the paths that have been used way too much. Ie. "la la la I love you la la la laaa" etc.

Posted by mentalbarter on Aug-09-2004 15:40:

yeah i hardly really notice what is said in most song lyrics, but i guess that depends how u listen to a song
i couldnt sing many songs at all, but lots of opeople know the words to loads of songs
which is a shame for in some songs the lyrics are really well thought out and meaningful

u do tend to notice if theyre really crass tho (satellite for example )

Posted by NiteMer on Aug-09-2004 15:54:

It just depends. I think that, in some cases, the vocals can be just another instrument. However, good vocals can really enhance a song.

Posted by Floorfiller on Aug-09-2004 15:56:

i would say that yes they do. if they are audible...they matter. i don't wanna listen to something that is just plan stupid and that is the reason that i can't seem to get into very many recent vocal tunes...crappy vocals.

Posted by NiteMer on Aug-09-2004 16:06:

quote:
Originally posted by Floorfiller
i would say that yes they do. if they are audible...they matter. i don't wanna listen to something that is just plan stupid and that is the reason that i can't seem to get into very many recent vocal tunes...crappy vocals.

What about vocal tracks with foreign languages? I don't know most of the vocals for Chicane - Saltwater, but I still love the track.

Posted by Floorfiller on Aug-09-2004 16:14:

quote:
Originally posted by Nite-Mer
What about vocal tracks with foreign languages? I don't know most of the vocals for Chicane - Saltwater, but I still love the track.

well i should have said understandable instead of audible...that's what i meant. if i can understand whats being said...it better not be some stupid crap about angels lifting my spirit to the sky or something stupid...

Posted by NiteMer on Aug-09-2004 16:25:

Oh, that Matt Darey, and all his vocal tracks about angels. I agree for sure. Sometimes, if the song is good enough, I can live with some cheese in the vocals, but not too much.

Posted by noikeee on Aug-09-2004 20:19:

Re: Re: Do lyrics matter?

quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Mystery
Yes and no.

Really well thought out lyrics can bring the tune to a whole another level. Then, of course, on the flipside really cheesy and naff lyrics have destroyed the greatest of tunes.

Generally the lyrical content doesn't matter _that_ much to me as long as it steers clear of the paths that have been used way too much. Ie. "la la la I love you la la la laaa" etc.

pretty much agree with that.

though i'd add that it's way more often for me to ditch a song cause of bad lyrics than liking one for it's good lyrics.

but then again the vast majority of what i hear is instrumental.. and my fav vocal tracks usually have loads of effects and editing to make it sound un-understandable (james holden style )

Posted by DjSimonB on Aug-09-2004 20:25:

Yeah, vocals matter a lot to me. I'm picky about my vocal trance, it has to have meaning and feeling to it. That quite often means I enjoy depressing vocals like Jan Johnson - Flesh, but 'being in love' ones are also OK if they're not really cheesy.

The delivery of the vocals matters as well, but that usually just fits with the rest of the tune.

Even if the music is good, I find it pretty hard to listen to the vocal if they're singing some shite like "I'm so in love, you must be sent from above..."

Posted by LazarusDJ on Aug-09-2004 20:30:

Yeah, generally if they're done correctly, lyrics can be the thing that makes a tune. Whereas dumb exclamations about spreading your wings and flying should really be left in the 80's or to R Kelly. 'Cos last time I checked, people don't have wings.

At least a good number of tunes have the vocal version and the dub version on the same vinyl. Everyone's a winner!

Posted by DjSimonB on Aug-09-2004 20:42:

quote:
Originally posted by LazarusDJ

At least a good number of tunes have the vocal version and the dub version on the same vinyl. Everyone's a winner!

