Music vs Lyrics

[Mortal Coil]

OK Mods, I'm not sure whether to put this here or in TWPR, so move me if you want.

Kurt Cobain insisted that the music of a song was always more important than the lyrics.
What say you? Which is more important?

[Syvelocin]

Music isn't music without the music. Lol.

But man, I think they're both really important in the songs that have both that is. I think I'd rather okay music and amazing lyrics than the best fucking music ever and horrible lyrics.

The first statement is true but lyrics can totally either make or break a song. If the good lyrics aren't there you know I won't be listening to them very long. Lyrics and the vocals above all other things are usually the deal-breakers for me when I decide I don't like a band/artist.

[Desuetude]

The Lyrics of a song always makes it for me, i feel most people only listen to the music but honestly the lyrics are the things that matter. Although the music is damn important and people spend a hell of a lot of time on it i can't listen to instrumentals for long. I like the cover Iris by the goo goo dolls but that 45 second whatever instumental completely craps it up for me. However the lyrics are the things that matter and make or break it.

Music can still be enjoyable without any words, but with words alone it's just reading. I think the music is more "important" and I enjoy it more than the words in songs.

So basically the complete opposite of this^

[deadpie]

Most lyrics ruin songs. There's a reason more than half of my computer is instrumental music. You know what's true talent? Speaking lyrics through instruments. Also the more people care about lyrics the less they typically care about instrumentation, unless it's someone like a folk artist, then that can be different.

[TeddyBearRock]

the lyrics. if they arent good, the song isnt.

[Djentleman]

I think they sort of go hand in hand. Instrumentation is essential in make the song what it is, but the lyrics do give us insight into the story the music is setting the scene for. I could happily listen to instrumentals only though.

[BOBBY HILL]

It isn't the top priority, but if the lyrics are that bad the song is ruined, like deadpie said.

[Diverperry]

i think depends a lot on the genre. if it's a love/sad song, then the lyrics are extremely important. if it's just some techno song, then words are not important at all

[DarkHorses]

I think I'd have to say that they both are equally important. Lyrics would not be enjoyable without the music behind them. I've never been one for classical music or any music without lyrics, but I do believe it can be just as meaningful without the lyrics. However, not everyone is interested in that kind of music, so therefore I think it's important that we have both.

[Breakeven]

lyrics <3

[Sugaree]

Lyrics are the least important part of music. I can find much more emotion in actual instrumentation than I can in lyrics most of the time.

[justlonelyhearts]

Lyrics every time for me

[Jess]

sometimes lyrics are important, but not always. I like to listen to a lot of music that have no lyrics (like classical music <3 )

[Contra]

I prefer the music over the lyrics. Hell, I even find the way singers sing the lyrics more important than the lyrics themselves.

[Aves]

Music for sure. However, who doesn't enjoy music with both good lyrics and music? :P

[kenoloor]

Most lyrics ruin songs. There's a reason more than half of my computer is instrumental music. You know what's true talent? Speaking lyrics through instruments. Also the more people care about lyrics the less they typically care about instrumentation, unless it's someone like a folk artist, then that can be different.

Fucking THIS.

Nearly anybody can write a cool phrase (of lyrics) and put it to some chords. But there are few who can communicate emotions as effectively as though they are singing the lyrics with their instruments.

If you say that music isn't music without lyrics, then I'd ask you to kindly get the fuck out of the Music forum as you clearly have no sense of what quality music is. The greatest music ever created was written by Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms, and know what? The majority of it had no lyrics. You say that's not music? I say you're fucking ignorant.

[Stryker125]

I think they're both equally important.

[Rage of the Menace]

I like artists in which the lyrics are sung in such a way as to create an emotive song. Such as Tool, KiD CuDi or Avenged Sevenfold to name a few.