[Cjattwood]

I think both matter to a certain extent, possibly musical sound more so than lyrics. If a song just plain doesn't have a good sound to it, but good lyrics I'm probably a lot less inclined to listen than a song with a good musical sound. As long as the lyrics aren't atrociously bad I can live with them, I'm sure.

 

[Head Creep]

It can go either way. There's some music I love that has truly horrible lyrics (examples: White/Rob Zombie, Soulfly, Fantomas), but the music itself is more than redemption. On the other hand, there's some bands (Public Enemy and those grunge kids out of Seattle, to name a few) that make the lyrics just as important as the guitars and/or the beats.

 

[kramer5150]

Music.

lead singers just get in the way of the drums, guitars and keyboards. I would much rather listen to a keyboard carry on the main melody / harmony of a tune.

 

[NiceCans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 Music. lead singers just get in the way of the drums, guitars and keyboards. I would much rather listen to a keyboard carry on the main melody / harmony of a tune.

wonder if this is more common with musicians?

 

[PachmanP]

Music first; for the most part, I kinda tune out so I'm not really processing the lyrics. So if the music is good can I tolerate dumb lyrics, although only to a certain point *cough*Audioslave*cough*. Then again offensive lyrics are a real turn off too.
It's really best when the music and lyrics complement each other.

 

[Jeff Guidry]

For the vast majority of my music listening life, it was music only, I didn't give a fig about lyrics, and for some of my favorite songs that I listened to endlessly I couldn't tell you all the words.

Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash changed all that.

 

[FalconP]

Put it this way: I'm far less tolerant to bad lyrics than to bad music; for me bad lyrics can completely spoil a song with good music.

 

[Girdag]

Music, just. I listen to both a lot, and will listen to both significantly in any playthrough. But if something has bad music, I just plain won't listen to it, while bad lyrics (as long as they aren't prevalent through the whole song), I can stand (though I may wince a bit).

 

[Whitebread]

Both, especially in a more mellow song where the background instruments ae either quiet or few in number

 

[ilovesocks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whitebread Both, especially in a more mellow song where the background instruments ae either quiet or few in number

Good point - a ballad number sucks without good lyrics, unless the music is just insanely gorgeous.

EDIT: Woo! Post #500.

 

[slinger1182]

Heh! Depends for me. I mean I hate Heavy Fuel by Dire Straits (and Mark Knopfler is my favourite artist) cos the lyrics are so silly even though it is a rocking sopng (Well, kinda) but there are so many world artists that I love to listen to even though I don't understand squat.

Sometimes music really is more articulate than words.