Yeah that's always nice, Anjunabeats is a label that comes to mind (even though their vocals really aren't that bad, I usually spin the instrumentals)

Posted by itsTrueSonic on Aug-09-2004 20:47:

not necessarily ..

i really don't look forward to lyrics, because if the beat is good, you go out on the dance floor and strut the "chicken".. u don't go out on the floor, because of the lyrics .. that's for like poetic dance interpretations .. well that's a different story ..

but i see lyrics as an add-on .. an add-on can make a tune better or worse .. so djs and producers should watch out what they're doing to a song, if adding lyrics..

Posted by DJ Rat 187 on Aug-09-2004 22:34:

Electronica is really a music of feeling and emotion and not thought, like for say Rock, where most of the time you listen to the song to listen to the lyrics and they make a big difference. But in an electronica tune good lyrics can always make the track better. I really don't understand pointless lyrics in Rock songs like Lenny Kravitz - Running, they are just the most pointless lyrics, talking about absolutely nothing, a track for the simple minded.

Posted by Cobalt on Aug-09-2004 23:47:

I think a lot of it depends on who is listening. Some people are more sensitive to the musical nature of a vocal, some are more sensitive to the lyrics themselves. This probably has more to do with biology than anything else.

Posted by beatman on Aug-10-2004 09:33:

Re: Do lyrics matter?

quote:
Originally posted by RenderedDream
I mean, do the words matter? when i listen to any kind of music i don't care about what they say, i only care if the tones fit with the music

I think it depends where the focus of the track lies, and how much emphasis is on the vocals. If the vocals are an integral part of the tune, then yeah your going to notice them, and want them to be good not "hey, we're going to ibiza! oh in the mediteranean sea!!"

Then again, some pretty random lyrics can still be good, depending on how they are used. For example i think it is sonorous - protonic, where in the main vocal bit, the singer is singing the name of the record label that protonic is released under (or some record label, in any case) but its backwards, so youd never know, and it sounds absolutely great!

Posted by Dave Piazza on Aug-10-2004 09:51:

Re: Re: Do lyrics matter?

quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Mystery
Yes and no.

Really well thought out lyrics can bring the tune to a whole another level. Then, of course, on the flipside really cheesy and naff lyrics have destroyed the greatest of tunes.

Generally the lyrical content doesn't matter _that_ much to me as long as it steers clear of the paths that have been used way too much. Ie. "la la la I love you la la la laaa" etc.

I agree in full.

I just find that women prefer lyrics more than men. Not sure why but I noticed men can go hours with a single without a lyric but women constantly need to have a lyric in the song to interest them.

Perfect example of how lyrics can improve a song is No One on Earth ( Above and Byond RMX)

Posted by DjSimonB on Aug-10-2004 13:38:

Re: Re: Re: Do lyrics matter?

quote:
Originally posted by davepiazza
Perfect example of how lyrics can improve a song is No One on Earth ( Above and Byond RMX)

I just don't like the 'so ugly but you're so beautiful...' bit on that song, I don't understand its meaning. Rest of it is great though

Posted by Tranceguy1 on Aug-10-2004 13:46:

In a tune like Ridgewalkers ft. EL - Find (Andy Moor mix) yes they matter.

In any tune by Ian Van Dahl, no they don't...

Posted by CrackedLcd on Aug-10-2004 21:44:

The sound of the lyrics matter more imo in trance. Most of the time I can't understand the lyrics since they have so much revreb on most of them. Trance is the only style of music that I do not care if the lyrics suck.

Posted by G`Dave on Aug-11-2004 06:02:

I listen to the lyrics in the main section... but i coudln't give a stuff about what's being said in the verse's, most of the time I can't even understand it.

But I love song that have seemingly random lyrics.. they crack me up everytime.

Posted by dj_lane on Aug-11-2004 06:32:

lyrics need to fit the song, im against most dub mixes of tunes, Burned With Desire only sounds good with lyrics, its a lyrical tune! the song was made to have those lyrics, it sounds naked without it! so songs with lyrics keep them!

Posted by davinox on Aug-11-2004 07:02:

yes: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

no: Sigur Ros - ()