The Long Road

11/27/2003 Archived Entry: "Lyrical"

Some of the people whom I live with have lives which seem to revolve around music. Wait…this sounds familiar. Starting Over.

I think I have a very different appreciation for music than most people do. Like I’ve mentioned before, I have no real preference for specific genres or artists; I tend to simply like individual songs. One thing I’ve noticed about the music I like is that I’m attracted to the marriage of words and rhythm – the way a voice fluctuates as the words are sung. (I don’t think I’m saying what I’m trying to say, anyways.) A lot of techno, noise, and dance is meaningless to me because there are no vocals. The odd thing is I could never tell you the meaning behind any of the songs I listen to. I hear the lyrics and the music but most of the time I never pay any attention of what the words are saying. This is, of course, not counting over-produced POP where the entire meaning of the song can be summarized in the title. Even when I can recite a song’s lyrics as it’s playing, the meaning eludes me until I sit down to actually read what the words are saying. (Maybe this is all because I’m a visual learner?) I think this is a big part of the reason why I can enjoy Japanese and Chinese music without understanding a single thing that is being sung – I wouldn’t get it even if it were in English!

Replies: 3 comments

For me it depends on the song as to whether I pay any attention to the meaning of the lyrics. Most of the time I don't. But certain songs just get to me and I listen closely to the words and it can make me like a song even more. But I don't always and that could be why I like many Gaelic songs. I can sing most of the lyrics to about 14 but I have no idea, for the most part, what they're about. Sometimes just the flow of the music and the vocals are enough. :)

Posted by Andrea @ 11/27/2003 07:50 PM EST

Thai...I fall into the same category...I don't care for the meaning behind the song...unless its Baz Luhrmann: Sunscreen...where you have no choice but to notice the lyrics...I've never listened to Chinese or Japanese music...but I've really enjoyed songs in other languages that I don't understand...and I'm not artist/group crazy either...that's why I'm usually stuck when people ask me what music I listen to...totally not my area of expertise...sometimes you can easily change the subject matter by saying "techno"...but that doesn't always work...:P

Posted by dAN @ 11/27/2003 09:05 PM EST

I hear the best answer to say is that you don't have a favorite group/artist. Techno, blagch!

Posted by Rayne @ 11/29/2003 02:03 AM EST