Do you listen to music for the meaning, for the tune, or both

[PartyPoison]

What attracts you to music? The meaning/emotion behind a song, the catchy tune, or both? Do you listen to music a lot? Do you think it helps calm you down when your emotions get the better of you? If you listen to music with emotion or meaning in the lyrics does it help you better understand emotion? Or is it all just noise to you?

 

[pjoa09]

its never just for the lyrics but sometimes its just just for the noise.

 

[intpz]

Just for the noise, same as pjoa09. People get mad and irritated when I tell them that, seems like most people are listening to music because of the words. I can listen to a song 50 times and still don't know a single word from the lyrics.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

What attracts you to music?

The production, the particular instruments, the rhythm, the vibe & attitude, favorite artists, the lyrics & meaning, the culture, the overall sound.

The meaning/emotion behind a song, the catchy tune, or both?

Both are fine with me. But when something is catchy, it's catchy to me not to the public. I guess the same goes for the meaning, it has to mean something to me. I think I could find a song in my library that's both catchy and meaningful.

Do you listen to music a lot?

Not as much as I used to, but yes, I suppose so.

Do you think it helps calm you down when your emotions get the better of you?

I don't listen to music to change my mood, but to accompany it.
http://intpforum.com/showpost.php?p=290222&postcount=6

If you listen to music with emotion or meaning in the lyrics does it help you better understand emotion?

Yea, I think so.

Or is it all just noise to you?

Noise as in garbled sounds or just something to superficially listen to?

 

[Affinity]

Another one for always for the tune! Lyrics I'm peculiar about. The more straightforward they are, the less likely I'll like them. Abstract all the way.

 

[skip]

All of it, but if I don't like the lyrics I can't enjoy the song no matter how good the rest of it is.

 

[Architect]

"Song"? Is every piece of music a song?

I rarely listen or play anything other than 'art' music - namely classical (yeah I'm a snob) Regarding meaning, for a full discussion read "Emotion and Meaning in Music" by Meyer*. For me I don't search for 'meaning', whatever that means, in music. I play music because it puts me in a different place that is still connected to this one. I explore the musical textures and ideas, and feel them viscerally.

Last night I played a Chopin Prelude - the Db major. Slowly - langsam, each note reluctantly giving in to the next. Mostly I explore the tonal range that my grand is capable of producing, seeing how quietly and then thunderously I can perform (forte-piano, right?)

I also explore why the composer chose these notes. Either by accident or intent I look at different chords, or a clink in the melody, or just changing registers. Each change weakens the piece. This fascinates me, somehow this prelude seems to be build into the structure of music and thereby the physics of vibration and of the universe. By extension that applies to me too, since I can appreciate it.

* This is a book for outsiders, most musicians I know hate it because they understand that music is a temporal/experiential phenomenon, not an intellectual one which stands outside of the moment. This is why I do music - it gets me out of my fucking head.

 

[Meer]

Lyrics aren't usually very important, for anyone. Like Affinity said, when they're too literal and unambiguous, they can be distracting. A lot of pop music is terrible because of this.

People think they listen for the words, but they really listen for the voice. The music and the voice are important, the words have to stay out of the way and try not to intrude. Listening to music that's sung in a language you don't understand is a good idea.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Lyrics aren't usually very important, for anyone. Like Affinity said, when they're too literal and unambiguous, they can be distracting. A lot of pop music is terrible because of this.

People think they listen for the words, but they really listen for the voice. The music and the voice are important, the words have to stay out of the way and try not to intrude.

I think hip hop heads would disagree.

Listening to music that's sung in a language you don't understand is a good idea.

I listen to two bands that sing in their native language, and the music is even more enjoyable than songs in English so yeah I do think some of what you're saying about voice makes sense.

 

[Cosmic]

tunes and atmosphere for the most part, but lyrics can either make or break a song for me

 

[A22]

It's mostly about how it sounds, but good lyrics makes it special.

 

[intpz]

I just remembered that a classmate once asked me how can I listen to music when doing homework (thinking). I answered "what's the difference" or something like that, then he said something and I replied "if that's the case, you can listen to music with no lyrics." He gave me an odd look and asked "how can there be music with no lyrics?"

Anyway, I don't think it's very popular nowadays, but I also do listen to classical music, so it has no lyrics. Just strengthening my previous point.

 

[nexion]

Music is an expression of an idea, an interpretation of some deep aspect of humanity into something tangible. At least, that's what it is for me. There is music I listen to that has absolutely terrible lyrics, but this is fine if the music portrays the proper idea, usually. There is music I listen to whose lyrics complement the songwriting and the ideas it is trying to convey, or otherwise are special in their own way. Then there is music I listen to which has no lyrics, but whose sound could throw paint upon an empty canvas and make upon it some image.

The first is just music, but the latter two are something more. They are invaluable and priceless to me.

EDIT: This post technically isn't complete nor entirely accurate. But I'm not editing it.

