mr dave

generally speaking it's all about the music for me. most of the time i can't make out the lyrics on the first listen so the voice just sounds like another part of the mix.

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pourmeanother

"Not words, not music or rhyme I want, not custom or lecture, not
even the best,
Only the lull I like, the hum of your valved voice."

It's like I subconsciously process lyrics. If they are good, I don't notice them as much- just the sound of the words mixed with the instrumentals works well. Bad lyrics stand out like a sore thumb, though.

True. I tend to hone in on the words more when it is hip hop.

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Fruitonica

Well, I'm not going to bother listening to something if I'm not enjoying it sonically. And I have no trouble listening to fun songs with garbage lyrics, so I guess overall 'music' is the determining factor.

But at the same time, I love lyrics and picking them apart and good lyrics take songs to another level, and add something slightly more concrete than the intangibility of instrumentals.

Especially in hip hop, a skilled lyricist is key. I might listen and enjoy bouncing along to some 50c or The Game, but I'll never respect them the way I do actual talented MC's like Lupe, Dessa, Aesop, El-P etc..

Burning Down

In my opinion, the music is more important than the lyrics. After all, the lyrics need to be supported!

ilovenmh

I prefer music because I don't pay attention to the lyrics at all when I listen to songs.

Necromancer

For me it would depend on what style & type of song it is, a rock ballads lyrics may matter more than say...an upbeat rock song that is more hyper musically where you might feel the power of the music more and care less about well written lyrics. I never did care or understand Aerosmiths lyrics back in the day, but I loved Aerosmith. But when I listen to Skid Rows 'I remember You', the lyrics are more even with the music. Seems like a kinda dumb question to ask for that matter, shouldnt it be common sense they are both just as important as the other.

anticipation

If lyrics were more important to me than instrumentation I would stick to reading poetry.

boo boo

That is always how I looked at it.

To me the best songwriters are the best melodicists and people who come up with the most creative structures and arrangements. To me someone who is only good as a lyricist isn't a very appealing songwriter to me.

Bob Dylan tends to work with extremely talented musicians and he is capable of some great melodies but too often the emphasis is solely on the lyrics and that alone isn't something that compells me to listen to music. As far as singer/songwriters go, I consider Neil Young, Paul Simon and Harry Nilsson to be superior songwriters because they are hands down better melodists.

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jtwilliams

I agree with this 100%. Lyrics are nice and all. But it is called Music because of the Musical Instruments. And Poetry was created for words. Not to say that I don't appreciate good lyrics, but I always listen to the musicianship first and foremost. If I don't like that, I don't listen further.

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Bulldog

It's been said before, but I've got nothing better to do, so I'll say it again - music. A good lyric can transform a good song into a great one (good DCD example from Zaqarbal back a few posts), but without at least a half-interesting hoo or two in the music, it doesn't do an awful lot for me.