What more important in a Song? The Voice or the Lyrics. I found the best songs are written and sung by persons with substandard vocal skills. Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Durante, Bob Dylan, John Prine, Most Rock and Heavy Metal Artists. Feel free to add onto the list.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I would add Kristian Matsson, aka Tallest Man on Earth, on that list. Not a great singer, but his self titled EP is a masterpiece. imo, lyrics can carry even a bad song, but great vocals can't.
CCopperpot
Level 2
Mar 23, 2018
0
I think it's the emotion a song evokes. What I love about Louis Armstrong is that you can hear him smiling in his songs. My favorite? "Sugar".
AzVixen52
Level 7
Mar 23, 2018
0
Emotions that music evokes are evoked by melody, voice or lyrics. So, which is it for you that evokes your emotion?
Lyrics, almost always.
Rugglesby
Level 8
Mar 22, 2018
0
I don't think it's the voice or the lyrics. It's the mood and the melody, it's the rhythm. I listen to a lot of songs that have lyrics I can't relate to sung by a voice that's offputting and they're just right...every time
crazycurlz
Level 7
Mar 22, 2018
0
both or either depending on the song
LeighShelton
Level 8
Mar 22, 2018
1
He forgot the MELODY, which is the foremost in music. Voice and lyrics are secondary. Proof for this is MOZART'S music. No voice, no lyrics, just MELODY.
bloody hell I didn't even realise. yes if the music is crap its ruined like a nice looking car with no engine and wheels.
Groups and Duos are another genre of Musicians who can take it to a whole different level. When I first heard the Travelling Willbury's and then I was able to pick out Roy Orbison who passed shortly after. The Highwaymen is another group who when together I feel were more powerful than alone. Simon and Garfunkle, the Beatles, and Crosby, Stills Nash and Young were so great and then poof. Tony Bennett does a lot of duos with some really great singers and do they ever bring it on. Since I retired I have been able to spend more time listening to what I missed for 40 years on a whole different level. Was Michael Jackson and Sammy Davis better dancers than singers or vice versa.
Nevermind345
Level 7
Mar 22, 2018
0
The question seems rather axiomatic to me. There are songs with great lyrics and there are songs that are great musically. For me, it's possible to appreciate songs on either level. Some music, particularly Alt Rock, I find so catchy I just flow with the music and only later do I even try to pay attention to any message in the lyrics, or even to understand them.
Another aspect here is that some song lyrics are written to fill the space and when you try to make sense of them, fughedaboutit. Take Hotel California, for instance. Yeah, there's a theme, but some of those lyrics are nonsensical. Other Eagles songs have this quality. They SOUND great, musically and lyrically, but are less meaningful. That's my take, anyway. =]
IAMGROOT
Level 7
Mar 22, 2018
2
I adore the eagles but yeah, you're right but since I was stoner when I really got into them, I just thought they were really deep LOL
I believe that good music is the one that evokes emotion, by whatever means, melody, voice or lyrics. But music is not good without good melody. Good voice can do nothing for bad melody, nor can lyrics. Besides, you can read lyrics in poems.
Townes Van Zandt, listen to his song "marie". Its soul shattering. The lyrics to a song is the key for me. Sean Rowe and his song, "Just trying to leave something behind". Man, I tell you what!!!
JayJackson
Level 7
Mar 22, 2018
1
Initially, I like songs based on beat and vocals. Lyrical content, however, will give those songs the power to stay on my playlists.
mt49er
Level 7
Mar 22, 2018
0
You can beat without melody or lyrics. Melody is the first. Without good melody there is no good music. Voice and lyrics, and, yes, beat, only help. That this is true MOZART'S music is proof, no beat, no voice in most of it, and certainly no lyrics.
And yet it provokes grand emotions in me, the melody does.
Actually the music first then the lyrics!
Thirdeye1957
Level 3
Mar 22, 2018
0
Of course, but when it is a song, then a good voice can make the melody sound better, but can do nothing for bad melody. Lyrics are almost irrelevant because they are there in poems, without melody or voice. Just words do the magic. Daffodils.
...Neil Young... Enough said!
Rangepainter
Level 4
Mar 22, 2018
1
I love Trans. Transformer Man. The opening lyrics to Like an Inca were never more true than they are today.
Neil is one of the few rare musicians around. He uses anything and everything to express himself through music.
I don't agree. I would say Giorgos Dalaras. Google MI MU THIMONIS MATIA MU. Or/and MANA MU ELLAS
Don't forget Chris Kristofferson!
candyscorn
Level 4
Mar 22, 2018
0
A Rhodes Scholar who turned down a chance to teach English Literature at West Point. Thanks for putting him in. I was hoping someone would and I would not have to remind them that Willie Nelson said if he couldn't write then he wouldn't have gone far.
@Nevermind345 Kristofferson's voice was raspy, but he still could carry a tune. (I say that as if he's gone, but I just haven't heard any recent performances.) His songwriting skills are more outstanding than anyone else I can think of. His acting skills, not so much. I think he was put in movies because he's so damn good looking, really.
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