 

[intpz]

EDIT: This post technically isn't complete nor entirely accurate. But I'm not editing it.

You've already edited it.

 

[nexion]

You've already edited it.

 

[Cosmic]

^this is why i love this forum

 

[intpz]

^this is why i love this forum

Awwww, I'm loved.

 

[MizKodomo]

Lyrics
Growing up in a musical family, I have a well trained ear for music, so I don't have to focus on it as much. Music that tells a story/has a clear and defined message is what I tend to lean towards. I like to hear that the artist was thinking while writing, and it didn't come from a purely instinctual place. or, that more emphasis was placed on one aspect, making the piece not very cohesive.

There's something to be said too for the modern pop song formula. They can be dangerous ear-worms imo

 

[GYX_Kid]

The production, the particular instruments, the rhythm, the vibe & attitude, the overall sound.

Moreso these ones, than anything lyrical or cultural- the "meaning" conveyed in any language that may be present is completely contrasted with the "meaning" conveyed in the music which it happens to occur during. ...Meaning... when I want to listen to music, I look for music, not words. Though I'm not saying I don't appreciate good lyrics/language.

Hip hop/rap is usually closer to poetry as an art form, is it not?
I guess I'll just have to make a rap song in a ridiculous time signature and include multiple riffs

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Moreso these ones, than anything lyrical or cultural- the "meaning" conveyed in any language that may be present is completely contrasted with the "meaning" conveyed in the music which it happens to occur during. ...Meaning... when I want to listen to music, I look for music, not words. Though I'm not saying I don't appreciate good lyrics/language.

The literal meaning of language helps the artists to convey and the listeners to grasp the associative meaning of the whole music. There are some songs out there with figurative imagery and context, that have an explicit story to them, but require concentration farther than just enjoying the surface song.

It really depends on when and why you're listening to music, though I think when I'm listening to hip hop that's usually the only time I'm monitoring for words in real-time.

Hip hop/rap is usually closer to poetry as an art form, is it not?

Yeah no other style of music places as much emphasis on poetic techniques.

I guess I'll just have to make a rap song in a ridiculous time signature and include multiple riffs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBRBmV88lOk

also:

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_wWbcWfxZA

 

[pjoa09]

"Song"? Is every piece of music a song?

I rarely listen or play anything other than 'art' music - namely classical (yeah I'm a snob) Regarding meaning, for a full discussion read "Emotion and Meaning in Music" by Meyer*. For me I don't search for 'meaning', whatever that means, in music. I play music because it puts me in a different place that is still connected to this one. I explore the musical textures and ideas, and feel them viscerally.

Last night I played a Chopin Prelude - the Db major. Slowly - langsam, each note reluctantly giving in to the next. Mostly I explore the tonal range that my grand is capable of producing, seeing how quietly and then thunderously I can perform (forte-piano, right?)

I also explore why the composer chose these notes. Either by accident or intent I look at different chords, or a clink in the melody, or just changing registers. Each change weakens the piece. This fascinates me, somehow this prelude seems to be build into the structure of music and thereby the physics of vibration and of the universe. By extension that applies to me too, since I can appreciate it.

* This is a book for outsiders, most musicians I know hate it because they understand that music is a temporal/experiential phenomenon, not an intellectual one which stands outside of the moment. This is why I do music - it gets me out of my fucking head.

I only like the e one. Op.28

Other than that I can't concentrate on any other piece of work.
They don't provide mental visuals.

 

[snafupants]

What's more crucial than a piercing melody and augmenting harmonies is the type of emotion the singer is trying to impart with inflection. With people like PJ Harvey and Billy Corgan the lyrics cease to matter. It's like when you hear the song "Naive Melody" or even the first few notes of that song, you know what David Byrne's fishing for. Sometimes notes can impart the same thing as words: most get the same sentiment from relatively or completely wordless pieces by Talk Talk or Thelonious Monk or Pat Metheny. I like the post-rock (Mogwai, Sea and Cake, etc.) approach to lyrics wherein the words rarely encumber the mood but are incorporated as needed. Sometimes I just hear an isolated note or an unusual riff and it evokes something ineffable; almost all good music is slightly melancholic.

 

[HDINTP]

Both but to me song usually has to make some sort of sense to me nevertheless i usually find and create new meaning of song to me than the original one was supposed to be.

 

[RedN]

well right now, what attracts me is its potential to be used for dancing

 

[Solitaire U.]

What attracts you to music?

Boredom.

 

[SpaceYeti]

For me, a song's appeal is usually a combination of it's sounding cool and how funny it is. The sounding cool part is usually because it makes me feel something, and I prefer feeling rock and rolly. The kind of music you'd hear as a fighting track for a movie appeals to me, but my tastes are eclectic and I listen to many kinds of songs with powerful emotional value. Mechanically, I prefer a leading guitar, supportive bass, and powerful drums.