Do you give importance to lyrics?

both my friend....

Some songs have lyrics which are nothing less than sheer poetry.

hear the oldies......the lyrics are so so beautiful.

Manek.

For some songs its the lyrics, for others, the music...

And then there are Masterpieces... where Both are fab !

A few weeks ago, i 'discovered' the words of Mary Black's Columbus.

Also Patricia Barber... good words.

Janis Ian's songs are almost a discourse !

Pink Floyd... was probably the 1st time I learnt to read implied meaning.

For Ballards such as many of Kenny Rogers, songs ... the Words tell a story.

Even trivial songs from Boney are that much more catchy due to the words ( Rasputin, Ma baker, etc ) or Dr Hook...

and Tracy Chapman can pull opff an entire song with just words and no music accompanyment.

As an example: With Leonard Cohen it's only the lyrics. Sadly he is a wizard at the words but pretty terrible with music.

Pop is a good example of where lyrics don't matter. Think Duran Duran from the 80s. What the hell is the "reflex"?? Does anyone know?

Dear Sunil,

I agree with everyone else. Both the music & the lyrics are important to different extent in different tracks and at different times.

Sometime you continue to enjoy a song for ages without paying heed to the lyrics and then suddenly one day you realise what great poetry you were missing all this while. It also happens the other way round. Don't we suddenly discover a particular guitar or other instrument piece in a familiar song - it suddenly strikes as something absolutely new.

Keep enjoying - music & the lyrics !!!

Nice to read the POV from all.

Will try to enjoy the 'embedded' words whenever possible.

john denver is another example of lyrics and music being great. The combination of both delivers the emotional content of the song.
That is what touches a person at times and makes him/her a mushy bundle.

For me lyrics remind me of some of the best and some not so good times I had had till date. I tend to associate certian incidents in my life with certain songs and my wife always knows what is going thru my mind from the songs i listen to.

remember....most songs are inspired by personal experiences like love, breakup, your first child, your first girlfriend, your first dance, etc etc etc.....and everyones been through those same experiences at some point in time in their lives. Whats beautiful about lyrics is that they help keep those memories alive !

sometimes one just relates to a song becuase it spells you out as a person. For example "MY Way" (sinatra). I just love it so much becuase that song just depicts me as person in so many ways !

Manek.

Paul Simon - One of the greatest living exponents of the art of crafting the modern song.His work is now being taught in universities in the US.

Early Billy Joel.

Eearly Al Stewart.

Ian Anderson, when in the mood - 'oil rigs that are phallic'

All the great American song writers - Gershwin, Cole Porter,Rogers & Hart ( & Hammerstein later ), Billy Strayhorn...

And all the great Indian lyricists.

Cheers
K

One more advantage of using PC as your source I get all lyrics automatically IMO, being able to sing along adds a lot to the enjoyment factor.

Though I must say, I don't find any english songs coming anywhere close to the depth and complexity of our bollywood lyrics

Zhopudey

I do implore u to hear a few songs by people listed by krish, and a few other broadway composers/songwriters.

For eg. Also Try listening to a good rendition of "smile", a song written by sir charles chaplin, natalie cole and tony benett sing it beautifully.

"Love is a many splendoured thing" by the four aces and many others.

"secret love" sung by sinatra

Download the lyrics from the internet.enjoy the experience.

Manek

Zhopudey

"Cold cold heart" by hank williams and sung by many others now

"The very thought of you"

Try these one too. Mp3's should not be too hard to find to get a general idea.

Manek

Thanks manek, will try out these songs

Lyrics are just as important as the rest of the music without doubt. It all goes together and builds, I just couldnt imagine being into all the music i am without the lyrical content that they contain. Without them the message would be lost.