I do like lyrics but if I don't like the the music I don't care about the lyrics at all. Once it's established that I like the sound of a song then I'll pay attention to what the artist has to say. Vocals are a big part of this. There are a lot of very highly regarded artists that you are required to love to be considered musically astute. Van Morrison & Elvis Costello are two who IMHO have horrible voices. I can't listen to them no matter what they have to say. I know this makes me a musical loser but what can I do.
I don't know if there are any artists who are "required" to be loved, though sometimes the song comments do suggest that. There are a few artists whose voices generally annoy me (Geddy Lee and John Hiatt and come to mind), but Morrison and Costello are not among them. Van Morrison is just tiresome to me in general - 5 songs with 200 different titles. I know Tom Waits' voice bothers a lot of folks, but I like it - plus his lyrics are brilliant.
charliemusicfan wrote: There are a lot of very highly regarded artists that you are required to love to be considered musically astute. I don't really think there are except maybe Tom Waits. ;-)
And Frank Zappa, and Odetta, but most of all: Bruce Springsteen. Every note he sings is off key, but I am the only person who minds it, apparently.
Van Morrison & Elvis Costello are two who IMHO have horrible voices. I can't listen to them no matter what they have to say. I know this makes me a musical loser but what can I do.
Elvis Costello seems greatly overrated to me too. But this song is fun.
Ah yes, the voice. I agree, it's integral to the music. I'm sure i'm missing some great music because i can't stand the vocals. Rush, for example.
Thanks for clearing that up. I've watched enough of your You-Tube video contribution here that it surprised me when i read your post.
I do like lyrics but if I don't like the the music I don't care about the lyrics at all. Once it's established that I like the sound of a song then I'll pay attention to what the artist has to say. Vocals are a big part of this. There are a lot of very highly regarded artists that you are required to love to be considered musically astute. Van Morrison & Elvis Costello are two who IMHO have horrible voices. I can't listen to them no matter what they have to say. I know this makes me a musical loser but what can I do.
You totally misunderstood me, I actually agree with you completely on this and have said as much before. I just prefer singing to be in front of the music, but you are absolutely correct as for the music being infinitely more important than the lyrical content, I just want the voice in front of the music. I suppose I did not clarify that very well, should have said it is all about the voice, not the lyrics.
Ah yes, the voice. I agree, it's integral to the music. I'm sure i'm missing some great music because i can't stand the vocals. Rush, for example.
Thanks for clearing that up. I've watched enough of your You-Tube video contribution here that it surprised me when i read your post.
For me it's: If the music doesn't grab me, who cares about the lyrics.
We're at opposite end of that spectrum.
You totally misunderstood me, I actually agree with you completely on this and have said as much before. I just prefer singing to be in front of the music, but you are absolutely correct as for the music being infinitely more important than the lyrical content, I just want the voice in front of the music. I suppose I did not clarify that very well, should have said it is all about the voice, not the lyrics.
acoustic guitar music with all that foreign strumming and picking sounds Or the Hawaiian sounds. That ain't working. Banging on the euky like a chimpanzee.
For me it is about lyrics; I am not a big instrumental fan sans occasional bebop jazz and classical. I do tend to prefer singing or rap whatever the case may be.
Electronica is a pretty broad and vague category to just dismiss out of hand (Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Depeche Mode, Portishead, AIR, Chemical Brothers, The Orb, etc.), but I would say it has very little to do with "new age" (Enya, Yanni, Kitaro, etc.). I guess there are some artists who are considered to be in both genres. Personally, I could do without so much of the Classic Rock and hippie stuff (Floyd, Zeppelin, Petty, Yes, CSN, Jefferson Airplane, Dead, etc.), but I don't know if I'd consider that my "least favorite genre". I could listen to all The Smiths Bill could play.
For me it is about lyrics; I am not a big instrumental fan sans occasional bebop jazz and classical. I do tend to prefer singing or rap whatever the case may be.
For me it's: If the music doesn't grab me, who cares about the lyrics.
Electronica is a pretty broad and vague category to just dismiss out of hand (Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Depeche Mode, Portishead, AIR, Chemical Brothers, The Orb, etc.), but I would say it has very little to do with "new age" (Enya, Yanni, Kitaro, etc.). I guess there are some artists who are considered to be in both genres. Personally, I could do without so much of the Classic Rock and hippie stuff (Floyd, Zeppelin, Petty, Yes, CSN, Jefferson Airplane, Dead, etc.), but I don't know if I'd consider that my "least favorite genre". I could listen to all The Smiths Bill could play.
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For me it is about lyrics; I am not a big instrumental fan sans occasional bebop jazz and classical. I do tend to prefer singing or rap whatever the case may be.
Electronica is a pretty broad and vague category to just dismiss out of hand (Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Depeche Mode, Portishead, AIR, Chemical Brothers, The Orb, etc.), but I would say it has very little to do with "new age" (Enya, Yanni, Kitaro, etc.). I guess there are some artists who are considered to be in both genres. Personally, I could do without so much of the Classic Rock and hippie stuff (Floyd, Zeppelin, Petty, Yes, CSN, Jefferson Airplane, Dead, etc.), but I don't know if I'd consider that my "least favorite genre". I could listen to all The Smiths Bill could play.
I know, I know. That description comes up in the song comments often and occasionally irks me; I guess I read too much Oscar Wilde when in college or something.
