So, when it comes to music, what to you appreciate more, the music or the lyrics? For me, the music tends to grab me much more (most of the time, anyway). I was thinking about this while listening to "Libertine" by Utopia. When I first heard that song on the radio, I became obsessed with it - the music really moved me, even though I thought the lyrics were just so-so. I still really like the music....
Book: Yes, I'd forgotten you're moonlighting as a criminal mastermind now. Got your next heist planned? Simon: No. But I'm thinking about growing a big black mustache. I'm a traditionalist.
'War Stories'
Buffista Music 4: Needs More Cowbell!
There's a lady plays her fav'rite records/On the jukebox ev'ry day/All day long she plays the same old songs/And she believes the things that they say/She sings along with all the saddest songs/And she believes the stories are real/She lets the music dictate the way that she feels.
tommyrot - Feb 18, 2010 5:06:19 pm PST #2513 of 6436
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Frankenbuddha - Feb 18, 2010 6:23:23 pm PST #2514 of 6436
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
I tend to go for music, but when I catch lyrics that say something, they can grab me too (over pro forma music). But music definitely catches me first.
tommyrot - Feb 18, 2010 6:28:37 pm PST #2515 of 6436
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Oh, did I mention I ate spaghetti with Game Theory? Two friends and I got to the club really early - they only let us in because one friend was on the guest list. The only people there were the bar staff and the headline band, Game Theory. The bartender and the members of the band asked if we were the opening act. Then the band invited us to join them in their spaghetti and garlic bread dinner....
(This was in Madison, January '88. Was kinda' dead because the UW was still out.)
Trudy Booth - Feb 18, 2010 8:06:43 pm PST #2516 of 6436
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart
Total lyric ho.
Its only recently that I've begun to find joy in individual instruments at all.
Liese S. - Feb 18, 2010 8:32:33 pm PST #2517 of 6436
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."
Yeah I`m all about the lyrics. And more importantly, the passion. I don`t even have to quite get what you`re saying so long as you sing it with passion. But as a songwriter myself, I care most about the lyrics. Absolutely.
The SO otoh listens purely to the music, and listens technically at that. We have our broadest disagreements over punk and rap.
Sean K - Feb 18, 2010 8:42:32 pm PST #2518 of 6436
You can't leave me to my own devices; my devices are Nap and Eat. -Zenkitty
Oooh. I'd totally back you up on both of those, Liese. And I think there's important technical and stylistic artistry being displayed in both those forms of music.
javachik - Feb 18, 2010 9:05:20 pm PST #2519 of 6436
Our wings are not tired.
And then there are The Roots who transcend it all!
Jon B. - Feb 19, 2010 12:30:51 am PST #2520 of 6436
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!
The music, definitely. Really good lyrics will lift a song for me and really bad ones will bring it down, but there's a huge swath in the middle where I barely even notice them.
Heck, I've played IN bands where I didn't notice the lyrics to some songs for months after learning the music.
Frankenbuddha - Feb 19, 2010 6:58:50 am PST #2521 of 6436
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"
Jon B. is me. I have to concentrate to hear lyrics. I can just let the music happen to me. That includes the singers voice. It can just be an instrument to my ears.
Jon B. - Feb 19, 2010 8:06:59 am PST #2522 of 6436
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!