importance of lyrics Options

[sandkind]

just curious, there has been so much discussion over on the live board about lyrics, how important are they to you. i've stated frequently lyrics are the last thing that draw me to a song. for me, first and foremost is the music, and the voice is pretty much another instrument to me. i could really care less what the lyrics say 99% of the time, as long as i like the tune.

[Senghe]

I agree with what others have said. It depends on how all the elements come together. I do rate a great guitarist on a par with a great vocalist and I love it when both elements come together. Lyrics are important, but I've found myself liking certain songs despite them having boring, irrelevant, crass, views I disagree with, dumb as a rock or cheese bomb lyrical content because everything else was in it's place. One of my favourite songs of the past few years is La Tortura by Shakira and I don't understand a word - I think it's in Spanish but I'm not even sure of that! Conversely I hate a lot of songs that may have great lyrics because the band playing it are not my thing at all.

It's all about balance. It's like with SOAD - for me the first two albums were in total balance. Meaningful lyrics, a fantastic vocalist complimented by a great guitarist. Then for some reason (I suspect waaaayyyy too much pot smoking) the guitarist and main songwriter took over and dumbed everything down to the point of the music being an insult to my intelligence. That and he started thinking he could do more than backing vocals. I don't want to hear his damn warbling when I could be listening to Serj! Argh! HIDEOUS!

As far as Live go, I've never thought Chad T was a virtuoso guitarist, but the whole band work together so well. And when he does have a moment of brilliance, it makes it all the better when you hear a memorable riff come spiralling out of nowhere. A bit like how Ed's songwriting can drop something so cheesy it makes you cringe, then he can come out with something so pure, lucid and heartfelt that it sticks in your mind for years.

This post has been edited by Senghe: Jun 2 2006, 3:09 pm

[silentsinger]

Ed's songwriting can drop something so cheesy it makes you cringe, then he can come out with something so pure, lucid and heartfelt that it sticks in your mind for years.