How well do you remember lyrics?

[DrSketchpad]

Just wondering.

Me, historically- not well. Lately some of the songs I've been listening to for years have started to "click" lyrically. Now I'm doing better.

Its super important to me that I know about this from all of you. If you come across this thread, read to this- this- or even this, then you are now indebted to respond.

 

[Jennywocky]

I might not be able to rattle them off randomly, but if I hear a song come on, I will then remember the lyrics as the song unfolds.

I took that stupid FaceBook test (14 multiple-choice questions) quizzing the taker on their memory of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" lyrics by Bonnie Tyler and got a perfect score. *doh* [Random trivia: Song was written by Jim Steinman, who wrote a ton of Meatloaf songs as well.]

 

[Yellow]

I am a human jukebox. This isn't a skill I asked for, or one I've honed. It just happens that I memorize songs very quickly. Sometimes, now that I'm older, I'll hear a song somewhere, and I won't recognize the song at all, but I can rattle off the lyrics as if I've devoted my life to studying it. Worse, I remember the lyrics down to the last inflection of the singer's voice. (the only song I can recall actually requiring effort to memorize perfectly is Tim Minchin's "Thank You God", because it is lyrically long. And I only went through the effort, because parts of it were stuck in my head, and it infuriated me that I couldn't remember the whole thing)

Songs in foreign languages and rhythm-only rap take several more repetitions to win a slot in my memory. Only bits and pieces stick after the first hearing. But once they're stuck, they're in my head for life too.

 

[DrSketchpad]

I am a human jukebox. This isn't a skill I asked for, or one I've honed. It just happens that I memorize songs very quickly. Sometimes, now that I'm older, I'll hear a song somewhere, and I won't recognize the song at all, but I can rattle off the lyrics as if I've devoted my life to studying it. Worse, I remember the lyrics down to the last inflection of the singer's voice. (the only song I can recall actually requiring effort to memorize perfectly is Tim Minchin's "Thank You God", because it is lyrically long. And I only went through the effort, because parts of it were stuck in my head, and it infuriated me that I couldn't remember the whole thing)

Songs in foreign languages and rhythm-only rap take several more repetitions to win a slot in my memory. Only bits and pieces stick after the first hearing. But once they're stuck, they're in my head for life too.

Interesting, my ESFP cousin is like this. He's like this with everything though. He can write the script to a movie he's only seen once. It's ridiculous.

EDIT: After the movie. Otherwise I'd be telling you how fast he can write something.

 

[JimJambones]

I intentionally block some lyrics from my memory. "It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now..."

 

[DrSketchpad]

@JimJambones

Why is that? For fun? Do you listen to painful music?

 

[JimJambones]

Some just leave residual scars

 

[Anktark]

I am not as good at this as Yellow or the ESFP cousin, but I can remember lyrics pretty well if the song or poem clicks with me and I remember the melody/rhythm. The hardest part is to recall the beginning or other sequence point- after that it's mostly smooth sailing.

 

[Yellow]

The hardest part is to recall the beginning or other sequence point- after that it's mostly smooth sailing.

That will happen to me from time to time as well. I sometimes have to start at the chorus or the second verse in my head, and that will trigger the beginning (sometimes I have to run through the entire rest of the song and then the beginning will pop up as if it had never left me)

 

[Seteleechete]

I remember melodies, rhythm and the approximate sound of lyrics rather than the lyrics themselves. I will then rattle of lyrics that fit ... often the correct once but not always, they will follow the original pattern/rhythm/melody though.

 

[SpaceYeti]

I've been all about Stay (I Missed You), by Lisa Leob, lately. I can sing the entire song by memory minus one line. Here it is typed out from memory;

You say, I only hear what I want to

And you say, I talk so all the time
So...

And I thought what I felt was simple
and I thought that I don't belong
and now that I am leaving
now I know that I did something wrong
'cause I missed you

Yeah-ah-eah
I missed you.

And you say, I only hear what I want to
I don't listen hard, don't pay attention
to the distance that you're running
to anyone, anywhere
I don't understand, if you really care
I'm only hearing negatives
No no no NOOO

so I, I turn the radio on, I turn the radio up
and this woman was singin' my song
lovers in love and the others run away
lover is crying 'cause the other won't stay
some dabba dabba dooby dobba dobba dobba (line I haven't figured out, yet)
who was dyin' since the day they were born, well
well, this is not that
think that I'm throwin' but I'm thrown.

and I thought I'd live forever
now I'm not so sure
you try to tell me that I'm clever
that won't take me anyhow
or anywhere, with you

You said that I was naive, and
I thought that I was strong, oh
I thought 'hey I can leave, I can leave', oh
but now I know that I was wrong

'cause I missed you
Yeah-aaaaaaAAAHII missed you

You said you'd call me 'cause you want me
and one day you let me go
you try to keep away a keeper
and keep me 'cause you know
you're just so... scared to loo-oose.

And you say... stay

And you say... I only hear what I want to...





You're all welcome for being reminded of a song you have to roll your windows down and turn the radio up for.

 

[QuickTwist]

Depend how easy on the ears the lyrics are distinguishable as well as how complex and in depth the meaning is.

 

[Nebulous]

My brain is 99% song lyrics but they're mostly wrong
Well usually it's a few lines from each song and they merge together in my mind and turn into a super-song.

Spoiler

You don't believe in God
You don't believe in us
You don't believe in love
But you be live in the en e my
*repeats multiple times, getting more and more jumbled and repetitive*
*Gerard Way moaning*
Where are you, DESTRRROOYYYYYAAAAA???
*repeats all of that multiple times*
*piano* *amanda Palmer voice*
We have to driveee
We have our reasons, dear.
It's cold outside
I hate the seasons here
I suffer mornings most of all
I saw you lying in the road
We tried to dig a decent grave but it's still no way to be-have