when you’re listening to a song and it really grabs you, what does the grabbing – the music or lyrics?
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Mandy writes music. Mandy leads worship. Mandy loves Drew.
when you’re listening to a song and it really grabs you, what does the grabbing – the music or lyrics?
sometimes the music, sometimes the lyrics, and sometimes both. the “both” is what makes a really, really great song.
(speaking of which, give a listen to mindy smith’s “down in flames”, “peace of mind”, “out of control”, and “falling”. beautiful music, voice, and song-writing. i know her junior-high-sounding name makes you leery, but push past it and give a listen. she’s good.)
I agree, both do it for me. You get a mellow song with a few minors, and I will have chills.
lyrics being appropriately supported by music
alece: mindy is the LATEST edition to my iPod. just introduced to her stuff this past weekend – yay!!! but i don’t think i’ve got all of those you’re mentioning!
As a poet, I’m more focused on the lyrics than most. I like to read the lyrics to get a better idea of what the lyricist / musician / poet is saying. Occasionally, songs with pretty powerful music still hits me though. Like You Raise Me Up… simple lyrics, powerful music. On the other end a good example of lyrics that tell me a different story than the song: I wanna be a rock star by Nickleback. The music and video make the song sound like WAY COOL and FUN-NY! But when I read the lyrics I see a poet’s / lyricist’s broken heart.
Both. Sometimes I shake my head and go “Come ON” when I hear the heart of a person being so vunerable with the lyric. The words seem to be so much more manipulative to the emotions if they are placed within music that moves.
Example. The song Hallelujah (I prefer the Jeff Buckley version.) There is nothing special about the lyrics in the first verse. “It goes like this, the forth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift. The baffled king composing Hallelujah.”
Anyway, the lyrics aren’t very special but whenever I hear that first verse especially, it always draws me into the song. (Must be the “secret chord”!)
Well, there is my hacker point of view. (I say hacker because I am not musical what-so-ever…I just like to sing and adore all music.)
Neither and both…
…really it is the way the two things come together that draws me to listen to a song.
sometimes music, sometimes lyrics. it’s great if it’s both.
Lyrics without a doubt. The music needs to be appropriate though.
The first time around, definitely the music. Then, the next few times, it’s the lyrics. However, I can’t handle good lyrics if they’re not set to good music.
Usually a combination of both, but it eventually comes down to the lyric line as to whether or not the song “stays” with me. Play the coolest sounding song ever for me, and I’ll likely be hooked, at least at first. If there’s nothing of lasting value to the lyrics, it won’t stay on my playlist for more than a few days.
As a side note, I’m sometimes visually oriented. I was not a big Hillsong United fan until I got the cd/dvd combo of Salvation is Here. Once I watched United rock the house and worship proud, I was hooked. Now, I can’t get enough United. Seeing them interested me enough to pay more attention to the lyrics.
Music almost 100% of the time. I’ve been like that since high school. I have songs I have been listening to for years that I couldn’t really tell you the meaning of. (Don’t worry Mandy, when I was running live sound for you I paid attention to vocals. That’s different.)
usually both. BUT, if it’s lousy music I don’t stay around to hear the lyrics.
HAS to have good music….otherwise the lyrics don’t mean much.
Oh..wait….with the exception of some old hymns!
The music has to grab me to keep my attention, but I love it when the lyrics really speak to me.
Music/instruments first. Then a few days later I’ll actually start paying attention to the lyrics.
both have to be there for me to truly appreciate the song, but it is the musicality that plays a starter role in my willingness to listen more than once.
If I am dancing I often don’t pay any attention to the lyrics.
A singer with either a beatiful, Eva Cassidy, or interesting, Leon Redbone, voice can also mean as much to me as the lyrics.
At a concert the performer also needs to put on a show, like Bruce Springsteen or Natalie Merchant.
I can enjoy some lyrics when reading them like a poem, such as “The Albatross” by Judy Collins.
The music of course! haha what else does a high schooler say?
It depend what music. Worship or Christian music mostly the words and God. With other music the music does.
My heavy metal/prog rocking side would said the instrumental. But deep down into my musical core is Hip-Hop and the emphasis on lyrical content.
That has carried over to worship. Lyrics will grab me every time:
“Forever I will love you / Forever I will stand”
“To turn my back on you, O Lord, my only shelter through the storm / but instead, I will draw closer through this time”
“Break my heart for what breaks yours”
“Matchless King / Who is like our God and who compares to You”
“I call, You answered”
“Show me Your glory”
… on and an.
Much like the message, the song has to deliver the content. It doesn’t have to be as complex as the two verse, four chorus layout of “Saviour King” (hey, we don’t sing this on the weekends because of the older folk) but it can be simple as “Hallelujah / Our God Reigns” and still be very powerful.
OK, I’m a bit rebellious, but I like…both.
As for encouragement–I’m praying with your friend for more encouragement this week too!
Also, I loved your Stepping up idea and passed it onto a friend, who is facilitating that in her home right now.
Blessings on you, friend!
holly
Interesting question, at first glance I thought it was a little lame. The obvious answer of both popped into my head immediately. Thinking about it a little bit though I think for me, I have a more definitive answer.
Music will definitely grab me first. It is what will cause me to listen to the lyrics. If the lyrics grab me next, an incredible song has been written. Something special happens when an artist writes something that emotionally grabs the listener by music and word.
I don’t know if it works in the opposite direction. There are some songs that I agree with the lyrics and can appreciate or believe they bring truth and depth but if musically it doesn’t stimulate or satisfy then I’d rather just read the lyrics as a poem
has to be both, or one will be distracting from the other.
a killer combination is what gets me most… but I am a lyric girl… if the lyrics stir me then the music will eventually!