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| Poll: Do you ignore bad lyrics? |
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| Yes, it doesn't really matter to me |
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35% |
[12] |
| No, I consider it detrimental to the album as a whole |
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64% |
[22] |
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| Total Votes : 34 |
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| Author |
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Gershyn
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- #1
- Posted: 03/09/2015 00:25
- Post subject: Do you ignore bad lyrics?
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Do you ever really enjoy an album for its production, atmosphere, instrumentation, etc., but find that the only real flaw you can find is poor writing in terms of lyricism?
If so, I'm curious how you guys react to it. Do you try to ignore the lyrics, do you consider it a serious mark against the album, or are you not even phased by it?
An example I'd give is probably Nine Inch Nails' album The Downward Spiral. I adore how the album sounds and feels, but every time I start to pay attention to what Trent Reznor is singing I can't help but cringe.
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Romanelli
Bone Swah
Gender: Male
Location: Broomfield, Colorado
Moderator
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- #2
- Posted: 03/09/2015 00:39
- Post subject:
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Oh boy...major thing for me...
Lyrics are as important to me as any aspect of the writing, and as important as any instrument being played. Bad lyrics, to me, are the same as a horrible keyboard patch, an out of tune instrument, bad singing, autotune, or a clunky arrangement. I hate it when people say they don't care about lyrics...it's like saying they don't care if the band plays in time or in tune.
(Example)
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
Take a straight and stronger course
to the corner of your life
Make the white queen run so fast
she hasn't got time to make you a wife
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
and its news is captured
for the queen to use!
Move me on to any black square
Use me anytime you want
Just remember that the goal
Is for us all to capture all we want
(Move me on to any black square)
Don't surround yourself with yourself
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me
Initial it with loving care
(Don't surround yourself)
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
and its news is captured
for the queen to use!
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda
(Don't surround yourself with yourself)
Don't surround yourself with yourself
(Don't surround yourself)
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me
(Send an instant karma to me)
Initial it with loving care
(Don't surround yourself)
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
and its news is captured
for the queen to use!
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Is give peace a chance)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (All we are saying)
Diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit diddit didda (Is give peace a chance
'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
and it's news is captured...
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way
I've seen all good people turn their heads each day
So satisfied I'm on my way...
If you are going to spend as much time as Yes did in making their instrumental tracks what they were on this song, at least have the same respect for your lyrics. This is the same as taking the instrumental track for this song and having a 3 year old play a guitar solo in the middle of it.
There are so many bad songs lyrically...if you are going to include lyrics in your song, you should take as much care with them as you would with any instrumental part of the song.
Lyrics MATTER!
(My opinion, of course.)
_________________
May we all get to heaven
'Fore the devil knows we're dead...
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sp4cetiger
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- #3
- Posted: 03/09/2015 00:43
- Post subject:
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If anything, bad lyrics turn me off more quickly than bad music.
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Goodsir
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- #4
- Posted: 03/09/2015 00:45
- Post subject:
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I don't expect all lyrics to be exceptional, I can still enjoy an album if its lyrics are just okay. If what's going on with an album musically is interesting and emotionally poignant enough to me, I can neglect lyrics that aren't really up to par. I can never enjoy an album a lot if the lyrics are cirngeworthy to me though, even if I really like what's going on musically. So that's a no for me.
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LevonTostig
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- #5
- Posted: 03/09/2015 00:53
- Post subject:
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| Romanelli wrote: | Bad lyrics, to me, are the same as a horrible keyboard patch, an out of tune instrument, bad singing, autotune, or a clunky arrangement. There are so many bad songs lyrically...if you are going to include lyrics in your song, you should take as much care with them as you would with any instrumental part of the song.
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This is about where I stand. It's odd how one seemingly small detail like those listed can degrade the quality of a song...except the fact that lyrics are hardly a small detail.
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Pavement415
Gender: Female
Age: 24
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- #6
- Posted: 03/09/2015 00:58
- Post subject:
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Bad lyrics just make me lose respect for an artist. I end up questioning the quality of the instrumentation and almost "double-take" the song's originality. (The halo effect)
Orr, I just lose interest 
_________________
"Everyone knows the moon's made of cheese."
-Wallace
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mickilennial
The Most Trusted Name in News
Gender: Female
Age: 35
Location: Detroit
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- #7
- Posted: 03/09/2015 01:37
- Post subject:
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| sp4cetiger wrote: | | If anything, bad lyrics turn me off more quickly than bad music. |
See, for me, it's the opposite. Though trite lyrics have made me not like a particular song before, so it's not like I'm "immune" to lyrical mediocrity.
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Applerill
Autistic Princess <3
Gender: Female
Age: 30
Location: Chicago
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- #8
- Posted: 03/09/2015 02:43
- Post subject:
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| Romanelli wrote: | | autotune |
lol
Anyway, I think the definition of "bad lyrics" is very subjective. People always point to "Call Me Maybe" and other examples of "cartoony lyrical physics", but her line "before I met you I missed you so bad" creates a special metaphysical depth to the song if you let it.
I think lyrics should be judged by how well they affect how the song makes you feel: If something silly makes you feel something significant, then the lyrics could be called "good". If they keep you from feeling what the other parts of the song are pulling you towards, then the lyrics are bad.
Still, before worrying about writing lyrics, try writing songs. This way you won't end up like Symphony X.
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Happymeal
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- #9
- Posted: 03/09/2015 03:49
- Post subject:
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Depends on the song. "Hot Nigga" is a song I feel has particularly poor lyrical content, but I can jam to that shit any time because of the production. I think that bad lyrics only make things I don't like worse, never make a good song bad.
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Anti
I Dream of Drone
Age: 28
Location: Somewhere in Ohio
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- #10
- Posted: 03/09/2015 04:05
- Post subject:
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| Happymeal wrote: | | Depends on the song. "Hot Nigga" is a song I feel has particularly poor lyrical content, but I can jam to that shit any time because of the production. I think that bad lyrics only make things I don't like worse, never make a good song bad. |
This right here.
_________________
...and for dessert!
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